Humidity gradient in a large vivarium

Is it OK for my enclosure to have a wide range of humidity? The hottest spot is 93F and 48%, the coldest spot is 75F and 80%. (measured with two different digital thermometer/hygrometers which appear to agree with each other on each measurement).

My rather tiny (210g) 2yr old female BP has been living in a rather large 36x24x18inch wooden vivarium heated by a RHP on the ceiling. There is a basking table (with hide) at the hot end (the hottest spot), two other hides plus a box with a small amount of spagnum moss. She currently has a very large water dish near the middle. I realise the enclosure is huge for her size, but she has been eating beautifully for me. However, she avoids the coldest hide (I've only noticed her in there once).

Is the high humidity on the cold end reason for concern?
Should I be looking to increase the cold end temperature?
Should I abandon the huge vivarium and put her in a tub until she's bigger, or does the fact she's eating mean that she's comfortable?

A ball python that's eating well, pooping and shedding is always a pretty good sign. 75 degrees on the cool side is a bit cold for my taste. I like to keep the cool side around 80 degrees, but in such a large enclosure, with such a large temp gradient, she should be able to avoid it if she wants.

I would be less worried about the 48% humidity on the low end than I would be about the 80% on the high end. 80% is pretty high, and in a wooden vivarium, I'd be concerned about her laying in wet substrate.

I like tubs because they are easy to set up and maintain, but I understand they aren't everyone's tin of biscuits.

So, there's the same amount of moisture in the air throughout the vivarium. It's just that warm air can hold a great deal more moisture than cool air, so the steep humidity gradient is directly related to the steep temperature gradient. If you raise the temperature of the cool end by a couple of degrees you'll see that 80% drop, and vice versa if you lower the temp in the hot end by a couple degrees. Not saying you have to do that, just explaining how relative humidity is measured.

What's your ambient temperature and humidity? I have similar sized wooden viv with a RHP and my temps sound pretty close to yours. In mine I measure humidity at the overall ambient temperature, which is in the low-to-mid 80s, and aim for 60-70% RH. This seems to work great for my ball python.

As for the enclosure size, big is fine as long as you provide enough hides/clutter/visual barriers to make the snake feel secure and well-hidden.

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Originally Posted by Pug50

Is the high humidity on the cold end reason for concern?
Should I be looking to increase the cold end temperature?
Should I abandon the huge vivarium and put her in a tub until she's bigger, or does the fact she's eating mean that she's comfortable?

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I keep my BP in a larger vivarium than that, 4 foot, the 80% humidity is a bit high on the cool end, and the 48% humidity in the hot end is alright. If the moss is in the cool end, move it into the middle, and if you can, shift the water bowl up to the hotter end; this all seemed to help me balance it out. The cold end temperature should be increased, maybe to the range of 79-81. I don't use an RHP to heat my 4 foot, I use a red heat lamp in the hot end guarded by a heat guard, and that seems to make a nice gradient, and keeps the humidity balanced. The "huge vivarium" isn't a bother, since your ball python is eating and isn't showing any signs of stress (?), I had my ball python in a 3 foot vivarium ever since I got him, when he was only 5 months of age, and he was able to easily acclimate to his new surroundings.

If I was able to (was at home), I would show you all this. xD

PS, I assume that you are using something such as a microclimate to control your heat source. If you want to try balance that gradient out, turn the thermostat down to 89/90 and move the probe down the vivarium a bit, just about 3/4 on the back of the wall. That way, the hot end's final 1/4 will still get to 91-92, and the cool end will warm up a bit more (at least, that's how I balanced my gradient).

Thanks all!

In the middle of the enclosure, ambient is 86F and 63%. When I next do a full clean, I'll install my "backup" ceramic heat bulb and thermostat over the cold end to bring it up to 80F - hopefully that will bring the humidity perfect. At the moment, she just gone into blue so I'll leave her alone until she'd finished shedding.

At the moment, my main thermostat is measuring near the top on the cold end, and I'm monitoring the effect on the hot end using a thermometer. I know this isn't ideal - when I install the second heat source and thermostat, I'll make sure both thermostats are measuring the actual position where the snake resides.

I'm relieved to hear that I'm not harming her with the large enclosure - she appears unstressed; In the morning when I change her water, she normally pokes her head/neck out of her hide to see what I'm doing without striking or looking aggressive. When I handle her, she is quite active but seems confident and doesn't puff up. I've never heard her hiss. So I think she's happy, as far as this snake-newbie can tell.

Remember to install a heat guard for that ceramic bulb. Be aware that a second heat source, such as a ceramic bulb, will cause the air to dry out faster, so you might have an even harder time retaining the humidity. I really can't understand why you're finding it hard to keep a good heat gradient... In my 4 foot, I can get a 90/91 hot end, then the gradient moves down to the left (cool spot) to 79/80/81.. xD

Will do - I have a wire mesh guard for the heat bulb.

I think the extreme heat gradient is due to the room being pretty cold - about 59F. The viv is in a small walk-in wardrode and I like my bedroom cold. I guess the ideal solution would be to put an oil-filled radiator in the wardrobe, but my preference is to leave the wardrobe door open. And, the room temp issue will resolve itself soon enough when the season changes.