PLEASE HELP! i got humidity probs

ooook soo i got 2 aquariums for my 2 ball pythons.. they are both 10 gallon.. both with screen tops... i have a undertake heater on both of them.. and a lamp on one (i had one for both but one of the bulbs went out have yet to get another).. i have a cardboard covering a lil bit more the 3/4 of the screen top on both of them.. i also use newspaper as the bedding in both...

in the one with out the light i have 2 dog dishes with water on both the cold and hot side.. that are also used as her hides.. and the humidity is only 41% for the high.. and the temp is 80-85 during the day and 75-81 at night.. i use to mist it but that would only keep humidity up for 15min.. not very long..

in my other tank i had the humidity WAS up at 50-60% and temps 80-87 all day and 75-81 at night.. but then i had a prob.. she was using the dog dish which is now in my other bps aquarium.. and also using a small bucket with water to keep humidity up.. but now she only has the small bucket on the cold side .. the side with no under tank heater.. i had to take the dog dish out because its too small for her.. she got her head stuck in it :rofl:.. i laugh now but when it happend i wasn't laughing.. but i didn't want her to hurt herself trying to get out if she got stuck again so thats why i moved it... ps my other bp is like 2 times as small.. so im not worried about her getting stuck.. s

so now her aquarium is is down to around 40% humidity.. which is not good enough... luckily my bigger bp shed the day before she got her head stuck.. lol.. she had a COMPLETE SHED!!!!

so i hope i gave all the info that is needed... and i hope somebody can give me some advice as to how to get the humidity up thanks!!!

sorry this was so long!

If your using screen lids on the top, i suggest covering 90% of the screen with foil and taping it down. Cut a hole out for the heat lamp if needed. This should raise your humidity up at least 5-10% with a daily misting.

i covered my lid with foil and have a small hole for the light which is on a low rheostat setting. i have two UTH's tho so i only use the light for ambient temps.

Cardboard and newspaper both suck up humidity. Leave the newspaper substrate and put something different over the top of the cage like aluminum foil or stretch wrap to trap water.

My friend, I used to have this issue and with the help of some members here, it's been addressed. First, when they say use tin foil, they aren't joking. It helps a lot. Secondly, try to pick up ceramic heater bulbs rather than heat lamps. The light zaps the humidity. That right there should fix the issue with the foil. However, you might want to look at new substrate. I use a mix of eco-earth and aspine and it holds the humidity in great, sometimes too much.

I'm pretty new (got mine in October) to this, but I have the same type setup except I use Aspen. The only way I've been able to keep up the humidity is with a damp hide. You can find directions on here, but it's damp Spaghum Moss in a container such as a margarine (I got a cave for Xmas) tub. She goes in there when she wants some wetness, and it keeps the whole tank at around 60%

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by justinsane82

My friend, I used to have this issue and with the help of some members here, it's been addressed. First, when they say use tin foil, they aren't joking. It helps a lot. Secondly, try to pick up ceramic heater bulbs rather than heat lamps. The light zaps the humidity. That right there should fix the issue with the foil. However, you might want to look at new substrate. I use a mix of eco-earth and aspine and it holds the humidity in great, sometimes too much.

---

ooops i forgot to also add in there that i do use tin foil... i have it tapped to the piece of cardbord i use... and where could i get the bulbs you are talking about? and do i just use them in my lamp that i already have?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bivman

I'm pretty new (got mine in October) to this, but I have the same type setup except I use Aspen. The only way I've been able to keep up the humidity is with a damp hide. You can find directions on here, but it's damp Spaghum Moss in a container such as a margarine (I got a cave for Xmas) tub. She goes in there when she wants some wetness, and it keeps the whole tank at around 60%

---

where do u get the moss stuff you tlaking about ?

ps


thanks everybody for your help!!!!!

Tanks are very difficult to control humidity, I would reccomend switching to tubs.

Ceramic heat emitters are found in the reptile section of most pet shops. They are white discs with a socket on the end. And yes they will fit the lamp you already have, just be sure to check the wattage on the disc package so you don't get one that is too big for your lamp.

