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The past years have witnessed many debates on what the ideal best light for ball python should be.
Some ball python owners who have experience taking care of other reptiles have used the same set of lightings for their ball pythons. But, little do they know that there are some lighting that isn’t great for ball pythons.
Ball Pythons are great; they are very simple to take care of and are not hard to maintain. But, it is still important to properly set up their habitat like other reptiles.
Let’s find out more about the perfect lighting for ball pythons.
READ ALSO: Best Bedding for Ball Python
10 Best Light for Ball Python
Using a light bulb for your constrictor’s enclosure is not just about randomly selecting a bulb in the market; aside from brand, you must consider the number of watts the light bulb has.
Because a BP doesn’t require the use of UVB lights, getting a light bulb that could provide enough heat should do just fine.
Based on experience, you shouldn’t use a light bulb with more than 75W; anything higher can bake your snake.
For full-time lighting, you should use a red/black bulb. However, if you need more visible light for your pet snake, you could use a Fluorescent or LED lamp.
OMAYKEY 75W Ceramic Heat Lamp
Rated #1 of the best light for Ball Python, this 75W heat lamp is made up of solid ceramic elements, which could perfectly provide a heat radiation feature without emitting lights.
Plus, it is easy to install and use, screw it in an E27 screw socket, and it will instantly provide your snake’s warmth needs.
The bulb is great for 24 hours use as your pet’s major heat source. Perfect for all forms of amphibians and reptiles alike, the bulb can last for 9,000 to 15,000 hours or 375 to 625 days. Of course, it could last for two years or even more.
Since the ceramic heat lamp doesn’t emit light, you can use it during the night without disturbing your pet’s sleeping behaviour.
When installing the bulb in your pet’s enclosure, make sure that your pet cannot reach or touch the bulb to avoid complications.
Wuhostam 50W Black Infrared Bulb
Here is another good ceramic bulb and a great example of the Ball Python heating pad or lamp.
This one comes with a black bulb. Like the bulb mentioned above, this ceramic does not emit light, meaning it can be used in your ball python’s enclosure for 24-hours, day and night.
The lamp’s input voltage should be around 90 to 120V with a power of 50W. The amount of power that this bulb emits would be enough for your pet’s needs.
The bulb can work anywhere between 9,000 to 15,000 hours, so there is no rush in changing it every six months.
This bulb could emit heat that can be a perfect heat source for many reptiles such as BP and amphibians.
Note: while the bulb is in use, the surface would be very hot, so please do not touch it. Also, make sure that there’s enough distance between the bulb and your ball python.
Blue Spotted 75W Sunning Heat Lamp
These Sunning Heat Lamps provide a really nice basking heat for birds, amphibians, reptiles, farm and small animals.
To avoid overheating, you should use the light for only 10 to 12 hours each day. The heat lamp releases a broad-spectrum of light that is good for live plants in your pet’s terrarium; it could also provide UVA rays and heat for your ball python, which is good for their health.
The heat and UVA that the light bulb emits can also provide good thermoregulation. It can also stimulate the natural effect of sunlight to promote a strong and healthy reptile, including your ball python.
Aside from UVA and Heat, this heating lamp could also encourage natural behaviours in reptiles. The light bulb could last for 2,000 hours or more.
Still, wondering why it is listed as one of the best light for Ball Python?
Zoo Med Day and Night Reptile 60W Bulb
Again, this is yet another one of the leading best light for Ball Python in the industry.
This package features one blue daylight bulb to use during the day and one red nightlight bulb to use during the night.
This is a perfect combo pack that could provide all needs of your pet ball python.
The Zoo Med Day and Night Combo Pack could help you control the temperature, keeping your ball python comfortable and warm.
The daylight bulb is perfect for heating reptile and amphibian terrariums while also providing bright, natural-looking light for an excellent view.
The nightlight bulb emits a 24-hour heat source for all types of reptiles, especially for the nocturnal reptiles. Therefore, when changing out the light bulbs, make sure to turn them off and let them cool down for an hour before touching the bulb.
This is to prevent yourself from getting accidentally burned by the bulb’s hot surface; also, make sure to put enough distance between the bulb and your snake to avoid hurting her.
Exo Terra Repti-Glo 2.0 Fluorescent Lamp 26W
This is one ideal spectrum for all types of amphibians and reptiles. This Exo Terra Fluorescent lamp can help stimulate your ball python’s activities, growth, appetite, and reproductive behaviour via the bulb’s UVA radiation.
However, the light has a visual light output, so it is not ideal to be used during the night.
Aside from stimulating appetite, activity, and the reproductive behaviour of your pet, the fluorescent lamp could also stimulate the live plant’s growth in your pet’s terrarium. The Exo Terra 2.0 fluorescent lamp could emit 2% of UVB light; ball pythons don’t need UVB lights, but since they usually get exposed to sunlight when in the wild, being exposed to a few UVB rays won’t do any harm to them.
Glolux 11W LED Light Bulb
Remember I stated earlier that some household light bulbs could also be used as a ball python heating pad or lamp source.
