Paper towel substrate and humidity?

[shelliebear]

I want to move all my ball pythons onto paper towels. It is much cheaper and easier to maintain cleanliness with them as opposed to Aspen shavings.
But my question is, how do you keep the humidity up with paper towels if they get saturated with water so easily?
Can you still safely spray the tank with water to raise the humidity levels, or will this dampen the paper towels too much and risk scale rot?
What do you do instead if spraying doesn't work?
And do I need to turn the temperature down for their heat mats (they are hooked to a thermostat) since paper towels are thinner than Aspen, or do I keep it the same?
If paper towels aren't recommended, what about newspaper, and the above questions but with regards to newspaper instead?
Thanks a lot.
Shellie

[wolfy-hound]

Use newspaper. It doesn't disintegrate when it gets damp. If your caging doesn't have too much air exchange it should still stay humid with a water dish on the hot side. If not, you should cut the air exchange down by covering more of the top, or cover some of the airholes up. You can spray if it's still not humid enough or use a humid hide.

[kitedemon]

I'm with Wolfy newspaper is better. Paper towel can also (rarely but...) stick to a damp food item and the snake can try to injest it as well, A small snake will be unable to and if the paper towel expands they can't regurigate it.

Did you look at coco coir? it is very cheap (cheaper than paper towels!!) I bought a large block but even the smaller blocks are only 9¢ for 110 L at a green house, That does me (with enclosures that use much more) for 6-8 months for all 8 of mine.
A

[SlitherinSisters]

I mostly use newspaper, but every now and again paper towels. I haven't had issues with either one getting wet. If they do get wet, they dry out pretty quickly because of the heat. I can't say what would happen with paper towels if you sprayed them every day, but I would think newspaper would hold up a little better.

[serenewaves]

I use paper towels and just spray the lid of the enclosure and the inside of the hide, which is on the heat side, if the humidity is low. I don't have any troubles, they are shedding great & my numbers are good.

[Sarin]

I use Unprinted Newspaper for the adults and Paper Towels for the hatchlings.. When urinated on they dry out pretty quickly. I have no problems with humidity, however, I use tubs and don't have to deal with tanks...

I don't see why misting would be a problem, though, as long as it is a light mist and doesn't soak the paper.

[DZ Reptiles]

for newspaper. Its what i use, and i have no complaints yet! Hey, its free!
They do dry quick which is extremely nice!
If your using tubs you'll have no problem with humidity

[sho220]

I use newspaper in a rack system and give them a misting from a spray bottle once in a while...

[Mikekrause2000]

DO NOT WET THE PAPER TOWEL! I also use paper towels and the way i keep humidity is i put the water dish directly over my UTH and it evaporates some water and keeps it nice and humid. If it gets too humid i move the water so its half over the UTH half off of it. I also have bubble wrap over 80% of the top so it keeps moisture in but still has good ventilation. Wet paper towels with a UTH causes the glass to crack.