Sphagnum moss can be found in garden centers or arts and crafts stores. The stuff from garden centers CAN have bugs and stuff in it, unless you get the smaller sealed packages.

Gale

Have you considered switching substrates? It sounds like you've got the basics down for keeping humidity in a tank, you just need a substrate that'll keep humidity. Try Aspen or Cypress Mulch.

It costs more than newspaper, but costs less than a vet bill.

I had the same problem with my tank(I'm new to this too). I switched to cypress mulch, then added spagnum moss and even a second bowl. The spagnum moss I got on sale at Petco next to where they display reptile cage decorations.
After that, the humidity went up for a few days until a cold spell hit and sucked the humidity out of the apartment, dropping it in the tank to about 40%. So my husband went to Loews and bought a piece of plexiglass barely smaller than the lid. He drilled holes in it and attached it to the screen top. It worked so well we had to take out the moss and second bowl, and switched back to a paper product instead of the mulch. It raised the ambient temperature of the tank too, another problem we were having. If you can make that I highly recommend it.

I just did the plexi-glass thing to a tank a couple days ago and it's been perfect ever since. I didn't even have to spray to get to 80% (entering shed for my spider)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Praetori

I had the same problem with my tank(I'm new to this too). I switched to cypress mulch, then added spagnum moss and even a second bowl. The spagnum moss I got on sale at Petco next to where they display reptile cage decorations.
After that, the humidity went up for a few days until a cold spell hit and sucked the humidity out of the apartment, dropping it in the tank to about 40%. So my husband went to Loews and bought a piece of plexiglass barely smaller than the lid. He drilled holes in it and attached it to the screen top. It worked so well we had to take out the moss and second bowl, and switched back to a paper product instead of the mulch. It raised the ambient temperature of the tank too, another problem we were having. If you can make that I highly recommend it.

---

ooooooooooook im sooo trying this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! umm one thing though.. what humidity is too high for a bp.. if im right i believe you need it around 50-60%.. but what too high? ive heard if its too high it can cause infections in your snakes..

ps thanks for your help!

Make sure you get moss for reptiles, they take the bugs out. I got mine at:

http://www.reptilesupply.com/advance...1&keywords=mos

Some of this has already been said, but some hasn't.

As far as your humidity goes, heat lamps will suck humidity, things you can are like putting a bigger water bowl if you can spare the space. Also instead of maybe using the bulb, just try to pick the room temperature up. You can also cover most of the top. Foil or ceran wrap is good, just make sure neither is too close to the lamp, especially the ceran because it will melt, and possibly catch fire, the foil will just get pretty hot. I on the other hand have my anaconda in a huge tank, what I did is I went to Lowes, and got a plexiglass cut, the dimension of the tank, not as long, but about 3/4 way, then I set that over the top, but under the screen top, and it helps keep the humidity in. If you can raise the temp and manage to get rid of the heat lamps, then you can get a plexiglass the whole size of the tank, that fits on top, but under the screen, and just drill a couple holes. That will pump up your humidity, and help keep the heat in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

Some of this has already been said, but some hasn't.

As far as your humidity goes, heat lamps will suck humidity, things you can are like putting a bigger water bowl if you can spare the space. Also instead of maybe using the bulb, just try to pick the room temperature up. You can also cover most of the top. Foil or ceran wrap is good, just make sure neither is too close to the lamp, especially the ceran because it will melt, and possibly catch fire, the foil will just get pretty hot. I on the other hand have my anaconda in a huge tank, what I did is I went to Lowes, and got a plexiglass cut, the dimension of the tank, not as long, but about 3/4 way, then I set that over the top, but under the screen top, and it helps keep the humidity in. If you can raise the temp and manage to get rid of the heat lamps, then you can get a plexiglass the whole size of the tank, that fits on top, but under the screen, and just drill a couple holes. That will pump up your humidity, and help keep the heat in.

---

can you not use a heat lamp with plexiglass??? i thought it would be fine.. but i guess i could be wrong.. lol