Bedding

[unbeatablebonz]

I just purchased a Pewter BP male. He had trouble shedding so I soaked him, and worked it out. I thought he was on the skinny side, so I contacted the breeder for insight. They told me that he was far from skinny but, look a lbit dehydrated, thus wrinkles in his skin. He suggested that I do not use aspen bedding - where that was probably the reason for his dehydration. Does this sound kosher? What substrate should be used? They suggested Coco or Orchid Bark> It's a 55 gallon, 150 watt ceramic emitter, basking spot bulb (100 watt) , UTH and a water bowl.

Thoughts?

[Missy King]

coconut husk is more efficient at holding moisture, than aspin. Do you have a screen lid? the moisture is probably evaporating too much.

you can keep him on aspin, but you should mist mist mist once-twice a day.

[Evenstar]

What are your temps and what's the humidity reading at??

The bulbs are sucking the humidity right out of your tank. A 55 gallon is huge for a BP - even for an adult. Is yours a baby? If so, it really shouldn't be in anything larger than a 20gal long and an adult does well in a 40gal breeder size. The larger the tank, the harder it is to keep the ambient temps and humidity up where they should be. You might have to get creative and come up with an idea to cover the screen top of your tank. I cover mine with wax paper and seal it around the edges with painters tape leaving a 1/2 inch gap in the screen along the back edge for ventilation. It helps a lot to keep humidity in.

BPs really don't need bulbs. If the UTH isn't doing enough for the temps, then you might consider a low-wattage CHE bulb, but the basking bulb isn't necessary. Temps should be about 80 ambient with a 90 hotspot over the UTH. You might have to boost your room temps to achieve the correct ambient temps. The reason I mention this is because if you are using bulbs to get the correct ambient temps, you're sacrificing humidity which is hard to get back with a bulb. If humidity is still low with room temps and a UTH and no bulbs, light misting will help and its easier to manage.

As far as bedding, aspen does not hold humidity well. Cypress mulch is better and coco husk and/or orchid husk is ok too. But orchid husk is hard to find and expensive. Coco husk can be "dirty". Cypress mulch works just as well, is easy to find, and its much cleaner.

Hope this is helpful!

[snake lab]

Paper.

[decensored]

aspen doesn't hold humidity very well. Your best bet is coco-husk. If your using an aquarium or a glass enclosure, you want all the help you can get when it comes to humidity.

Cheers.

[unbeatablebonz]

aspen doesn't hold humidity very well. Your best bet is coco-husk. If your using an aquarium or a glass enclosure, you want all the help you can get when it comes to humidity.

Cheers.

Thanks!

[unbeatablebonz]

coconut husk is more efficient at holding moisture, than aspin. Do you have a screen lid? the moisture is probably evaporating too much.

you can keep him on aspin, but you should mist mist mist once-twice a day.

Yes I'm using a screen lid. What do you think of fir bark?

[unbeatablebonz]

aspen doesn't hold humidity very well. Your best bet is coco-husk. If your using an aquarium or a glass enclosure, you want all the help you can get when it comes to humidity.

Cheers.

What do you think of fir bark?

[kitedemon]

I'd avoid raw fir douglas, fir is quite toxic and same for raw pine. Coco is great cyprus is also fine too I personally don't like using it for the environmental reasons associated with it. Paper is hydroscopic it actually draws moisture out of the air.

Personally I use a humidifier and just keep the snake room basically at 60% all the time. I sometimes will add a humid hide when I notice a shed starting just in case the animal needs a little extra.

[unbeatablebonz]

What are your temps and what's the humidity reading at??

The bulbs are sucking the humidity right out of your tank. A 55 gallon is huge for a BP - even for an adult. Is yours a baby? If so, it really shouldn't be in anything larger than a 20gal long and an adult does well in a 40gal breeder size. The larger the tank, the harder it is to keep the ambient temps and humidity up where they should be. You might have to get creative and come up with an idea to cover the screen top of your tank. I cover mine with wax paper and seal it around the edges with painters tape leaving a 1/2 inch gap in the screen along the back edge for ventilation. It helps a lot to keep humidity in.

BPs really don't need bulbs. If the UTH isn't doing enough for the temps, then you might consider a low-wattage CHE bulb, but the basking bulb isn't necessary. Temps should be about 80 ambient with a 90 hotspot over the UTH. You might have to boost your room temps to achieve the correct ambient temps. The reason I mention this is because if you are using bulbs to get the correct ambient temps, you're sacrificing humidity which is hard to get back with a bulb. If humidity is still low with room temps and a UTH and no bulbs, light misting will help and its easier to manage.

As far as bedding, aspen does not hold humidity well. Cypress mulch is better and coco husk and/or orchid husk is ok too. But orchid husk is hard to find and expensive. Coco husk can be "dirty". Cypress mulch works just as well, is easy to find, and its much cleaner.

Hope this is helpful!

Wow, good stuff. Thanks.... I think the setup I have is not practical - I'm considering one from ricky's reptile enclosures..... Do you have any experience with this form of housing?