Potential RI: To fog or not to fog

[Sissys-mom]

I've now stabilized my temperature, but even with the tinfoil trick I saw on here, I still can't get my humidity to stay above 40 percent. I'm thinking of an ultrasonic fogger, what are you're thoughts? I think she's developing an ri, so I need to get this problem fixed quickly. She's a ball python, about 14 inches, the aquarium is 10 gallons with a 79-81 cool side and a 91 warm side, 2 hides, a branch, and a water dish, aspen bedding.

[KMG]

Have you tried putting a damp cloth over the screen but under the foil?

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I just read your other post what are the signs of RI you have?

[KMG]

I have never used a fogger but think it might be overkill in that little tank. I would cover the same parts of the screen that you covers in foil with a damp cloth and then put the foil over the cloth.

Also a good way to help keep the humidity up in a problem tank is in its hides. Get moss(for sale at every pet store) and follow the directions. Take a protion and place a bedding in each hide. Also I find that misting the interior roof of the hide keeps a good amount of humidity within the hide. I do this during shed. The moss in the hide will create a microclimate and even though the tank humidity is not high it will be higher within the hide. This is not a fix to the problem but will help keep your snake healthy while you fix the problems since BP's are almost always in their hide.

You can then take the left over moss and place it around the tank floor. Then when you mist make sure to get it nice and damp and it will help raise your humidity.

If you continue to have problems you could move to a rubbmaid container, depending on your heat set up. They are great at holding humidity and you would have no problem finding one for a baby BP. We can cross that bridge if it comes to it. I hope this info can get you where it needs to be.

[DooLittle]

If you have RI, I would get to the vet.

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[Sissys-mom]

Took her to the vet. She's healthy, no signs of anything wrong, for which I'm very thankful. She was very curious and had her tongue flicking constantly, but didn't protest at all during the exam. She didn't seem to mind her carrier. I'm going to try to feed her again in the morning to see if she'll take anything now that her temperatures are correct. Misted the inside of her cage well, including the bottom of the tinfoil. We'll check the humidity when I wake up (work nights), but I need to figure something out. A waterfall maybe? Ugh, shoulda gone for a twenty gallon..

[Stewart_Reptiles]

40% is fine no need for a fogger.

[Kaorte]

40% isn't really THAT bad. I wouldn't use a waterfall or a fogger. If you have pretty high ambient temps in your house (75 and above) you could move her to a tub. Then you will never ever have humidity problems.

What makes you think she still might be developing an RI?

[Sissys-mom]

Well I heard a clicking noise when she was by my ear, but it mustve been nothing because the vet checked her out and she's healthy. A full 2 oz at 14". The temp in out house stays pretty cool, around 72-74 degrees, and we always have fans blowing, side affect of summer in Louisiana.

[kitedemon]

RI is rarely caused by low humidity. It is however often caused by high humidity in a poorly vented enclosure. Many of the solutions for tanks involves dramatically altering the ventilation of a tank. personally I don't agree with this treatment especially considering the nature of the dead air spots in tanks. (corners) anyway bumping up humidity isn't hard when you think about air movement and how humidity escapes. Typically substrate choice and water bowl size and location will alter this problem some and adding a water mass the rest. Top vents need lots of water mass. I use coco husk substrate as it hold huge amounts of water and it will reabsorb that again after drying out. I used to bank the substrate over the cool hide quite deep (2-4 inches) While the hot side remains less than 1/2 inch. Under the cool side I place a plant drip tray completely buried under the substrate. I poke my finger down to it and fill it with water. The surface does not get soaked but the under layers become saturated and leach water vapour up to the upper layers. I found 20-30% increase in RH on the cool side. and 5-10% on the warm side.

[Sissys-mom]

I bought a mini rock waterfall from Walmart tonight. Put it in the cool area so she would still have a clear basking spot on the warm side. We'll see in the morning if it helps. Hopefully with the tinfoil covering more than half the top it will, with the drinking bowl already in there. If this doesn't work, I'm thinking of changing the substrate to phagnum moss. I use aspen right now.