Having humidity problems with my new Ball Python

[Poltergeist04]

What I'm wondering this a worst case scenario. I just got my snake today and I can't keep the humidity above 60. I'm using aspen bedding which I know isn't great and I've covered the top of the tank I use up with tin foil to try and keep it all in. My friend told me to make air bubbles with the water bowl to help increase humidity. Don't know how true that is but I'll try it. My concern is how long can a ball python live without proper constant humidity. Like if it stays at 20-30 percent humidity. I'm gonna fix the problem just would like to know what would happen if he had that humidity for a week but tank temps were fine.

[Sammiebob]

40% humidity is typically the lowest it can go for them, just raise and mist often during sheds. What temps are you keeping? What are you using as a heat source? Where is the water bowl in the tank? How many hides do you have? These questions will help us figure out how to help you

[T_Sauer]

At first I thought this was and easy fix post but then you concerned me with the 20 - 30 % sentence ..... Sammiebob is right on the money we need more info to help, I am going to assume you are using a heat lamp according to the extreme low humidy levels your inquiring about .... Heat lamps are humidity's worst enemy unless you have time to spray or mist your enclouser three times a day. A picture or description of your set up will allow us to help a lot more

[Poltergeist04]

40% humidity is typically the lowest it can go for them, just raise and mist often during sheds. What temps are you keeping? What are you using as a heat source? Where is the water bowl in the tank? How many hides do you have? These questions will help us figure out how to help you

This is how I pretty much set up my 60 gallon tank. Under the same category its a sticky for a set up for a 20 gallon tank with a big water bowl in the middle heat lamp directly above it and aspen substrate. I do have a heating pad on the hot side and tin foil on top for the screen lid in the picture of that guide. I currently only have a hide on the hot side above the heating pad. My temps are around 88-90 hot side and 80-82 cold side. When people say mist and I MISTING the whole tank nice and good? Until I see droplets on the wall? Any advice would be a appreciated! I want to keep my python happy!

[Poltergeist04]

I just turned off my heat lamp and now just gonna hope and pray my heating pad will suffice enough to make the hot side hot. Does it really need to be at 90? And what's a minimum for a cold side? I also would like help on keeping the temps high enough without using a heating lamp and tips for my current set up above please and than k you!

[blue roses]

I have the same problem. I solved it by following all the advice here, but still only had 40% humidity. I added a reptifog fogger to my setup now the humidity is up to 60-65%. good luck

[The Golem]

I just turned off my heat lamp and now just gonna hope and pray my heating pad will suffice enough to make the hot side hot. Does it really need to be at 90? And what's a minimum for a cold side? I also would like help on keeping the temps high enough without using a heating lamp and tips for my current set up above please and than k you!

The surface of the glass above the UTH should be 90, not the air temp.

Get something - very small hide, or enclosure ornament (eg small skull), or little cup and stuff it with damp sphagnum moss, that will help with humidity. It's winter, the ambient air is going to be dry no matter what.

[nucklehead97]

Get a reptifogger I have one and it works great. Just put it on low for 10 or 15 minutes like once every hour and you should be fine as thats what I do during sheds and it keeps my humidity at 70% or more.

[rowlf914]

I had the same problem with my BP until about a year ago, when I saw this really easy and inexpensive way to keep the humidity up...use a cool mist humidifier that has a top opening with a directional outlet. I found the humidifier at Menards, but you can probably get something similar at Home Depot or some other home improvement store. You need the humidifier, some vinyl tubing, and PVC fittings to make it work...I got everything at Menards and was able to get the correct size tubing and PVC fittings there as well. Since the humidifier has a variable output control I am able to adjust the mist when she is about to shed. The humidity is running at 50-55%, and I've had no issues keeping it where it needs to be. I think the whole project cost me less than $35, which is much cheaper that buying the 'reptile humidifiers, and this solution put an end to a major frustration. I cannot take credit for this idea...I found it somewhere online, and put it together that same day...quick and easy. If you don't have a Menards in your area I think you can get these humidifiers on their website.

Pics of the setup are in my image gallery at http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/brow...mageuser=56592

If you have any questions please holler, and I hope this helps you out.

Regards...Dave

[T_Sauer]

Out of curiousity how big is your ball python? You said "your new ball python" if it's a younger smaller ball like under two feet then your encloser is WAY to big for them at this point .... If you clutter it enough that works for making it feel more secure but until it gets big enough to require the big tank , a smaller enclosure would be a lot easier to control humidity.