Humidity Issues...

[Animals As Leaders]

Alright well, male bp of mine that I have a in 20gallon long tank. I had aspen, hide, drift wood, small heat light for ambient temps, and a water dish as well as half the screen blocked with a piece of plexi. I am very upset with myself because I remember checking the humidity when I first set his tank up and it was in the 50% range w/o me misting it and I checked it a few days ago and it was in 20% range....You don't even have to give me the lecture because I know this horrible in terms of their actual humidity needs. I'm pissed...

The other thing is; he hasn't been eating for a while. I know these guys do this all the time so I didn't get worked up. I didn't think it had anything to do with humidity. He hasn't eaten since july. He's lost some weight but still maintaining 975 grams +. But he's always had a decent appetite since I had him, and for some reason stopped feeding when I put him in a tub. He seemed to like this enclosure so I kept it, and set it up to what I thought was ok. He kept feeding for a while in his tank too exuding nothing but normal behavior and then he just stopped.

My big question is: Is it possible for low humidity to contribute to not eating? He also hasn't shed in a loong time it seems. I really need to start keeping logs...Hes an adult male 3+? I adopted him so I dont know for sure.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I switched to cypress mulch last night, and wrapped up 3/4 of the screen w/plastic wrap and the humidity is good now.

[Ham]

I am sure that low humidity must contribute to stress, and I know for a fact stress can cause a snake to not feed, so its possible this is whats causing your problem... Hope this helps...

[Kaorte]

I don't think low humidity alone is to blame for the snake not eating.

Your low humidity problem is probably because of the normal weather in your area, maybe when you set up the tank, the humidity was higher. Now that it is winter, the humidity is basically nothing. The cypress mulch should help along with an occasional misting.

Part of the reason why he might be off food is because it is breeding season and he is of breeding age. As long as he isn't loosing hundreds and hundreds of grams, its nothing too much to worry about.

You could try increasing his temps or lowering his temps by a few degrees and see if that tricks him into thinking the season is over.

[Animals As Leaders]

I don't think low humidity alone is to blame for the snake not eating.

Your low humidity problem is probably because of the normal weather in your area, maybe when you set up the tank, the humidity was higher. Now that it is winter, the humidity is basically nothing. The cypress mulch should help along with an occasional misting.

Part of the reason why he might be off food is because it is breeding season and he is of breeding age. As long as he isn't loosing hundreds and hundreds of grams, its nothing too much to worry about.

You could try increasing his temps or lowering his temps by a few degrees and see if that tricks him into thinking the season is over.

Hes's always been a weirdo since I got him. I love him though lol. The cypress helped a lot in terms of humidity, and looks soooo nice compared to aspen. Now his enlcosure looks like a jungle I love it!! Now, I'm noticing on the one side its still kinda cool, 72 actually. Right now I got his heat pad, and his light on one side and nothing on the other. I was wondering should I put another light on the other side to make it a little warmer on that side or is that too much light? Light doesn't seem to bother him any though. He will hang out in his hide half the day, and then I'll come up and half of his body is in his hide and half on top soaking up some rays.

[Kaorte]

What color is the light? The temps need to be constant which means the light has to be on 24/7. If it isn't a moonlight or red bulb, then it will start to bother him if it is on 24/7.

I would just move it to the cool side. The UTH will provide an adequate hot spot and the lamp will increase the cool side temp.

[Animals As Leaders]

husbandry:

60watt heat bulb
heat pad/rheostat
cypress mulch
Hot side: 82 ambient w/90-92 basking spot
Cool Side: 72-no heat

Thats him hanging outside his hide. I think he like to come out because there is no traffic that comes through my room so he's just comfortable. Weird cuz most of mine are hiders, and only come out sometimes. He always comes out at some point of the day. He does spend a lot of time in his hide as well so I guess its normal.

[Animals As Leaders]

What color is the light? The temps need to be constant which means the light has to be on 24/7. If it isn't a moonlight or red bulb, then it will start to bother him if it is on 24/7.

I would just move it to the cool side. The UTH will provide an adequate hot spot and the lamp will increase the cool side temp.

Well I would like the ambient temp on the cool side to be at least 78+. Maybe I should get two of those red night bulbs instead so I can leave them on all the time and not have sunlight in his face all the time. I think theres plenty of sunshine that comes though window. I'm picking up some more plexi today to glue it to the whole screen. I'm going to cut holes in the plexi for ventilation. Hopefully that will be enough to remedy the situation.