Humid Hide on the Warm or Cool Side?

[LincolnDJ]

Very quick question... I tried searching and only found tips on geckos... and even that forum post was indecisive.

So for ball pythons, should the humid hide be on the warm or cool side of the vivarium? It makes sense for it to be on the hot side, since the heat should help increase humidity. But at the same time, I don't want to increase evaporation of the moisture. (though I guess most of the evaporation would stay in the container) Also, I only use a UTH, so the heat probably won't get through the container very well. And I don't want to freeze my snake out. I think he really needs his belly on the substrate to absorb the heat properly, and the humid hide only touches the substrate around the edges.

Anyway, sorry for the small rant, but what do you guys think?

Humid hide on the warm or cool side?

[-C@jun-]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

[LincolnDJ]

Unless I'm missing something, that care sheet doesn't actually say which side to put the humid hide on.

All it says is this:

You can also add a humid hide, giving your python a humidity-rich spot it can hang out in whenever it wants.

[bsash]

I put mine on the warm side to keep it humid. When you put it on the cool side, then it is just a cold wet hide. Or at least that is what I have experienced. Hope that helps.

[-C@jun-]

READ BOY READ!

HIDES
Ball pythons typically fairly shy and reclusive nocturnal animals and appreciate a good dark place to curl up and feel safe. It is best to provide two adequate hides in your BPs enclosure – one on the warm end and one on the cooler end so that it does not have to make a choice between regulating its body temperature and feeling secure (to their own detriment these snakes will sacrifice warmth in favor of a hide).

Hides can be constructed or bought in a wide variety of forms shapes materials. For best sanitation you should avoid hides that are very porous, difficult to clean or which could rot mold or mildew. Whether store-bought or homemade, a ball python will prefer a hide that is small and snug-fitting, so that it feels "hugged" on all side and even from above.

If you just have room for one stick it over your uth hot side of tank.

[MitsuMike]

Dude you don't need a humid hide. Not in shed u can have humidity in the 50's and during shed u can go all the way up to 100%. My tubs are 90-100% during shed and anywhere from 50-70 not in shed.
And humid hides on the warm side dry out faster and need to be misted regularly. On the cool side it stays humid longer. My ball don't have humid hides, but my leos and VBB does.
BUT if you wish to have one you don't need it all the time. When ur ball goes into shed just put moss as the substrate in the hide and mist it regularly. This acts as a humid hide in BOTH hides where they like to hang out so they don't have to chose between humidity vs temp. So now the temps/hides are the same and what they are used to now just humid to help your guy out.

[2kdime]

BINGO, never needed a humid hide, wont ever give one either.

Make sure your husbandry is right

And right before they shed off their skin, just dump their water bowl and your good to go.

The simpler you can make keeping these animals on yourself, the more time you'll have enjoying them.

Dude you don't need a humid hide. Not in shed u can have humidity in the 50's and during shed u can go all the way up to 100%. My tubs are 90-100% during shed and anywhere from 50-70 not in shed.
And humid hides on the warm side dry out faster and need to be misted regularly. On the cool side it stays humid longer. My ball don't have humid hides, but my leos and VBB does.

[kitedemon]

If you want to add a humid hide in ADDITION to the hot and cool hides it should be on the cool end or in between. The extra heat will evaporate the water from the hide but water is very hard to heat up so you will use a lot of watts to keep a humid hide at the correct hot side temp there is also a bit more burn potential. I have one, the humidity I run is average about 55% The hot end is lower than the cool end my Humid hide is toward the cool end of middle. Mine rarely goes in it but they do sometimes. One uses it as a washroom! That is about the only time he goes in very convenient for me!

[Kaorte]

If you want to add a humid hide in ADDITION to the hot and cool hides it should be on the cool end or in between. The extra heat will evaporate the water from the hide but water is very hard to heat up so you will use a lot of watts to keep a humid hide at the correct hot side temp there is also a bit more burn potential. I have one, the humidity I run is average about 55% The hot end is lower than the cool end my Humid hide is toward the cool end of middle. Mine rarely goes in it but they do sometimes. One uses it as a washroom! That is about the only time he goes in very convenient for me!

Key word. don't change out one of the other hides for a humid hide. The humid hide should be an extra third hide if you do choose to use one.

[musclebabe]

I use my humid hide as a third hide, in the middle of my tank. Half of it sits on the heat pad and the other half on the cool side. That way she can choose her temp.