I'm losing the battle

For awhile everything was ok, but I added another temp gauge to find that my ambient temps were too low. That being said, I had to add a heat lamp which is just killing my humidity. I have both of my snakes in glass tanks as I prefer them over plastic tubs. I've tried all the tricks. I have tin foil over most of my mesh top, two very big water dishes etc...I don't know what else to try. I have to mist the tanks every night but all that does is spike the humidity super high and then when I wake up and turn the lamps off, the humidity is down to under 40. What else can I do here?

What substrate are you using? Cypress mulch might be a good thing to switch to.

Unfortunately, there isn't all that much besides what you have done to increase humidity. The lamp is the culprit. If you are up for it, you could add a small space heater in the room.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

What substrate are you using? Cypress mulch might be a good thing to switch to.

Unfortunately, there isn't all that much besides what you have done to increase humidity. The lamp is the culprit. If you are up for it, you could add a small space heater in the room.

---

It's a mix of eco earth and aspen. A space heater, although a good idea, is impossible. The room that they are in is very large. I'm thinking of trying to find some sort of plastic that I can cut to fit the top rather than tin foil.

You can buy sheets of acrylic at home depot. They have an acrylic cutter as well so you can cut it yourself. Its a lot easier than it sounds. Then you culd drill holes for ventilation.

I hate to say it, but you may have to give in and use tubs! I had the same problems when using glass tanks, and since switching to tubs I can barely keep the humidity low enough. Sorry, but I don't know what else to tell ya. :cool:

Oh, and have you tried putting the water dish directly on top of the UTH? Sound simple, but it really does raise the humidity... just a thought!

I bought a humidifier to help with my humidity. I was having the same problem. Half the top is covered with foil and everything. So i just gave it a thought and tried it. I went to wal mart and bought a vicks warm steamer, which is essentially a humidifer, for 14 bucks. It holds a gallon and a half of water and raised my humidity anywhere from 5-15% depending on if I have my lamp on or what have you. Just an idea. It may work better for you it may not work at all. But i set it right by his tank, it doesnt vibrate or make any noise. The only time it does is when I put more water in it.


Good Luck!

Both excellent suggestions. I can't put the water dish over the uth as that is where their hides are and I use that as their basking spot.

As for the humidifier, that would work great if the room wasn't so large.

I'd move them over to tubs but I feel like I'd lose some form of connection with them. I really like walking by and being able to look in their tanks and see what they're doing ya know what I mean?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by justinsane82

Both excellent suggestions. I can't put the water dish over the uth as that is where their hides are and I use that as their basking spot.

As for the humidifier, that would work great if the room wasn't so large.

I'd move them over to tubs but I feel like I'd lose some form of connection with them. I really like walking by and being able to look in their tanks and see what they're doing ya know what I mean?

---

The room I have it in is also large. But the humidifier is about 6 inches from the tank, like i said, it doesnt make any noise and from what I can tell, no vibrations as well. You can try to put it right next to the tank like I did. If it doesnt work, keep the receipt. Wal Mart will never know! HAHAHA:rofl:

You can put the lamp right on top of the water dish! You can also make a humid hide by putting moss in a plastic container with a hole in it. Make sure you melt the edges of the hole so they are not sharp. The snake can use it if they need more humidity! Good luck! Winter is harsh! I love the name "Jake the snake"!

Why don't you just do a wet hide? It will raise the overall humidity in the tank a bit, but when your snake needs some humidity, he will go in the hide on his own. You use some damp spaghum moss, I use one of those cave hides.

Tanks suck for humidity man. I say get a tub

Is your foil taped on? Try switching to plastic wrap and tape it on - I've got it taped on with packing tape.

Try cypress mulch. I didn't cover the entire bottom, just 1/3 on one side.

Try dishes of spaghnum moss. Don't just dampen it, get it soggy.

Don't know what kind of bulb you have but perhaps you can try a lower wattage bulb. A red or blue one.

Um, damp towel over the top. I have dry towels draped over the top of mine and I know when I get lazy and don't cover the tops back up, the humidity will drop.

Reynalds Press and Seal I am using that now in a tank I have my dumerils in for Quarantine. It has worked well for me. Or you can put a humidity box in the tank, I did that when my Salmon Boa was in a tank, used a cool whip container and put some moss in it. Im all about the tubs now it condenses space and allows you to have a nice collection without a bunch of tanks around. Most important my opinion I think its healthier for the snakes. I only use tanks for Quarantine. Good Luck and Try the Press-n-Seal

Not Reynalds its Glad Press-N-Seal

Alright I'm gonna say it...

It may not sound nice, but I'm gonna say it.

You say your going to lose the connection with your snake? Ok, well for one you should know that your snakes brain is about the size of a pea so really your not going to lose anything in terms of connection lol. Yea you may not be able to see him whenever you want, but thats a bad reason to keep your snake in undesirable conditions. AND once you open the top of the tub, lift the hide that there most likely going to be under, and boom theres your snake! Snakes are private creatures and don't want you to see them, they are secretive and thats how they are programmed by nature to survive. Its just instincts man nothing personal. Sounds to me your being a little stubborn and your picking aesthetics over functionality which is IMO irresponsible. I know you want to be able to see them, and observe them in there "habitat" but if you can't provide the proper set up then ditch it. Stop trying to come up with ways to "jimmy-rig" the situation and just fix it already.

Another thing!! Tubs aren't going to help you much if your room is cold...Space heater or a bigger UTH is really the only way to raise ambient temps. I hope you figure something out for you and your snake that works, just don't make the animal suffer for your personal "viewing" needs. If you want a display animal, get a lizard or something that lives in the desert that doesn't require the humidity needs that snakes need. Good luck...

PS

If you really really insist on using a tank they do make misting machnies that can do it for you during the day. I know people who use repti foggers to maintain humidity for some of there snakes enclosures. There actually pretty effective and look kinda cool when there going ;)

Good Luck :gj:

Seems like an awful lot of work, which takes away from the joy of keeping these animals to try to make all these tanks work. I surely don't envy you when you break down the tanks on a monthly basis to sanitize them.

I had ONE ball python in a tank (my first). I hated the fight to keep temps and humidity correct, and he hated it too (fasted for 8 months). The week after I put him in a tub, he started to feed.

I've never looked back, and you couldn't ever convince me to keep another ball python in a tank.

If I want to see my snakes - I take them out of their tub.

Compared to tanks, tubs are practically worry free.