Help- New BP owner Temp and Humidity problems

[codyhmrck]

So I recently got a Normal Ball Python named Udon. I bought a 40gal snake kit Zoo Med tank from petsmart and I’m having difficulty keeping the temperature and humidity right.

First with the Temperature.
There is a 16w UTH that I am using with a Thermostat. The temperature on the hot side won’t get hot enough when I set my thermostat to 90 degrees. It stays around 78-80. There is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of coconut fiber substrate. So I have been trying to compensate by raising its temperature and I have a 75 watt basking bulb trying to bring the temperature up. It is not working. The temperature on the cool side sits at 73-75 degrees. I know that is to low.

Now for Humidity.
i was using aspen bedding but the humidity kept falling to 40%. I was having to spray the tank multiple times a day to bring it up. I switch to coconut fiber cause I read that it hold water better and will help with humidity. There is a large water dish as well. So now the humidity was staying between 50-65 when I put a wet towel on one side of the top. I checked last night and it was at 80 so I took the towels off and that helped.

im not sure what else to do because I feel like I’m just chasing these temperatures and humidity levels and it’s wearing me out.

[codyhmrck]

Here are some links to pictures of the enclosure. I didn't know how to upload pictures.
https://i.imgur.com/0jAwAhz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ngz2Azh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XhM0cs1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Jp7i96j.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sSK77Lp.jpg

[EL-Ziggy]

Congrats on the new BP. I use pvc enclosures and I usually have to set my t-stats at 92-94 to get a hot spot of 86-90. My humidity stays around 50% during summer and drops as low as 30% during the winter months. I rarely mist my enclosures but will do so on occasion if an animal is prepping to shed or if I just want to make it rain for the critters. I believe hydration is more important than humidity. Best wishes with the new addition.

[Craiga 01453]

First off, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

Since you got the ZooMed kit, I'm assuming your relying on those dial style analog thermometers/hygrometers?

If so, they're wildly inaccurate up to 15% or 15°. Unfortunately, most of what comes with that kit is crap. They honestly should just take them off the market.

I'm assuming (forgive me if I'm wrong) that you're not measuring the actual surface temp. You'll need to get a temp gun and measure the actual glass surface. Snakes can and will burrow and push substrate around, so they're in direct contact with the surface. So that's hot spot temp you need. You'll likely need to set your tstat between 92-94 to get the surface to be 88-89. So start low and work your way up till you hit 88-89 on the surface.

It's important to understand that your heat mat is there solely to provide a hot spot to aid in digestion and allow the snake to thermoregulate.

You'll also need a thermostat for your heat lamp. That is how you control your cook side and ambient temps. If yours is running wide open right now you run the risk of heat spikes that can cause neurological damage or even be fatal for your snake.
If you're not reaching the temps you're looking for you'll need a higher wattage bulb.

It's important to start with your temps, then get humidity dialed in. There are plenty of tricks to boost humidity, and you already made a nice move switching substrates. Aspen sucks for humidity control.

Get your temps situated and check on humidity from there. Once temps are dialed in we can help you with humidity.


Lastly, I just want to stress the importance of getting your enclosure set up and equipment running and dialed in BEFORE bringing an animal home. This will save a LOT of stress on the keeper and more importantly the animal.

But oh well, we live and learn. You'll be more prepared for your next snake, hehehehe.
Snakes and tattoos, I know very few people with just one!

Good luck. Ask all the questions you may have, we're happy to help.


Oh, I just looked at the pics and it hit me....
Where is your thermostat probe located?

[codyhmrck]

Thanks for your reply. So I am using a temp gun to measure the surface temp of anywhere I want to measure and for my thermostats probe, it is under the substrate on top of the glass above the UTH. I have a digital thermometer/ hygrometer with the hygrometer probe set on the back side of the tank in the middle and the temperature probe under substrate of his cool hide cause its hard to measure the temperature in there. I had a higher watt bulb in but it was sucking the humidity out and making everything too hot. So i went from 100 to 75.

I feel like my heat mat isn't working correctly or something because It doesn't get the substrate anywhere near 90 degrees. I don't know what to do with it. I took Udon out of the enclosure so I could test the temperature and I could crank the thermostat to 120 and it still wouldn't get to the right temperature underneath his hot hide.

[Craiga 01453]

Ok, forget about measuring the substrate. You need to measure the glass.

And as for the bulb, if it was regulated by a thermostat it wouldn't get too hot. The thermostat would control that.

Yeah, bulbs zap humidity, but unless you can afford to spring for a RHP (Radiant Heat Panel) that's just part of figuring the puzzle out.

Also, the thermostat probe goes OUTSIDE the enclosure, snadwiched between the UTH and the glass. Keeping it inside it will be moved, peed on, pooped on, laid on, etc... All of which can cause inaccurate readings that can result in dangerous heat spikes.

Again, that's why it's best to do this BEFORE bringing the animal home.

[MattEvans]

You want the glass underneath the substrate around 90. And you really want you thermostat probe underneath the glass sandwiched between the uth and glass. That will prevent it from moving or getting wet. Which could cause the temp to rise to unsafe levels.

[codyhmrck]

So should I be measuring the substrate at all? I put the thermostat probe underneath the tank in between the mat and the glass.

[Craiga 01453]

So should I be measuring the substrate at all? I put the thermostat probe underneath the tank in between the mat and the glass.

You can use your temp gun to check other spots, particularly inside the cool side hide. But aside from the hot spot surface temps you can focus on ambient temps throughout the rest of the enclosure.

Keep up the good work. There's a lot to learn. But I promise it gets easy once you have all the right equipment and everything is dialed in. Then it's just daily equipment checks.
You're doing a nice job asking questions, showing you're eager to kearn and applying what you learn, so you're definitely on the right track!

[codyhmrck]

Where should I put my probe for the ambient temperature of the tank? And is the light primarily used to keep the ambient temp up?