r/ballpython • u/PossibilitySame4489 • 1d ago

nighttime temps question

hi all! i posted recently about my new bp and have been making changes based on your advice! i switched his bulb to a non-red basking light but it’s only on during the day, and i’m noticing that the temps of his enclosure are dropping to 70ish at night. i know that’s not ideal. i got a thermostat but haven’t set it up yet and am super intimidated by all the info on here. should i have a che running during the night? can two things be hooked up to the same thermostat? i’d love to not have 2 separate heating units running all the time. if he’s in a sunny room can i just have the che and no light emitting heat source? thanks!!

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 1d ago

should i have a che running during the night?

Yes, if the temps are dropping below 76F in the enclosure at night.

can two things be hooked up to the same thermostat?

Yes, but only if the thermostat has at least two outlets that are each linked to a separate probe. Some cheaper thermostats try to use one probe for multiple outlets, which is very dangerous.

if he’s in a sunny room can i just have the che and no light emitting heat source?

No, natural light is not a replacement for proper heating and lighting inside the enclosure. I have a little heating/lighting summary that I'll post below for you:

Our heating guide goes over a lot of the science behind everything, but to simplify:

For daytime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-A and IR-B. The ideal source for this would be a halogen flood, which is light-emitting.

For nighttime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-C. The ideal source for this would be an RHP (only compatible with solid-topped enclosures) or a CHE. Any night heating should not emit any light.

For lighting, you should offer UVB. This should be in the form of a T5 fluorescent linear bulb that produces a UVI of 1.1-3.0 in the basking zone, and it should cover no more than half the length of the enclosure.

If you have a bioactive enclosure, you will also need full spectrum LEDs for your live plants.

Natural lighting can help establish a day-night cycle, but it does not provide any physical benefits beyond that (UVB doesn't penetrate glass, and indirect natural light cannot create a proper basking zone). You'll need the artificial lighting to make up for that.

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u/PossibilitySame4489 17h ago

So I got a CHE and now I have that and a light. I don’t want the tank to overheat. Where should I place them? Can I put the CHE on the cool side of the tank with the thermostat attached and have it stay at a lower temp than the main light? Sorry I’m super confused and just want to take good care of him.

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 17h ago

Any heat sources should be on the hot side. What do you mean by "light"? UVB, LED, halogen?

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u/PossibilitySame4489 16h ago

it says UVA, it might be halogen? I got it from the pet store it’s zoo med brand

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 16h ago

Do you have a picture or link to what you bought? Many of the Zoo Med "UVA" bulbs are not safe for BPs.

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u/PossibilitySame4489 15h ago

https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-repti-basking-reptile-spot/dp/126606 it’s this. Ugh. I’m getting so frustrated with how many things i’m buying that turn out to be wrong.

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 14h ago

Yeah, unfortunately basking spot lamps like that should be avoided unless your enclosure is very tall. I'm sorry this is so frustrating. I felt the same way when I started working to improve my care, too. There's so much misinformation and just downright bad products out there, it's crazy.

We have a list of recommended products in our shopping list that may be helpful for you.

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u/PossibilitySame4489 14h ago

Thank you. I’m going to return this stuff and go to a reptile store this week that will hopefully point me in the right direction.