Ambient temps and humidity problems. Help!

[brobertson]

I have had my male pastel, monty for about a month and a half. He is in a 10 gallon aquarium (he is only 200 grams) with a locking screen top(2/3 covered with plexiglass). His temps have been perfect, with a hot spot of 92, ambient hot side at 85, and cool side ambient at around 79. I achieved this using a under tank heater with a thermostat, and a ceramic heat emitter. However, he shed for the first time, and it was very bad. I added a humidity box after the bad shed was done, but im not sure if that is enough. If I take away the che, I am sure that my humidity problems would be gone, but then it would screw up my ambient temps. Should I just stick with the humidity box?

[RestlessRobie]

Pics would be very helpfull What substrate are you using? How large of a water dish are you using? I have a very similar set up and my tmeps/humidity are great so to raise humidity you can switch to a different substrate or add a larger water dish or mist 2-3 times daily Pics of your setup would be great

[kitedemon]

Yes that is the easiest just add the box at the first shed sign. A bigger water bowl might help a touch as well one that the snake can fit in is ideal.

[brobertson]

Sorry, can't get any pics, but I am using cypress mulch as substrate, my water bowl is not big at all, no way he could get in it, and he has two hides on either side that are too big, but parents don't want to buy new ones. The issue I have is not enough floor space to put bigger bowl, but I will look ino cheap new hides.

I will try to figure out the picture thing, but my camera sometimes goes haywire.

[Slim]

If you need smaller hides to accomodate a larger water bowl, you can make your own out of small cardboard boxes. May not look pretty, but will get the job done until you can get new hides.

[RestlessRobie]

Easy fix is dollar store trip
Buy plastic flower pots $1 each and a larger water bowl $1 Cut the flower pots to size and add the larger water bowel
Problem solved

[brobertson]

I just found a tissue box, cut it in half, and it fit like a glove. Now that I have the space, should I get both the humidity box and a big water bowl, or just one.

On a side note, would it work to upgrade to his adult enclosure (36 by18) when he outgrows the 10 gallon, or should I get an in between size like a 20 long. Would it cause too much stress

[RestlessRobie]

I moved all mine to 20L if you shop around they can be picked up for 20-30 bucks that should hold ya for the better part of a year or so

[Emily Hubbard]

If the enclosure is too big for the snake, you can compensate by adding more things to hide under, plants and such. Provided you don't have a baby snake in a 4 foot enclosure or something ridiculous. I don't think a 36x18 would be too big, provided he had cover. There are people who would disagree with that, but my snake has been a large enclosure her whole life and she is never stressed, always eats.

If money is an issue (when is it not?) you can buy silk plants at WalMart for about $1 each. You just want to clean them really well before you use them, and if they have any sharp plastic parts on the stems, you want to clip them off with nail clippers and then give them a quick file with a nail file til smooth. They won't hold up as long as the $15 plastic plants at the pet stores, but they will last months, and are a great way to provide extra cover in a large enclosure, or just make your set up more visually appealing.

I swear by the large water dish, personally. There are a lot of ball pythons who will never soak once in their life, but then there are some that will do it weekly, or right before shedding. How will you know what your snake wants without giving them the option? Mine likes to crawl through her water bowl, and right AFTER a shed, she likes to have a soak. Dunno, just what she does. They also do wonders for humidity. I always suggest them. They do no harm, and a lot of good.

[DooLittle]

If you don't want to waste the money on an interim tank, go to adult size. Just make sure he has enough hides and/or ground cover to feel secure.