Help with humidity, please

[kittiekat414]

When I bought my ball python, the salesman was rather ignorant, and didn't tell me much. But he did say that it was humid enough here to not have to worry. Whatever! Its not nearly humid enough for my guy Nathan (I tried that popping thing, by the way, and he most definitely is a male).

What is the best way to provide humidity, and keep it monitored. And I mean, step-by-step dumbing it down, lol. I'm moving back to AZ at the end of summer, and he will need all the humidity I can give him!

[starmom]

If you have him in a tank change it out for a reptile cage (I use Reptile Basics cages) or a tub. This will really be an easy way to deal with lack of humidity
I live in the high desert of central Oregon and our humidity is really low. My rack system and all of my reptile cages hold the humidity really well. When the snakes go into blue, I throw in a little long fiber sphagnum moss and its all okay again!!

[snakelady]

If you have him in a tank change it out for a reptile cage (I use Reptile Basics cages) or a tub. This will really be an easy way to deal with lack of humidity
I live in the high desert of central Oregon and our humidity is really low. My rack system and all of my reptile cages hold the humidity really well. When the snakes go into blue, I throw in a little long fiber sphagnum moss and its all okay again!!

In the mean time, throw a wet towel on top of the tank that will help for now. Just leave a small gap for air flow.

[kittiekat414]

What is the difference between a tank and a cage? I have him in a glass tank right now, but am going to get him a new home soon. I would think a glass tank would be GOOD for humidity, not the other way. And what do you mean go into blue?

[starmom]

Woops, sorry.
Okay, a glass tank is a fish tank and they are not easy to hold heat and humidity. It's a juggling act at best and takes a lot of tweaking to get right.

This is a reptile cage: http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html and it will hold you ball python for his whole life! These cages hold heat and humidity really well and are made to house reptiles They are super easy to clean and I am really sold on the radiant heat panels for the heat source; I really think they are much more aligned with a natural way of heating (the sun!)

Going into blue, or going opaque, simply means that the eyes of the snake have changed color (or are changing color); one indication of being in the shed cycle

Hope this clears up the confusion I caused!

[BMorrison]

If you wanna stay with a tank (which is what I chose)
Try covering 2/3rd's of the top with wet towels. Wash them every week and mist down some moss in the tank every 2 days. Put quite a bit of moss in there. Stuff the hides a little (they enjoy curling up in that stuff). Whatever you do. Good luck.

[Argentra]

Rather than the towels, which are a pain to keep clean and should only be used as a booster anyway, try covering the screen top with the foil treatment:



3 layers of foil, shiny side down, held on with a layer of duct tape. Leave an opening (i.e. uncovered section) on one end for ventilation. I also put in a 'window' of vinyl in the middle for light to pass through. This treatment, plus insulation of the back and sides (anything from felt, to cork board, to foam) will hold heat and humidity just fine.

[kittiekat414]

Well, thats all good to know what my government rebate check is going to get spent on, lol! Thanks a lot, I have my shopping cart all ready for check out, complete with a heater system and lighting all built in. I can't wait! Only one thing: I have been feeding him in separate tanks, but I think I'm going to stop. But the way this cage opens, it seems like it would be difficult to feed him in there. How do you do it? I don't feed him live rats. Oh, and on that note, I wonder if there is any place I can order him rats online for less than the fortune I pay at PetSmart? (He needs bigger ones than PetSmart sells already anyways) I found a website that sounds good, but the shipping is outrageous unless you order bulk, and I just can't do bulk orders yet, I don't have the freezer space. Anything will be helpful.

[starmom]

If you got one from RBI, all you need to do is open the door and feed the snake!! I'm not certain I understand what you're asking...

I feed F/T and so I thaw the rats around the cages until smooshy, blah blah blah. Then I open the cage door and I hold the rat with the hemostats and make it do the little zombie dance and out comes the snake from the hide (usually they are already half way out of the hide) and- WHAM - yum yum yum!!!!

No, you never have to feed in another container again!!!!

Did you go for the radiant heat panel?

As for rats, check The Mouse Factory. Excellent rodents and they charge you just what it costs them to ship. Give Edna a call.

[kittiekat414]

No, I did the under tank heater, on account of how poor I am, lol. But his temp is never really what I'm worried about, when I move back to AZ even room temp stuff is hot! Its the humidity that I worry about. But I'm sure I can make it work. Man, I'm glad I joined this site, I'm learning a bunch! I think Nathan is a bit more active than a normal, python, but maybe I'm wrong. I mean, when in his tank he's usually curled up and hiding, but about twice a week I have to take him out and let him roam around, or he seems to get all frustrated, poking around to be let out. As soon as he's had his fill of exercise, he curls up and I put him back in his tank, and he's happy again. Is that normal?