Here is one good household light bulb that can provide your ball python’s needs. Although this light bulb has a small power of 11watts, this is fine for you if you want to provide the best lights for your pet and at the same time save your energy.
Plus, it has a very long lifespan that can last for up to 22 years. It has a guaranteed lifespan of 25,000 hours; this will reduce your hassle of replacing your pet’s light bulb frequently. The bulb is safe, mercury-free, and environment-friendly, perfectly safe for your ball python.
It deserves a #6 spot on our ratings of the best light for ball pythons
Aiicioo 60W Ceramic Heat Bulb
The Aiicioo 60W Ceramic heat bulb is one light source that will emit a 24-hour heat source for your pet. It creates and stimulates a natural sunlight effect in a uniform pattern and can last up to 10,000 hours.
This ceramic bulb produces a long wave of infrared heat that will effectively warm up your pet snake. It also increases the air temperature in its terrarium.
It is a no light-emitting bulb, which means you can use it by night without negatively affecting your pet’s sleeping pattern and is perfect for everyday use.
The heating bulb is made up of high-purity pot clay, great for environments that have a high level of humidity.
The pot clay also has an anti-crack ability, stopping the bulb from breaking in high humidity terrariums.
Zoo Med Nightlight Bulb 60W
If you are amongst the many people looking for a light bulb to use at night for your ball pythons, this nightlight bulb is what you need.
The red glass of the bulb is not painted; it is red glass. It’s also very economical and reliably provides light and heat for your pet 24-hours.
It only emits a little bit of light so that it won’t disturb your snake’s sleeping pattern.
Zoo Med lights can last long, and most pet owners have reported that their pet’s love the product, both reptiles and amphibians alike. The light emits a power of 60 watts; this is sufficient for ball pythons.
Zoo Med Basking Spot Lamp 75W
Like any reptile or amphibian, Ball pythons also need a good basking spot while in captivity. This can help them shed their skin, improve appetite and health.
This is a spotlight lamp. You can focus the light in a particular manner in your snake’s terrarium.
You can use this light bulb 10 to 12 hours a day, though make sure to place where your pet can’t touch. When used, the bulb’s surface can be very hot; it can burn your pet when the bulb is placed too close.
This bulb is ideal for reptiles that thermo-regulates their body by basking, including your ball python and other tropical and desert species.
There we have it, the #10 of our list of best light for Ball Python.
Does A Ball Python Need UVB Lighting?
With some exception to uncommon pet snakes like a boa constrictor, Burmese python, and green snakes, using a UVB light in a snake’s enclosure is unnecessary.
Will it negatively affect your snake’s health without UVB lighting? No, it would somehow increase their colouration and activity. Ball pythons and other common pet snakes can be perfectly healthy without the use of UVB lights.
But if you decided to use one for your pet, make sure that the UVB bulb is about 10 to 12 inches away from your pet snake, and change the bulb every six months even if it’s still working out just fine.
The UVB is made up of an invisible spectrum of light; before the visible spectrum runs out, the invisible spectrum of light will expire. Therefore, a UVB bulb doesn’t usually last more than six months unless the bulb manufacturer has proven it otherwise.
Heat Lights for Ball Pythons
Depending on your home’s or country’s temperature, you may or may not use a heat light to maintain a proper temperature in your snake’s enclosure. Like other pet snakes, a ball python also needs their basking spot. Therefore, their basking spot’s temperature should be around 90 degrees, while their ambient temperature should be below the ’80s.
To ensure that you have the right amount of temperature in your snake’s enclosure, you should put a digital or an analogue thermometer on the side of your pet’s tank. In addition, some bulbs that are often used for houses would also emit enough heat to heat your ball python’s tank.
Some snake owners would use a heating pad instead of lights, it may heat the tank, but it can be a bit difficult to maintain and monitor the tank’s proper temperature.
OTHER FAQ
Incandescent heat bulbs come in various wattages to allow you to provide your enclosure with the proper temperatures. The smaller the tank, the lower the wattage that is needed. You wouldn’t want to put a ball python in a 10-gallon tank with a 150-watt bulb. It would get much too warm in the enclosure.
Yes and no. Your home and country’s temperature affects your decision of getting a heat lamp or not. If the temperature at home is fine for them, you shouldn’t bother. If otherwise, you should!
Lamp because they are easier to meaure.
Not more than 80 watts
Yes (for your viewing of course). Heat lamps come in coloured bulbs (some labeled as night and day) and also in non-light emitting ceramic bulbs.
Yes, Ball pythons are nocturnal they need a day\night cycle.
Conclusion
Majorly, Ball pythons are night creatures and do not need UVB light to live during captivity. However, it’s also not bad to use a full spectrum light with a small output of UVB light, like a 2.0 bulb.
The small output of UVB light can improve your snake’s colours; it can also help grow the live plants you use in your pet’s terrarium.
Since ball pythons are tropical snakes, they may not need UVB light, but they do need a good heat source in their enclosure. They need a daytime temperature of 80 degrees and a night-time temperature of 70 degrees or lower.
We hope you loved our review of the ten best light for Ball Python. Kindly share with family and friends.
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