humidity question

so i have always wondered what having to low of humidity will do to your ball python except for the obvious shedding problems??

Respiratory infection, bad sheds, dehydration

Dented eye caps! A good visual indication your humidity is too low. A general dried out look. I think the biggest and most annoying problems are bad sheds :/

RI is a not likely at all. Bad shed and in servere cases dehydration.

Bad incomplete shed!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

RI is a not likely at all. Bad shed and in servere cases dehydration.

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RI is possible from both high or low humidity.
Cleanliness of habitat, temperatures and, a source of pathogen are also mitigating factors.

High humidity allows many pathogens to proliferate increasing overall exposure.
Low humidity and the associated dehydrating effect compromise physical barriers such as mucous membranes or eye flushing. This is why colds are more common in the winter, it is drier air more than temp's(for warm blooded animals atleast) that increase infection rates.
With cold blooded animals temp's outside of norm's could disable proteins related to the normal immune system.

EDIT: I noticed you are in Canada. With the warmer weather coming if you had a successful breeding season let me know if you have any male Yb+ other morphs. Also seeking fire, enchi, lucifer(and any other "cleaner" morphs). The Desert project is looking less promising after considering someone would no doubt try to breed resulting females sold cheap as "pet quality only" despite any warnings I give.

I said unlikely it would have to be extended periods of very dry to dehydrate a snake enough to have large impact upon mucus membranes. The snake also would likely need to be non feeding as well. Bacteria is reduced as climates dry fungi also, many parasites too don't do well in drier environments. That leaves viral which thankful is the least common RI carrier. I 100% agree temps are related too high or too low ambient temps are likely the cause of 80% of RI and most other disorders. There is clear evidence of poor ventilation and high humidity causing a bloom of bacterial, fungal growth. This high levels exacerbate RI in a serious way. Low humidity coupled with non feeding and no free water available is likely to lead to illness almost certainly in fact but I think the op has intended that lower humidity not coupled with gross neglect. It is not very likely that a healthy well cared for animal will not tolerate lower (30-40%) humidity for weeks if not month with little to no ill effects.

Many fail to understand relative humidity is relative to temperature.