A question about humidity

I was wondering what is the best way to get the humidity to stay consistant in my ball pythons tanks? I have been struggling with this issue. I have tried the wet towel over half of the lid and brings it up for a bit, but than it drops down to 40% humidity again pretty quick, misting only helps for a bit too. And what is the best level for humidity to stay at? I am aiming for 50% normally and 70% when in shed. I have 3 seperate tanks, a 30 gallon, a 40 gallon and a 60 gallon. Thanks for the help:)

if u have a che put it over the waterbowl

What substrate are you using?
Personally, I'd suggest switching to tubs. I used to use tanks as well but after switching to tubs my humidity stay perfectly steady. I could never imagine using tanks again. Also, 60 gallons seems a bit large for a Ball Python. The 55 gallon tank I have that I'll be using for my boa I'm getting is 4.5ft long. Anything that size is excessive for a BP.
You can also try placing a piece of plexiglass/acrylic over 3/4 of the screen top. That will help much more than a wet towel.

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

What substrate are you using?

You can also try placing a piece of plexiglass/acrylic over 3/4 of the screen top. That will help much more than a wet towel.

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X2
Instead of using a CHE, try moving your water bowl to be on part of the heatmat;)

I am using cypress bedding and at some point I plan to build a rack system for the snakes, but I currently only have the aquariums. I will try the che over the water bowl. The 60 gallon tank is only 4 foot long, and the Ball I have in it seems to like it. I had read that they should be able to strech out the length of the tank. Is that not true? He is close to 4 foot in length.

PitontheProwl, That is a good idea. I fed them today so I will move the bowls around after they have had a couple of days to digest. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

X2
try moving your water bowl to be on part of the heatmat;)

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This is the same thing that I do.......
I have a 26 watt heatmat under a 5 quart rectangular glass baking dish.
I put about a gallon of water in the dish, this way I can carry it into the bathroom to clean it with out spilling too much.
This heatmat is plugged in all the time to increase evaporation, hense it increases the hudimity in the tank.
I bought the Anchor Hocking dish at WallMart (cheap price)

Harry

Does anyone have an online store they shop from that offers fairly inexpensive items for a reptile enclosure? My local pet shop charges pretty crazy prices.

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Originally Posted by Haksui76

Does anyone have an online store they shop from that offers fairly inexpensive items for a reptile enclosure? My local pet shop charges pretty crazy prices.

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depends what you are looking for??
I like Reptile Basics

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Originally Posted by Haksui76

Does anyone have an online store they shop from that offers fairly inexpensive items for a reptile enclosure? My local pet shop charges pretty crazy prices.

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if you're looking for an inexpensive humidity reader - i bought mine, which was an accu-rite digital thermometer/hydrometer for $10 from lowe's. it's the indoor/outdoor model

As far as cheap goes, I get bowls from the thrift store. I got a couple of perfect heavy bowls the other day for 90 cents each.

I do have store bought hides on most of my snakes but Darthie is currently using a cereal box and my mohave prefers half of an old towel.

One thing I used for humidity when I had a tank was a mason jar with holes punched into the top. I put a wet washrag in it and changed it out every couple of days. That was in a 10 gal tank with a baby python and most of the lid covered and it worked.

One thing that I did that was rather humiliating was put my hygrometer under the light, which dried out the hygrometer! As soon as I moved it, the readings were way higher... I'm just sayin, proper placement of your hygrometer is also important. I was misting and going crazy trying to keep the humidity up!

I couldn't get my humidity to stay up at all without misting 3 times a day, regardless of substrate or bowl placement and I don't use a heat lamp or che. Last week I put tin foil over the lid (as suggested here of course), and it worked too good! I had to keep making the hole in the foil bigger until it stayed under 60. I haven't needed to mist either of my enclosures since.

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Originally Posted by Spiderballs

I couldn't get my humidity to stay up at all without misting 3 times a day, regardless of substrate or bowl placement and I don't use a heat lamp or che. Last week I put tin foil over the lid (as suggested here of course), and it worked too good! I had to keep making the hole in the foil bigger until it stayed under 60. I haven't needed to mist either of my enclosures since.

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I drape an old bedsheet over my tank, it keeps humidity up and provides privacy too.

Harry

i had the same problem.i was using a heat lamp with cypress mulch and misting all the time but my humidity would drop to 35-40%.i got rid of the lamp and got a good mat,now i use aspen and never have to mist and i have 55% constantly.