Suggestions for Temperature VS Humidity?

[ogdentrece]

Hey guys, I've been scrolling through the forums a lot and I cant seem to be finding the answer to this rather newbie question..

Currently Im running on a UTH for heating, with about 2 inches of aspen (after compacted by my ball's movement) for bedding. My UTH is on a thermostat, the glass gets to about 93-95F, and I know it shouldnt go any higher just in case my snake manages to get down to the glass he doesnt burn himself. However my floor temps somehow only reach roughly 82F with an ambient night time temp of 74-79F.

I have ambient humidity of 50-70% and half the top is mesh so decided to try a CHE for supplementary heat and maintain a hotspot of at least 86F at night. I did this successfully but my humidity dropped to 30%. It only affects night as my daytime temps are higher at about 85-90F. I've moved the water dish as close to the hot side as possible. I'm currently testing the humidity changes with the CHE after I've covered as much as I can with foil, and if that does not work I am thinking of maybe getting a small humidifier which would be turned on when the CHE turns on (both connected to the same thermostat) but that seems excessive, although I would do anything for my balls. Misting doesnt work so well, it causes huge fluctuations and spikes with humidity (especially with the use of aspen) so I dont feel safe doing that.

I dont think 82F for the hot side at night is decent sounds a little cold to me, and 30% humidity at night is a definite no. Or are they fine? So if not, how do I balance these 2; any other suggestions as to how to keep my humidity up with the CHE or how to increase heating with my UTH alone?

Thanks

[Skittles1101]

2 inches of aspen compacted is your problem with the heat....I only have about 1/2 inch of aspen and only use a UTH on a thermostat and can easily maintain a hot spot of 90 above the substrate without killing my humidity.

[RichsBallPythons]

You have too much variations in temps. Are you using stick on dial thermometers and hydrometers.

[Skittles1101]

Tried to edit but was too late....figured I'd throw in there that I use a temp gun to measure temps since Rich brought it up.

[ogdentrece]

Oh dear I appear to have made a biggg mistake I'm sorry, when I said ambient temps I meant room temps. haha my bad. Anyway I'm using digital with probe to measure and getting a temp gun so yeahh, but for the snakes its pretty stable temperature just a little low at night I guess.

@Lgray oh I didnt think it was so little for some reason I always assumed that a couple of inches was recommended. Must have read it somewhere on those caresheets online in the past and just blindly taken it to be that. Well I'll try covering most of my screen with foil anyway, i'm guessing it keeps both humidity and heat in alot more.

[Skittles1101]

Less is more, most people just use paper towels or newpaper (which I do in my racks), so a 1/2 inch of aspen is like a luxury. The heat can't get through 2 inches of packed aspen, which explains your heating troubles. As long as you have hides there is no need for "burrowing" level substrate.

[ms381]

Oh dear I appear to have made a biggg mistake I'm sorry, when I said ambient temps I meant room temps. haha my bad. Anyway I'm using digital with probe to measure and getting a temp gun so yeahh, but for the snakes its pretty stable temperature just a little low at night I guess.

@Lgray oh I didnt think it was so little for some reason I always assumed that a couple of inches was recommended. Must have read it somewhere on those caresheets online in the past and just blindly taken it to be that. Well I'll try covering most of my screen with foil anyway, i'm guessing it keeps both humidity and heat in alot more.

I also started with a good inch and a half of aspen at first but now i have reduced it to about half an inch. The heat gets through the aspen no problem connected to the thermostat. One of my snakes sits happy on the aspen, the other pushes it to the side all of the time. His temps are spot on to. Its no problem as he pees and poops always where there is aspen. So i would go with a reduced amount of aspen.