Major Humidity issues! Please help

[Satana]

Hello, I am a new bp owner and I've searched the forum for my answers but I'm coming up a little short.

I have a 50gal tank (I know it's too big but it was given to me for free, it is modified for snakes, a friends boa was in it until she grew too big for it.) I have a lot in there for her so she isn't stressed. She is very active and eats with no problems so I know the size isn't stressing her out.

My problem is the humidity. It sits at 40% unless I mist it a lot. The lid is custom with wood and mesh. I have covered the mesh with tin foil all except the area where I have her ceramic heat emitter. I am using reptibark and I put moss around. I have a large water dish and a water dish with a sponge (I was told it would help) the bottom part of the tank has wood around it so it sits on a stand. There is no way for me to get to the glass on the bottom to put a UTH. I've heard about side mounting but I don't know if that will help.

Is there anything that I can do to get the humity up other then buying a different tank? I don't want to over mist and cause her blisters. She isn't having any problems with the lack of humidity so far but I don't want it to effect her shedding or health in the long run.

I am typing this on a phone but once I get to a computer I will post pictures of the set up.

Thank you

[Boanerges]

You could try cypress mulch or aspen as bedding. I would take that sponge out of the water bowel. It is just a breeding ground for bacteria. Pics of the set up when you can will help

[LawfulChaos]

Get rid of the ceramic heater, and the UTH needs to go on the bottom its for belly heat.

[Satana]

I will try the cypress mulch asap. Thank you

What bulb do you suggest? And I can't use a UTH on this tank.

[Skittles1101]

I suggest putting the CHE on a dimmer so it isn't as intense. I use aspen and it does pretty well with humidity. Other than misting a few times a day, you can try providing a humid hide. You can search "humid hide" in the search area and people have posted some great ideas. As long as you provide a sufficient, safe area with humidity it wouldn't be such a big deal. I suggest looking into saving up for a better enclosure. Belly heat isn't just preferred by most snake keepers, it is actually more beneficial to the snake; it helps aide in digestion.

[llovelace]

You can add the moist sea sponges to the tank to increase the humidity, leaving them in a water bowl as stated above, is a breeding ground for bacterias.

If you can't access the bottom of the tank, you can get some ceramic tile to tile the bottom of the enclosure, so that you can provide belly heat for your snake, you will just have to hot glue the cord in place coming out of the tank....

Or you can check freecyle.org or craigslist for smaller tanks.

[LawfulChaos]

You dont need a heat lamp at all, but if you cant get the UTH under the tank that could be a problem. I recommend you go by a plastic tub from walmart and use that for your snake, then go buy something else to put in that tank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-8YFl9ftks

Nicholas cage teaches you how to make a cheap and easy reptile tub, mine are kinda like this but modified slightly, I also use a homemade rheostat to regulate the UTH

[Satana]

Oh.. Question about the cypress mulch. Do you buy it from home depot? And do you need to treat it before you put it in the tank or is it safe just to put it in the tank right after buying?

[llovelace]

The HD stuff can come with extra critters in it, get it from a pet chain type place

[Satana]

The CHE is on a dimmer

And in response to the tiling of the bottom, would I get a UTH and put the tile over it?