Is a heating rock a good idea for a ball python or how can i keep the snake warm?

Answer 1

I don't care what anyone at a pet store tells you heat rocks are terrible they burn your reptile and they can cause a severe enough burn to cause your reptile to die. people at pet stores are idiots most of the time you have to find a good place that tells you only what you need and in the animals best interest. Most of the employees are just trying to sell you whatever they can, heat pads are usually your best bet for snakes. But I would use a heat lamp too.

Answer 2

Ball pythons do need a source of "belly" heat for digestion but, heat rocks are a very bad one. They tend to over heat. Use an under tank heating pad. They have a sticky side and you put it under the tank right on the glass. Just make sure you use the plastic thingies that come with it to prevent the tank from sitting on the cord. Also it is a good idea to use a thermostat. And yes you need a warm side and a cool side. Warm 88-92 and cool 78-82 is where I try and keep mine. I also have a hide only on the warm side. (They say to have one on each...) For lighting a ball only needs to have a photo period meaning, day and night. You can get timers at Walmart and set them up with one of those. They don't need uv lights or anything, a normal bulb will do. But if you are having trouble with the heat you can use an infared bulb at night. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Heat rocks are a bad choice for any reptile. You already have lots of answers telling you about the dangers of burns to the animal. Let me add that they also conduct electricity when wet (you mist the tank to help with shedding, or the snake crawls over the rock when it gets out of the water dish) and can give a NASTY electrical shock! The undertank heating pad is better for belly heat, but keep it on the opposite end of the tank from the water, because if the glass over the heating pad gats wet suddenly, the glass can crack. You can also glue the pads to the side of the tank, but them you have to be careful if you mist. I only use overhead heat lamps or ceramic emitters.

Answer 4

NEVER use heating rocks for snakes. Heat rocks have hot spots that can burn your snake. One of the best things i have found for ball pythons is under tank heating systems. Heat lights are also an option. If you choose to use a heat light go for a 60 Watt red bulb that will let your snakes day/night cycle stay the same.

Answer 5

NO! NEVER use a heat rock with a ball python. They will severly burn themselves. Get either an Undertank heater, which you stick to the bottom of the tank, an infrared heat light, or a ceramic heat emitter.

Answer 6

I have a corn snake and for her i have a heating pad that is underneath her tank. With that heating pad i have a towel on the top so it wont get to hot but the tank I have her in is plastic. If you have a glass tank then I would definitely put a towel on top of the heating pad so the glass wont get stress marks on it. You can also get a basking lamp from a pet store which will probably be better because they actually feel the heat on them so they wont be to cold. The store I recommend is PetCo:) HOPE THIS HELPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

hi there
ummmmm NO!!!!...the only way i would use a heat rock is when the cord is cut off the rock and put a heat lamp over it ...never use a heat rocks with it plugged in..it causes to many burns in all reptiles ... a heat lamp is best doesn't mater if it's red, or white.. use a UV light as well .. heat at night time temps doesn't really matter as long as the temps don't drop below 65 F ... if it does use a low wattage red heat lamp at night or heat pad under a large rock.. reptiles need the temps to drop to properly go to sleep .. they perk up when the lights go back on in the morning .. and they warm up... we use a timer 12hrs on 12 hrs off .. for our reptiles .. hope this helps ... good luck

Answer 8

Heat rocks can be used safely if you combine them with a rheostat, which allows you to control the temperature. I did this and never burnt a snake. However, most people don't use a rheostat, and you can see it in the large number of snakes that get burnt. You can get a rheostat from big apple herp that can control 500 watts worth of cage heating--enough for several cages--and it's not very expensive. One trip to the vet with a burned snake will cost you several times the money you invest in a rheostat.

A heat rock is not enough to supply a snake's heat needs. I used under the tank flexwatt heating, also with a rheostat. I left one end of the enclosure unheated to allow the snake to chose it's temperature. In the winter I secured a strip of 4" flexwatt to the back of the tank to provide a higher ambient temp. I duct taped a strip of polyester quilt batting on the inside of the cage over where the flexwatt was secured to prevent surface burns. You can also heat with ceramic heat emitters or heat lamps.

Snakes do not need any particular type of lighting for their health. They obtain sufficient D3 vitamin and calcium from their prey to provide for their needs. You generally see metabolic bone disease worst in iguanas because they are primarily vegetarians which do not have a good dietary source of D3 and which rarely are provided with an adequate diet (iceberg lettuce doesn't cut it) and because too many iguana owners don't think that iggy needs that expensive UVB light which has to be replaced every 6 months to a year max.

Answer 9

Heating rocks and heating pads have been known to overheat and burn/ injur animals. Which would suggest if you use one to check your animal routinely to ensure it doesnt happen. Or you can get a heating lamp (red light) and place it a safe distance from the cage but close enough to keep the snake warm

Answer 10

You need an underpad heater and a heat lamp. Stay away from heating rocks, the snake can burn itself on it. Keep one side of the tank warmer than the other, then the snake can go to whichever side it needs to.