HELP! humidity issues, and housing issues!!

i am a 16 high school student and i have 2 bps. one i was told is a spider, but i think he is actually a bumble bee. and the other i was told was a normal but looks like a black pastel. the spider is a male (vash) and the normal is a female (milly) i have them both in a 40 gal wide, and am having humidity issues since i got them. the humidity is staying around 24% wich is much to low. milly just went through a shed, and it was very broken, and not full. about 15 mins ago (its 4:45 now) i put a soaked ripped up shirt under their large box on top where the heat pad is, and put a soaked towel across the top of the mesh wire top. the humidity is now at 45% any reason why this is so low? i also mist their cage about 2-5 times a day. my other issue is that i need to sperate them because they are male and female, but money is very very tight now, and i cant afford another tank. i would like to put them in rubbermaid tubs, but im not sure how to set that up, because i cant put a lamp on a plastic top, or it will melt. if anyone can help me with either of these issues it would be greatly appreciated. also id love some pictures of peoples setups, in plastic containers.

I went to Lowes and bought a piece of plexi glass (sorry I cannot remember how much it cost, couldn't have been too much though) and siliconed it into the middle of my 40 gallon breeder. It's now my quarantine tank.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a2...6/P3210711.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a2...6/P3210710.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a2...6/P3210709.jpg

I use a CHE for ambient heat and each side has a UTH. The screen top is covered with cardboard except where the CHE is. I also have this: http://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Gold-T.../dp/B000634980 which helps with humidity a bit.

As far as putting them in tubs, you could just get a UTH (with a thermostat!!) and sick it to the bottom of the tub. As long as you can keep the ambient at around 78-80, you shouldn't need a light. I keep my snake room about 75-76 and my tubs stay around 78-80.

im about to upload some pictures of both snakes and their setup, i had soemthing similar to your setup i had a piece of cardboard dividing it, but that didn't keep them apart, bacause she would just crawl over the top, there is a lip around the outside of the tank at the top, that makes it so i cant put the cardboard all the way up to the screen, so she just crawls over -_-

Pictures help us help you. I'll wait to suggest anything specific until they are up:) On the other hand- I know its not pretty but tub setups are sooo much easier to maintain. I really think that its much more cost effective too. The main thing you need to have is a proper sized tub, an under the tank heater, a thermometer/hydrometer, bedding, water bowl, and MOST important a thermostat or some kind of dimmer to regulate heat. No need for lights! If you do a search in the forum there are some great threads on tub set ups. I started out with tanks and now have all my BPs in tubs. They are happy. They have easy perfect sheds.

I use heat tape and a VE-100 from Reptile basics http://www.reptilebasics.com/index.php?p=home

That isn't too cheep if you are in high school but it really works well and I don't have to worry. I'm sure other people can give you some other options that work well for them.

You should be able to get:
tub-$10.00 ish
uth-$30 ish
Dimmer- $30 ish

I'm sure you have bowls and bedding already.
I'm not sure if I help or confused you more:weirdface

Like I said- look at the tub set up threads and ask any questions you have. :)

thanks tons for trying to help. i have a uth already and a acurite thermostat with the probe that also measures humidity and outdoor temp. i have pics, but cant figure out how to add them in a post :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cilidric

thanks tons for trying to help. i have a uth already and a acurite thermostat with the probe that also measures humidity and outdoor temp. i have pics, but cant figure out how to add them in a post :(

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Sounds like you could make the switch easily :)

yes how do you add pics to a post?

still cant figure out how to add a pic. all i see is add image link, which is a url link :/

You need to use a host site like photobucket.

This should help.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=Posting

ah ok well here they come! http://s1259.photobucket.com/albums/...t=100_1523.jpg

you probably have to right click> open image in new tab.

http://s1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii549/cilidric/here are si a pic of each snake and the over view of the tank.

The pictures didn't show up on my computer. I also have a tank, but haven't had any problem with humidity.
I would try moss which you can get at any pet store and put it in their hide. Make sure it isn't dripping, but is considerably damp. Also, you can put plastic wrap on half of the cage to increase humidity.

My room has a bathroom, so every time I shower it raises the humidity considerably in the room. I haven't had to mist in several days. Also, Basil is an adult male and has a HUGE water bowl which also raises the humidity. Try putting a water bowl on their heat source to raise the humidity. I also mix humidifying spray with water. I spray his substrate, run my hands through it, essentially burying the wet chips, then spray it again. I also spray his heating pad and side heating pad when his humidity is low.

If they aren't shedding well, try soaking them in a tub with water and a towel to get every piece of shed.

Best of luck! :)

http://64.19.142.11/s1259.photobucke...i549/cilidric/ that is a link to the picturess of them and their tank. the uth is inder the big box. under the box is a ripped up t-shirt thta i soak for humidity