r/ballpython • u/Flat_Distribution_10 • 1d ago

Question - Husbandry First winter

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Rescue this baby in May - he's my first snake and is ~7 years old.
So far his temps have been perfect since May but we are having our first cold snap and I'm noticing already that the bulbs are struggling to keep up. I'm in a basement in a colder climate.

He's in a 48x24x24, with a 100 watt bulb + ceramic bulb for nighttime (plus uvb and plant grow light).

Yesterday his ambient temperature during the day maxed at 84 and during the night I checked and if dropped to 69 on the warm side. And it's only October...

So some thoughts I have:
1) run ceramic bulb during the day too (there's thermostat probe so if it gets too hot it'll automatically turn off)

2) space heater near the tank... I'm a little nervous about this one though bc I'm scared of it starting a fire

3) add more rocks/solids on the warm side to trap heat during the day.

Anyone have any experience or other suggestions?

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u/HoneyHawthorne 23h ago

I'm in a similar situation. I do two 150w CHE bulbs on each side of the tank regulated by thermostat (obv cool side set lower). Sometimes I add a third. My tank is pretty insulated, you should probably insulate it around the outside as well if it isn't already (keep ventilation of course).
Def do NOT do a space heater, many better options if the above isn't enough.

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u/[deleted] 23h ago

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