Reptile fogger?

Is there any reason why I don't see foggers or waterfalls used to help with humidity? I am just curious and it is quite possibly a stupid question. It just seems to me a simple solution that allows for a dry substrate too. I was thinking more along the lines of a fogger.

Waterfalls recycle in-vivarium water and can be sources of bacterial growth, and aren't used much. With regular cleaning and maintenance, along with changing the water, they can be a great visual accent and do help humidity.

Foggers are used to help with humidity. Dart froggers like 'em.

I personally use a mist king system for various species, but was using a fogger for a while in a single viv for my ornate horned frog. The mist king is still a very fine mist, almost a fog, but I find I get better droplets formed for my cresties to drink with the mist king. Also having a huge water reservoir is easier.

They are a simple fix for humidity but are ofen more expensive then more simple methods.

The foggers need frequent cleaning they get gunk build up fairly quickly. I found they need a quick clean daily and a good clean every 7 days. If clean there is no issues dirty they are bacteria magnets.

Can't the foggers cause RI as well as mold on substrate and other items in tank?

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Originally Posted by viper8940

Can't the foggers cause RI as well as mold on substrate and other items in tank?

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I can't speak to them causing RIs, but anytime you saturate substrate you run the risk of mold growth.

1) Not all mold is bad. Practically all tropical vivs go through an initial mold stage lasting multiple weeks when first put together. Many molds and fungi are very beneficial to a bioactive viv.

2) A fogger or misting system used to give a temporary large humidity boost in a viv with plenty of ventilation is much healthier (especially in terms of RI risk) than a large waterbowl, wet substrate, or regular spray-bottle misting in a tub with low ventilation.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

1) Not all mold is bad. Practically all tropical vivs go through an initial mold stage lasting multiple weeks when first put together. Many molds and fungi are very beneficial to a bioactive viv.

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MB, while I yield the floor to your tropical viv knowledge, we're talking about a ball python enclosure here...are you suggesting we grow mold in there?

I use them on my boas and Ball and haven't had any problem. Used for well over a year. I use distilled water.

Well I figured there were reasons why I didn't see them in many BP cages. The mainentance seems pretty high. I guess they can be used but I don't like the idea of mold issues or the cleaning. I figured moving water may not build up bacteria so much (compared to a bowl) but I forgot about the unit itself.

I didn't expect so many responses. Thanks!

I am with mainbutter in respect to ventilation humidity isn't an issue unless associated with poor ventilation. I attended a class on lighting and heating for reptiles and it was specifically mentioned that high humidity and low ventilation was linked to RI and a handful of other health issues related to over abundance of harmful bacteria.

I have never set up a tropical Viv. I can't speak to mould, but don't for get one of the largest medical breakthroughs of modern times was a beneficial mould (penicillin). I see no reason to question that with tropical vivs.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I see no reason to question that with tropical vivs.

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Not questioning it with tropical vivs...I'm questioning it with BP enclosures.

I would not ever suggest intentionally growing mould in a Savannah viv, however it is still a simple truth not all mould is bad.

You control every aspect of an enclosure temps (hot cool ambient) the nature of the humidity and ventilation. Just don't grow mould, proper ventilation and correct environmental controls for a ball python will not grow mould unless something is not correct or you have introduced spores, and provided it with correct mould growing conditions (incorrect for ball pythons). A careful use of a fogger will not change that. It is one of a multitude of solutions to a humidity problem.

I apparently misunderstood what was being said the only person I thought was mentioning growing mould in a ball python was yourself. I guess that is wrong?

OP,
I believe there are better solutions to humidity issues than a fogger. It is one method but I personally have found that substrate choice and water bowl size and placement, with enough 'water' mass that I have never needed to resort to restricted ventilation or daily misting. It takes balance and planning with a dash of trial and error.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I apparently misunderstood what was being said the only person I thought was mentioning growing mould in a ball python was yourself. I guess that is wrong?

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I was simply trying to determine if mainbutter thought growing mold in a BP enclosure was acceptable, desired, despised, or the best thing since pockets on shirts.

The only way i would use a waterfall or anything that circulates water in a setup is if was done with a sump. The sump with a protien skimmer and bio balls will help but even then it will still grow some bacteria. Therefore i wouldnt use that for ball pythons. Ball pythons in nature are not in the rainforest. They spend their lives burrowed in termite mounds mainly. There are way better ways to boost your humidity then misters and waterfalls.

I did not wish to start a big debate and I am just getting my enclosure setup. I was just wondering if it was a solution to misting by hand everyday. Thanks for all the helpful info. I don't like the Idea of all the bacteria buildup. That is why I don't see it used. Thanks.

My last upright tank this is what I had done perhaps you will find an idea or will spark something that will work for you.

I use coco coir substrate it holds tons of water and will re-hydrate after it dries out. Unlike some of the wood chip substrates. I 'banked' the cool side with about 5 inches of substrate over the cool side. The hot side has very little. The substrate being slightly moist and the water bowl being fairly large and directly on the bottom (free of substrate) and made of glass adds some too. I mist if there is a shed due and 'water' the substrate once every 2 weeks. I have a small tube to the bottom and a shallow tray under the substrate on the cool side I add 3-4 oz of water to the tray. It allows the top of the substrate to stay dry. There is still a large reserve of water towards the bottom of the pile of substrate. The only issue I ever had was the coco coir if I did not expand it with boiling water starts to smell musty. I change my enclosures based on smell and time they all are done every 2 months regardless unless they smell anything other than fresh then I do them straight away.

I always used a screen lib with nothing on it.

Using a fogger for a ball python cage is actually not a bad idea, you would just need to keep in mind that a ball python cage doesn't need to be tropical. I would use a timer, and simply run it once or twice a day for half an hour at a time. I use 3 foggers at home for a variety of animals, and find that in a screen top cage, it is really, REALLY hard to fog up that cage long enough and heavy enough to really cause a problem.

If cost is an issue, yes, there are cheaper ways to deal with humidity. But putting a fogger on a timer is super freaking easy, and also super easy to adjust - you can dial down how much fog comes out, and run it longer, or turn it up and run it for less time. That's why I have so many; I even alternate the cages they're on.

Mold does happen, and in a ball python cage if your wood is molding, that is probably a sign it's a little too humid. I would like to note that my now 3 year old tanzanian planted vivarium did go through an initial mold stage, and has since moved past it. :)

-Jen

Thanks for all the input everyone. I getting ready to start humidity tests on the new cage I have built. It is wood with sliding glass doors. I have the heat tested and it is 90-91 on hot side with it 80-81 on the cool. Now I need a hygrometer to start working out the humidity. Getting prepped for first snake and I have fallen in love with BP's.

Thanks again for entertaining my late night thoughts.