What should the humidity be for my one year old ball python. He lives in a ten gallon terarium and the substrate is a special kind of mulch for snakes.
03-29-2012, 02:22 PM
Slim
BPs thrive in a constant humidity of 50%-60%. When you notice him going into shed you should bump it up to 70%, or as close to it as you can get. It will help them have a complete shed.
03-29-2012, 02:23 PM
Trackstrong83
Between 50-60% is ideal. Bump it up to around 70-80 during shed. There is a care sheet on here that will tell you everything you need to know. I don't know the link though, someone on here will though.
03-29-2012, 02:24 PM
Trackstrong83
Slim beat me to it. Lol :gj:
03-29-2012, 02:38 PM
Carsten
How do I keep the humidity up to 60%. Right now its hovering around45-50%.
03-29-2012, 02:40 PM
Trackstrong83
You can put the water bowl under the heat lame, the water will evaporate and bump up the humidity. Do you have anything covering the screen on top of the tank?
03-29-2012, 02:43 PM
The Serpent Merchant
50% is fine. the ideal rage normally is 40%-60% it is only during shed that it needs to be higher (60% - 80%) there are many ways to increase the humidity, the easiest is to simply mist the cage more.
If you have a glass tank you can cover the top with a damp towel or foil. You can use a different substrate that holds moisture better, .....
If you have a tub (and you have drilled/melted holes in it) you can cover over the holes
for any cage a bigger water dish positioned over the hot spot (or under if you are using a heat lamp) will also increase the humidity.
03-29-2012, 02:44 PM
Trackstrong83
Re: Humidity
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
50% is fine. the ideal rage normally is 40%-60% it is only during shed that it needs to be higher (60% - 80%) there are many ways to increase the humidity, the easiest is to simply mist the cage more.
If you have a glass tank you can cover the top with a damp towel or foil. You can use a different substrate that holds moisture better, .....
If you have (and you have drilled/melted holes in it you can cover over the holes
for any cage a bigger water dish positioned over the hot spot (or under if you are using a heat lamp) will also increase the humidity.
this ^^^
03-29-2012, 07:21 PM
kitedemon
I don't bother to raise the RH I keep mine between 55-60% and don't change it during a shed and I have no shed issues at all. I don't think it needs to be over 60% it won't hurt but I have not found it to be necessary. I am very picky about accurate instruments so I use calibratable analogue ones that are more accurate than digital versions that are a reasonable price range. I check and calibrate them every 6 months or so. The digital ones I have used if they were accurate when new (60% of mine were) they don't stay that way for long and need to be replaced often. (my longest lasting was a fluker and it is still +7% after 14 months the next best was 12 months and -12%)
03-29-2012, 07:39 PM
paperaith
Re: Humidity
Quote:
Originally Posted by kitedemon
I don't bother to raise the RH I keep mine between 55-60% and don't change it during a shed and I have no shed issues at all. I don't think it needs to be over 60% it won't hurt but I have not found it to be necessary. I am very picky about accurate instruments so I use calibratable analogue ones that are more accurate than digital versions that are a reasonable price range. I check and calibrate them every 6 months or so. The digital ones I have used if they were accurate when new (60% of mine were) they don't stay that way for long and need to be replaced often. (my longest lasting was a fluker and it is still +7% after 14 months the next best was 12 months and -12%)
Slightly OT, but how do you calibrate the analog ones?
03-29-2012, 07:46 PM
The Serpent Merchant
Re: Humidity
Quote:
Originally Posted by paperaith
Slightly OT, but how do you calibrate the analog ones?
Some higher quality analogue hydrometers have an adjustment knob on them. the analogue ones sold at pet stores do not have this feature.
03-30-2012, 04:15 PM
kitedemon
Good analogue ones have 2 things in common metal face cards and a calibration screw on the back. They inexpensive ones use a bi metal spring and the screw just re tensions them it is a very robust simple system. The digital version has a calibration dial that allows the changing of the RH value. I have tried 2 different digital ones but the dial is on the face and easily moved and with both the ones I had the snake managed to move it. Digital units can be tested but the standard salt test is hard on the digital sensors. They are very frail and sensitive to dust dirt and any and all contaminants. I would suggest a calibrate-able hygrometer is the way to go. Sadly calibrating digital units is likely to shorten the life so when they are wrong it is easier to toss them, and replace it.
