how important is humidity to a ball python's health?

[J.Coils]

i keep my levels correct but i've always heard different opinions so i figured i'd ask you guys

[spitzu]

It doesn't matter how high it gets as long as there's no water pooling or dripping in their faces. Low humidity can cause RIs though.

[benwallage9]

extremely... Levels to low they can't shed right. Bad sheds can lead to lots of problems like eye caps being stuck on, eye caps stuck on can lead to them not eating because they can't see. You can also run the risk of getting RI if the humidity is to high or to low which would most likely end up with a expensive vet bill. Finally substrate kept damp over a long period of time can cause scale rot again expensive vet visit.

[J.Coils]

how do you guys keep the humiditiy up in your enclosures?
i have a zilla critter keeper and i have to use towels and light mist

[jason79]

I have found 50 to 55% works pretty well for my collection. Most of the time all of my bp's shed in one solid piece and I have never had an RI. I belive as long as the cage isnt constanlty wet and they are shedding mostly in one piece the humuidity is fine.

[kitedemon]

RI is an infection but can be broken down to finer classes that all seem to fall under RI, viral infection, pneumonia fungal and bacterial, parasitic.

High humidity and low air flow can lead to RI and others the perfect bacteria breeding ground. Low humidity leads to bad sheds and excessively low for long periods (20% and lower) can cause lung issues although I have never seen any DMV state that low humidity causes RI at least in as far as my reading has gone anyway. Viral is serious and deadly and doesn't respond to treatment well. Fungal is often mistaken as bacterial, can be caused by high humidity and poor ventilation, it can be easily treated. Bacterial is pneumonia is similar but needs a different treatment. Parasitic is not RI at all but has similar symptoms.

Shedding issues unless severe are not life threatening just inconvenient.

ref, What's Wrong with My Snake? Dr. J Rossi
Understanding Reptile Parasites Dr. R Klingenberg

[J.Coils]

yeah i've always considered it to be very important to the well being off balls so i always make sure my leverl are between 50 and 60% and higher when the shed is on.
i just wanted other thoughts on it

thanks for the replies

[RetiredJedi]

Ok so if I am using a tub with UTH and newspaper substrate, and how do I keep the humidity down? I have holes drilled in the sides and a small water bowl. Everything seems to be good except the humidity being mid to high 70's and some time in the. 80's.

[kitedemon]

Ok so if I am using a tub with UTH and newspaper substrate, and how do I keep the humidity down? I have holes drilled in the sides and a small water bowl. Everything seems to be good except the humidity being mid to high 70's and some time in the. 80's.

More ventilation. holes along the top edge are not very efficient. Warm air rises and escapes but allowing cool air in the cycle has to reverse. So the tub breaths in and out. Air holes low and high will allow cool air in and warm to escape.

[Teacher's Pet]

Ok so if I am using a tub with UTH and newspaper substrate, and how do I keep the humidity down? I have holes drilled in the sides and a small water bowl. Everything seems to be good except the humidity being mid to high 70's and some time in the. 80's.

My issue is the opposite. I'm still trying to increase the humidity because it hovers in the 45% range. I also keep fiddling with the temperature on both sides. First it was way too wide a range (78°-98°!!) and now it's all the same (86°) on both sides.