How to find temp and humidity balance?

I'm having a hard time getting my tanks temp up while keeping the humidity where it should be. I have a 7 month old BP in a 20 gallon tank. I have an UTH under a hiding rock but because I'm using cheap thermometers that don't use probes I can't say for sure how far off I am. Regardless, to get the air temp up, I use a heat lamp with a 100 watt bulb in it which just zaps the humidity. I've tried using moss and bark as bedding to try to help with humidity, but my snake doesn't like it as he won't leave his rock until I remove it. I'm finding that I'm having to mist down my tank 3-4 times a day. What am I doing wrong or what can I do differently? I was thinking of getting a lower watt bulb to see how that helps.

Cover the top of your tank with foil and leave two cut outs, one big enough for your heat lamp and then a 2"x2" on the opposite end for air. That should help keep your humidity in. Now as for the UTH, don't keep that in the tank. If what Im reading is correct, you have it in the tank under the hide? Bad juju. Under tank is under tank, so keep it under tank lol. Also, if you havent done so yet, you need to regulate the temp that the UTH puts out. They can get up to 130 degrees and burn/kill your snake. Best way to do this is get a thermostat or a dimmer and hook it up to it. I recommend, for just one tank and one UTH, a ZooMed Repti 300R, theyre at your local pet shop and cost about 22 bucks. Or you can wire one in yourself, if youre handy, and get a dimmer switch from Lowe's or Home Depot and use that, but it'll require some fiddling. Also, for thermometers, a good one to get is from Walmart called an Accurite, theyre 12 bucks and gauge two temps and humidity and come with a 10 ft probe. Best bang for your buck IMO. Ill post pics and links in the next post.

Tin foil...That's interesting for sure. As for the UTH, it is indeed under the tank lol. I'll wait for your pics to see what I need.

Foil on top. I lined it with plastic wrap up to the lamp and covered the rest in foil. I used the plastic wrap/foil combo and it worked well for me.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img00300.jpg

Sphagnum moss added to bump humidity over one of his hides.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/img00297.jpg

Thermostat for cheap
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

What you'll be looking for at Walmart
http://willowtreehome.com/Merchant2/...01/00891A1.jpg

Keep in mind that the whole set up was before I moved on to tub and racks. Ever since, I havent had an issue with humidity and have no reason for my big bag of moss. But some people prefer tanks, so Im not going to tell you that you need to switch or else! But there are definite ways to improve the performance of a tank.

You might want to insulate it as well, covering 3 sides with styrofoam or corkboard to maintain temps better. It'l make life easier for you, I promise.

I appreciate your help. I'll probably have to try to hit up a Petco or something as I live in Canada but travel to the states every few weeks. Do you know if Petco would carry the ReptiTemp?

The one around me does. Why don't you just order it online?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611
Shipping info on the bottom.

Just as an alternative. I place a damp washcloth over the screen and cover that with a piece of foil. You'll know when the cloth is dry because it starts absorbing humidity thereby dropping the read out. Not as pretty looking but I don't need moss except that it didn't get high enough during shed so I had to mist a few times a day. Maybe I'll try moss for that but the misting wasn't much work.

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Originally Posted by withonor

Just as an alternative. I place a damp washcloth over the screen and cover that with a piece of foil. You'll know when the cloth is dry because it starts absorbing humidity thereby dropping the read out. Not as pretty looking but I don't need moss except that it didn't get high enough during shed so I had to mist a few times a day. Maybe I'll try moss for that but the misting wasn't much work.

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IF you put the foil over the top and mist, it will maintain humidity just fine. Constantly rewetting a damp cloth would be a nuisance to me, personally. This is a permanent, working solution that you dont really have to ever mess with.

How often are you misting though? Also, if you are using a UTH, is it necessary to use a heat lamp also? I just went and fixed up a set up like yours with the foil and put some bark and moss on top and behind his hiding rock. I need to get on that reptitemp though because I put my hand in his rock and it's hot. He's out and about on his nightly stroll.

