How to keep the humidity and heat at proper level?

[Regimezx]

Hello I just bought a 7 year old 3' 6" ball python a week ago, and they kept it in a 48" net cage with no humidity, it only, only, had a sheet size heating pad under its hiding place that was it, so i bought it, i sold the net cage and bought instead as someguy told me, a cheap sterile 33"x18"x24" plastic container, it works great for ball pythons! it had unshedded skin i rubbed it off with wet towel and so on, but now is healthy, a bit stressed but not sick or anything
my main question now is, it has its hiding spot, and i know its 33" container is cold for her(75F.), but not is hiding place, it at least has a heating pad under it to keep it warm, but now.. the heating pad is not enough for the wholeee container only for its hiding place, how do you keep your snake in warm temps? also when you say basking does that mean "its resting/hiding place?" and what is the temperature for the REST of the cage? i heard it has to be around 85F. and like 90F. for basking but im not sure what is that, i think is its hiding place... but im wondering how you do that, the undertank heating pad is useless as it only heats its hiding place, and it doesnt keep a special temp for its hideout and another special temp for the rest of the container, what should i do? Also how do you keep the humidity level above 60&?? a humidity box is expensive and i see no snake keeper has those...

[Skittles1101]

I am currently making a humid hide for my bp. It is a Tupperware container (obviously big enough to hold your bp) with a lid ($2.99 at Stop & Shop), cut a hole in it big enough for him to fit inside (free), use a lighter to smooth out the cut edges (free), throw some of his bedding on the bottom (I already have bedding so free), and T-Rex coconut bark (soaked in water, about $8.99 for a huge bag) put in the back and sides of the hide. Viola, $12.00 humid hide.

As far as the UTH, I hope you have something to monitor the temps because they get VERY hot...I use a dimmer and a temp gun...

I use a black light on top to keep up ambient temps, along with the UTH (connected to a dimmer!) it keeps the tank at good temps.
Here's my setup for my one and only tank....the rest are in tubs..

[Regimezx]

I am currently making a humid hide for my bp. It is a Tupperware container (obviously big enough to hold your bp) with a lid ($2.99 at Stop & Shop), cut a hole in it big enough for him to fit inside (free), use a lighter to smooth out the cut edges (free), throw some of his bedding on the bottom (I already have bedding so free), and T-Rex coconut bark (soaked in water, about $8.99 for a huge bag) put in the back and sides of the hide. Viola, $12.00 humid hide.

As far as the UTH, I hope you have something to monitor the temps because they get VERY hot...I use a dimmer and a temp gun...

I use a black light on top to keep up ambient temps, along with the UTH (connected to a dimmer!) it keeps the tank at good temps.
Here's my setup for my one and only tank....the rest are in tubs..

I'm still confused, so its only supposed to be humid inside its hiding place? what about the second hiding place that is not above the heating pad? and the rest of the tank? and also my heating pad only monitors its hiding place the rest of the tank is freezing, and i heard they need 85F. and like 90F. inside its hiding place is that true? Your hygrometer is on the glass however there is no humidity but inside its hiding place only... I have a lamp but the lamp doesnt heat at all, basicly the environment of my snake is freezing except its hiding place which is above the heating pad, and i dont get how you are suppose to fit a hygrometer inside its hiding place where u cant see it

[Skittles1101]

Well, I'm confused, how freezing do you keep your house where the snake is? Don't focus so much on the temp inside the hide, the hottest point in your tank period should be over about 92*, whether that's inside the hide or not. The heat pad goes on one side (hot side), and the other is on the (cold side). I keep my house at about 68* so I only need the one heat pad for a warm spot (located right under the hide of the right...under the tank) and the black light to keep the temps in my tank warm enough. Ignore that hygrometer...it's crap. You should have two hides so that they can regulate their own temps and still be comfortable inside a hide, hence why I have two on opposite sides of the tank. Invest in a spray bottle, use bottled water, and mist your tank a few times a day....the humidity should be fine.

You should look at the caresheet on this site...

[Regimezx]

well an expert said that a hygrometer is VERY important as it tells how humid is the tank, so thats all you do?? using a misting bottle a few times a day? it sounds hard as im not home 24/7 and the lamp heats the whole container... my lamp is on but i dont get how is suppose to heat the tank trough a plastic container lid that is very hard to heat trough.. also how do you regulate and know what the humidity is on your whole tank without using a hygrometer, they need 60-70%

[youbeyouibei]

LMAO! You tried, LGray, you really did!!!

[Skittles1101]

Ok, the way hygrometers work....

It knows the humidity in the very spot it is on...therefore, if you want to know the humidity of the 2" diameter spot on your glass...than by all means go by your hygrometer. Obviously, just like everything else, if you want to spend a lot more money, than go out and get a fancy hygrometer that will give you better readings...

Ball pythons are from Africa, where the humidity goes up and down, and is very hot. Keeping your humidity in the entire tank at 60% all the time is NOT important. IF you give your snake a humid hide, he WILL use it when he feels he needs it...You're obsessing over this humidity thing, and it's just not going to happen in a glass enclosure with a screen top, it's unheard of. If you are truely that concerned, toss the glass tank and get a sterilite tub. I'm just trying to help and you keep arguing with me lol.

[Skittles1101]

I just read that you are using a tub, I use flexwatt (connected to a thermostat) on the bottom of my tubs and that is more than enough to keep them warm...how big of a tub is this that it's so freezing in the tank??

[kitedemon]

Hygrometers are all over the board. Good ones can be bought for not a huge amount of cash the best are calibratiable ones in either digital or analogue either will work. Cigar humidor ones seem to be the best.

On to climates. The enclosure is a simulated environment of the native region. There needs to be a temperature gradient typically 80-90 although as much as 76-94 can be ok too. Personally I keep 80-90 there is no risk at this point. The humidity between 50-80% is ok. The low end is fine but during a shed it is ideal to bump it up.

Inside the enclosure there are also areas that differ from the over all. Inside the hot hide will be hotter than the temp on the top of it. The humidity inside the hides also as it is an enclosed space will be higher. Snakes like mammals break out water vapour and that will raise humidity in an enclosed hide somewhat. Typical temp/humidity might look like this, The average temp of the air mid way up the sides and between the hot and cool sides should be 82-6 or so at least in the 80s The 'floor temps hot and cool often are 78 and 88 or so but INSIDE the hides you will likely see something like 80 and 90 or so. The humidity in the enclosure might be only 50% but the humidity inside the hide especially with a snake in it could be 5-10% more than average.

The ability to measure inside the hides is a advantage but the cheap digital dual probes are not great for accuracy and the humidity is often quite bad. Temps are much more important than humidity. Temperature dictates all metabolic functions of the snake, too cold it cannot digest reproduce or in an extreme have enough energy to move at all. The reduction of the immune system will cause illness too. Too high they become stressed and 'fidgety' and will not eat could also be burned (exposure to 100ºF for a period of time will cause a burn). Low humidity is an issue as well but is tolerated better with less severe effects. LGray23 has given you good advise you should pay attention. Read the care sheets and buy a decent temp gauge and then look for a humidity gauge most of the combos are ok but not great for accuracy, typically 2ºF +/- and 10% humidity. It varies but that is typical.
Alex

[Skittles1101]

Kitedemon, you are much better at explaining than I am, thank you