How Important is Humidity?

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Originally Posted by Ash

I can't help but believe that high humidity does more damage than good to these snakes.

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Low humidity and cold temps are much worse than high humidity.
My tubs are usually around 60% till I push the water bowl over the heat and it goes up to 75 to 80 percent.
Never had an RI but I don't let ambient temps go under 75 either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ash

I told her what I'd heard; that higher humidity is better for the most part (60 - 80%).

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Not sure where you heard that. Steady humidity levels around 45%-50% are fine...and can be bumped to around 60% for a shed phase if necessary. Maintaining a constant level above 60% is not necessary and too much humidity can cause its own problems.

Still...overall, I'd rather err on the side of a little too humid than too dry. You say you don't pay attention to it...but you don't say what your average humidity levels are. They may naturally stay at the moderate level needed to have healthy sheds. (And lucky you that they do!)

I know for sure if I don't pay attention to it, especially now that I'm in Colo Sprgs where the air is very dry...my poor babies have VERY tough sheds. Our first shedding cycle here was a mess. Haven't had a second cycle yet since we moved...but I can promise you I'm paying a lot more attention to it.

To the OP:

You don't pay attention to your humidity, but then again you live in So-Cal..

I start complaining about MY discomfort with the lack of humidity in our Minnesota winters. We had 5% humidity for much of last winter, and that's when I've experienced bad ball python sheds. I no longer keep BPs, but if I was, I would HAVE to have a generous amount of moistened sphagnum moss in their cage during winter to keep humidity at bare minimum levels.

Too wet is bad. Too dry is bad. I think that the care sheets probably could use tweaking.

Personal experience - ALL 3 of my bp's stopped eating on their first winter when humidity in their tanks dropped to 10% when I turned the heat lamp on to raise ambient temps. It took me a while to figure out how to keep their tanks at a steady 55% - about a month. A week of stable 55% humidity and all 3 of them started to eat. 2 of them were under 600grams, 1 was 900 grams at that time.

I pay attention to humidity. Always.