And the reason I don't want to order online is because once it hits the border, we get punched in the face with duty fee's, sometimes the same price as the item.

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Originally Posted by justinsane82

How often are you misting though? Also, if you are using a UTH, is it necessary to use a heat lamp also? I just went and fixed up a set up like yours with the foil and put some bark and moss on top and behind his hiding rock. I need to get on that reptitemp though because I put my hand in his rock and it's hot. He's out and about on his nightly stroll.

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Misting as needed really. The Acu Rite will let you know when it's time. After the foil method I was misting maybe once a week.

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Originally Posted by justinsane82

And the reason I don't want to order online is because once it hits the border, we get punched in the face with duty fee's, sometimes the same price as the item.

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Didnt know that. Well then yeah just try the Petco or whatever area you're in see about local pet shops if Petco doesnt have it.


Another thing you can do for humidity is get a bigger water bowl btw. And for the head under his hot rock, to kind of tone it down you can elevate the tank OVER the UTH to let some air come thru and cool it down a bit. You could also increase the thickness of the substrate over that spot as well. Try folding up some newspaper then puttin the substrate over it. If youre using aspen or something like that. If youre using newspaper already just add a thick layer over it.

Sounds good. I very much appreciate your advice. I can't imagine only having to mist once a week lol. Should I also lower the wattage of my bulb? Online mentions using a 50 watt bulb.

I havent heard anything about bulb wattage. I just bought one from the reptile section of Petco and called it good.

An UTH alone isn't going to be able to warm the whole tank. It's only there to be a hot spot really. Especially in a 20 gal tank. My set up was a 20gal tank as well, and I found that I needed the heat lamp. I switched it for a ceramic heat emitter after dealing with the hassle of switching bulbs from night to day and shutting down lights at night. So if there's any recommendation of mine that would be it, swap the lamp (because they dont really need the light anyway) for a CHE and you should be good.

Oh and welcome to the community and the addiction. Totally forgot. This site is great for any and all information you need on BPs and so many others. Careful though, you might get hooked on the morphs and see your collection expand quickly.

I also keep my BP's in tanks ( havent built my racks yet ) the foil works well as i'm sure you see that already. I posted the same question awhile back, one thing I have done before that helps is make a humidity tight hide.. to do so you get a tub-a-ware container w/ lid about the same size as your regular tight hide.. get spagum moss ( go to home depot or lowes to get it, it costs less then pet stores) on the side of the container cut a hole the same size that your tight hide has. take the spagum moss and wet it and drain out the extra water in the container, put the lid back on and put it in the tank under the light. it will add humidity and helps when your BP gets ready to shed. ( my Blood loves her's ). Enojy your new addiction, it only gets worse:D but soooo worth it.

Cheers

It would be hard to try to fit in another hide in a 20 gallon tank. I think he's going to need an upgrade in the next few months so I can then explore that option. As for the foil trick, does it have to be foil or could I take some card board and wrap it with plastic wrap?

replace the old hide with the humidity hide.. I used just tin foil and taped it to the screen top.. I think the heat from the lamp will melt the plastic, but i'm not sure.

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Originally Posted by justinsane82

It would be hard to try to fit in another hide in a 20 gallon tank. I think he's going to need an upgrade in the next few months so I can then explore that option. As for the foil trick, does it have to be foil or could I take some card board and wrap it with plastic wrap?

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Doubtful that he will need an upgrade.

These snakes do not need room to slither around. They are shy and secretive and will spend almost all of their time in their hides. If your snake is not hiding during the day and most of the night then there is something wrong.

You should be able to easily shove two appropriately sized hides and a water bowl into a 20g tank.

Just an update...I picked up a ceramic heater, covered the top as instructed, used some eco earth as a base with some aspen on top and it's working great. I haven't even had to mist the tank since posting so thanks for all the suggestions.