Season Changing - Humidity Issue

I live in the bowels of hell, I mean Arizona and the season is starting to change. I live in a very old home with exterior walls made of cinderblock and interior walls of plaster (very had to keep cool in the summer). During the summer when I was running the swap cooler (we don't have AC) I had to turn the thermostat all the way up during the day and then kick it back a bit at night to keep temps within range. Now that the cooler months are starting my temps are fine but my humidity just dropped way low. I'm misting like a bazillion times a day, my home-made humidifier isn't helping any, and I just don't know what else to do. Every week I re-moisten the substrate (forrest bed) and it's fine for about two days then it dries out really bad. It didn't do that during the summer months. It would stay good and moist for 5 or 6 days. I have Shikara in a 40gal glass tank with a dual sliding screen top. On the hot side I have a UTH and a 100w CHE. I cover the cool side with a towel (covers 2/3 of the top). He has two hides, one on each side. There is also a ceramic water bowl (over the UTH) big enough for him to curl up in and a small tree branch for him to climb on. I measure the temps/humidity with an acurite digital 3 in 1 from walmart. Any ideas on what else I can do to keep my humidity up? I'm concidering buying a room humidifier but I'm not sure which one would be the best to buy. Any thoughts on that?

Honestly, I wouldn't kill yourself over keeping things consistent enough. These guys are more sensitive to environmental changes than we think and sometime no matter what you do, their nature prevails.

My female had been pounding rats all summer up until this week. I'm really not worried about it too much, as she ate quite a lot this past season. So basically I'm just only going to offer food every other week, if even that, until next spring.

Summary, don't worry about it unless they show symptoms of malnourishment, and just let your ball python be a ball python!

Shikara eats every 7 to 10 days and I've never had a problem with him not taking food. The only time I offered food and he refused he was 2 or 3 days away from shed. He seems fine though. I know it's important to have higher humidity during shed but how important is it during other times?

you could always just put a humidifier in the room/area that the cage/tank is in. works for me! just get a plain one from walmart/lowes/home depot.


vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

you could always just put a humidifier in the room/area that the cage/tank is in. works for me! just get a plain one from walmart/lowes/home depot.


vaughn

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Any particular brand that you'd recomend?

I run Emmerson console humidifiers in each of my snake rooms. They are pricey, but they do the trick! ;)

-adam

Where exactly would I go to purchase an Emerson Humidifier and approximately how much are they? Are there cheaper brands that are good?

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I run Emmerson console humidifiers in each of my snake rooms. They are pricey, but they do the trick! ;)

-adam

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where can nbuy on-line Emmerson console humidifiers ?

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Originally Posted by Coyotemoon

Where exactly would I go to purchase an Emerson Humidifier and approximately how much are they? Are there cheaper brands that are good?

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I get them at Home Depot ... I think they are like $240.00 each, but I've seen them on sale for $180 at times.

Sorry, I don't know if there are cheaper brands. I've only used Emmerson.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Coyotemoon

I live in the bowels of hell, I mean Arizona and the season is starting to change.

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As you know, I do as well, and I'm noticing the same drops in humidity. I'm looking forward to eliminating my glass cage with screen top. One of the suggestions I got a few weeks ago was to eliminate the lights and che's and go with completely under-belly and a thermostat. Home Depot can also custom cut a piece of something solid to replace your screen with.

I know how it is... trust me.. :) I'm misting like 4 or 5 times a day right now. I think Jake thinks he lives in Seattle for christ's sake.. Its always raining in his cage! lol Its that delicate balance of not trying to mist too much because of resp. infections from it being too wet, and other health problems from it being too low.

I think I'm going to go take some therapy for my snake ocd now. :)