Humidity!

We cannot get Delilah's humidity right!
I think the hygrometer is wonky which is HOPEFULLY a big part of it....
But it seems to stay around 20%. I mist thoroughly several times a day, I covered part of the top with foil & duct tape (the rest is covered by the hood and a heat lamp). It seems to jump up to 50% ish when I mist, then drops right back down. We got a fogger but need to get a timer before we can actually use the thing.

I don't know what we're doing wrong, help! :(

What are you using for a substrate? I use cypress mulch which holds moisture really well. Heat lamps kill your humidity. I have 2 younger snakes housed in glass tanks with screen tops with the entire top covered in foil with cut outs for the light (compact fluorescent) and a ceramic heat emitter. I mist 2 or 3 times a week. I've found it also helps to use terrarium moss in one corner of the enclosure. In the winter months when it's really dry I hang a bath sponge in the tank and wet it daily. They are super cheap and can be replaced or boiled if you're worried about bacteria.
I would also recommend a digital hygrometer. If you're using an analog (dial) hygrometer it is probably inaccurate.

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Originally Posted by mjmullis

What are you using for a substrate? I use cypress mulch which holds moisture really well. Heat lamps kill your humidity. I have 2 younger snakes housed in glass tanks with screen tops with the entire top covered in foil with cut outs for the light (compact fluorescent) and a ceramic heat emitter. I mist 2 or 3 times a week. I've found it also helps to use terrarium moss in one corner of the enclosure. In the winter months when it's really dry I hang a bath sponge in the tank and wet it daily. They are super cheap and can be replaced or boiled if you're worried about bacteria.
I would also recommend a digital hygrometer. If you're using an analog (dial) hygrometer it is probably inaccurate.

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We are using a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo. It fluctuates wildly which is why I think it might be messed up.
The sponge is an interesting idea! I put moss in there but it doesn't seem to be doing much...
Are CHEs better than heat lamps? I really don't trust the heat bulbs, to be honest.
We have a heat pad but aren't currently using it, as the guy at the shop failed to tell us that we'd need a thermostat with it. :mad:
We are using eco earth substrate right now, but it doesn't seem to hold moisture as well as it claims.

It's so frustrating! We are trying to do everything right, and things just aren't going the way they should. Sigh.

_{I dont use eco earth for balls but i do use for my T's it can hold a ton of water. The best way to use it is to soak your bottom layer till it all most like mud then put a layer dry layer on top of hope this helps.}

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Originally Posted by J&A exotics

_{I dont use eco earth for balls but i do use for my T's it can hold a ton of water. The best way to use it is to soak your bottom layer till it all most like mud then put a layer dry layer on top of hope this helps.}

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Will doing it that way help to hold in the moisture?
I soaked all of it initially, but it dried up pretty quickly.

yes the dry layer helps protect from direct heat. I also have a corner where I add more water as needed.

I initially had trouble with humidity as well.

Before I switched from a heat bulb to a UTH, I noticed that the fake plants I put in for clutter helped a lot with holding the moisture after I misted with a spray bottle. Got me an extra 10% at least (compared to pre-cluttering), though I still had to mist the next day to keep it there.

I love my cypress. Keeps my stuff good with just misting.

Humid hides are a good option when it's hard to keep humidity consistent. Doesn't fix the whole problem but gives the snake an option when it feels the need to hydrate. A big water dish under the lamp also helps


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Originally Posted by MalachiJ

Humid hides are a good option when it's hard to keep humidity consistent. Doesn't fix the whole problem but gives the snake an option when it feels the need to hydrate. A big water dish under the lamp also helps


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I tried putting the water dish under the lamp but that didn't seem to help.
How do you set up a humid hide?

And by cypress mulch, do you mean a type of reptile bedding, or actual mulch like what you'd get from a garden store?