Humidity

Of course it's easy to keep the humidity up in a rubbermaid, however, what does everyone use to keep the percentages in the right range in a fairly large aquarium? :snake:

I've got my bp in a 20 gal tank. I use coconut fiber substrate and a water dish large enough for him to soak in and that seems to do the trick. I only have to mist once a week. Pretty good for the middle of a MI winter.

I have a 50 Gallon tank (35x18x18) and despite what I do, I have to mist at a very minimum of three times a day to keep it at OK levels.. 5-6 times if I want to to be around 55%.

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Originally Posted by zelda

I have a 50 Gallon tank (35x18x18) and despite what I do, I have to mist at a very minimum of three times a day to keep it at OK levels.. 5-6 times if I want to to be around 55%.

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I hate to say it, and I know it's not very helpful, but I think you're fighting a losing battle there.

Nothing, I have a two tanks and with water bowl size and placement and deep cool side substrate (coco coir) I don't need to mist at all. I hold 55-65% (calibrated hygrometers) The room reads 20% so that is quite good, the top is mostly open but for a air dam that I had.

reptifogger when hes about to shed. (cloudy eyes is the sign for me)

The only thing that I can see working well is either piping mist into the tank from a humidifier or using a high output humidifier to boost the humidity in the whole room.

I have a 60gal, and two 40 gals. The 60 has a 10 year old bp that i noticed starts sneezing when the coco husk would dry out, so i've been switching to other stuff, tried aspin (stinky when wet!) and it was hard to tell when he'd peed, so i'd put more water in and then it would spread everywhere. Now he's trying out sanichips, and seems to be doing bettter. He's got a huge water dish, but i still have to pour water in there daily.

The 40gals have coco husk, and i pour water in...when one spot dries out, i pour water there, and let the other side get a little dry, then water there. They have had nice happy sheds, all of them. The big guy is smart enough to get into his water dish though if he's not feelin' it!

My opinion only..snakes should never be kept in an aquarium..aquariums are not built for snakes period. Use tubs or an appropriate enclosure such as AP'a, Boaphiles ect


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.483608,-83.121121

Well yesterday I put in some extra moist moss on her cool side, and a damp towel on half of the top of her cage (on top of the screen, under the plastic that I usually use to cover). Today the humidity seemed to be lasting much better.

The only complication is that there are nights that I am not home. I would love an automatic mister or fogger for those nights, but they are a little pricey.

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Originally Posted by Xeperxi

My opinion only..snakes should never be kept in an aquarium..aquariums are not built for snakes period. Use tubs or an appropriate enclosure such as AP'a, Boaphiles ect

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It all depends how lazy you want to be................ I have kept them in 55s and 20Ls without much problem.
The biggest plus is your substrate, coco works wonders. Also larger water bowls over part of the heat mat too.:gj:

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Originally Posted by zelda

The only complication is that there are nights that I am not home. I would love an automatic mister or fogger for those nights, but they are a little pricey.

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You could make one for relatively cheap. I had all of the parts laying around to build one, but I would assume the parts are under 20 dollars. You need aquarium tubing, an air pump, air stone, and a bottle with airtight lid.

Of course how well it will work depends on your setup and the output of the pump. Keep most of the top covered and this should give you the boost you need while you are away.

Here is a diagram of a store-bought one that I designed mine after.
http://i.imgur.com/ALALk.jpg




edit: And I should say that I have since switched to tubs and no longer use this. The humidity stays perfect with no work.

LOL Mike, thats what I did for my wifes tree frogs.:gj:

I have a 30 gallon, and I covered half the top (as well as three of the sides- but that's not really relevant for this topic...) with black plastic. And I put the water bowl on the UTH next to his hide.
It really helps with the humidity, but it's never been great. This is why I am switching to tubs this month. I really did everything that was recommended and tried to be creative, but I could never get the environment just right with an aquarium. Plus tubs are sooo much cheaper, so I don't see any reason not to go with tubs. They may not be as aesthetically pleasing as one would like (me...), but if they are better for the snake's health that's what's important.

Tubs are much easier to clean, too. Keep an extra as a maintenance tub and when you need to clean one, switch the snake to the empty and take the whole thing to the bathtub. With a tank it is heavy and breakable. Also you have the uth cord and thermostat probe to disconnect before moving a tank for cleaning.