Temperture/ Humidity Issues. :(

I'm still having some tank issues, and nobody at the pet store can't really seem to give me advice that works or makes sense. I have my bp (about four months old or so) in a 20 gal. tank. I'm using lights for temp control, a 100 watt for the day and a 75 watt for night per pet store guy's recommendation. My temp hangs around 90 on the hot side during the day, drops a bit at night. My humidity however is dropping under 50. Misting helps, but only briefly. Not much room in the cage but I did squeeze a humid hide in there. Thought about a UTH, but the same guy said it can stunt my snake's growth?? Please help. I really want to get this corrected. :(

The lamps are sucking the humidity right out of the air. Get a UTH for the hot spot, ball pythons like belly heat. It will help humidity a ton. Make sure you get a thermostat though. NEVER run a UTH without a thermostat because it can get so hot to burn your snake.
This is a great thermostat for the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...4772034&sr=8-1

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

The lamps are sucking the humidity right out of the air. Get a UTH for the hot spot, ball pythons like belly heat. It will help humidity a ton. Make sure you get a thermostat though. NEVER run a UTH without a thermostat because it can get so hot to burn your snake.
This is a great thermostat for the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...4772034&sr=8-1

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Ok, I'm going to pick up a UTH that puts out 8 watts today. The store doesn't sell thermostats, though, and it'll take Amazon a couple of days to get it to me.. What can I do til then?

Yeah usually pet stores don't sell thermostats. But for now until the thermostat gets to you, just keep misting the cage. You can also fold up some aluminum foil and tape it to about 2/3 of the screen, that will help humidity as well.

Would this work if I attach it to the UTH??

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom...ductId=2752560

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Originally Posted by emmm1984

Would this work if I attach it to the UTH??

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom...ductId=2752560

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No, that's a thermometer, not a thermostat.

Try adding water directly to the substrate, in addition to misting the cage. A common thing I see in customers coming into our stores is that the substrate is completely dry, which will always result in low humidity in the end, no matter how much you spray the cage.

Grab an 8 oz glass of water, dump it into the bedding, stir it around, and see how that is absorbed. A good goal to have is to moisten the bedding once or twice a week, and let that evaporate - that should help a bunch. That combined with a humid hide and just extra moss throughout the cage that you keep damp, that should also help. Keep in mind that while you don't want to make the cage soggy and sopping wet (the top layer of substrate should become dry by the end of the day), you also don't want it to be bone dry.

Good luck!

-Jen

Try this method, I've heard it works great with holding in heat and humidity.m

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tment-Tutorial

Thanks, both of you. It'll be a couple days til that thermostat arrives so I'm going to do both of these tips today. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Hey it's no problem, there are hundreds of people on this site wanting to help. Don't be shy if you have anymore questions. :)

Appreciate it. I've quickly learned why people become so frustrated with chain pet stores like Petsmart. In hindsight that guy didn't know nearly as much as he said. I think I'm going to look for a store that specializes in reptiles. Hopefully that will help in the future.

And just when you thought you'd heard them all...

The guy who told you a UTH would stunt your snake's growth seriously rides the short bus to work...


Welcome to BP.net and kudos to you for doing your research! Sounds like you're already finding out that "pet store guy" knows little to nothing about these animals.

Slim, I'm surprised you didn't call him a window licker! I was waiting for that little emoticon you use :P

The fact that you had to squeeze a single hide in worries me. How big is the hide in comparison to your snake? In a 20gal, you should have enough room for a water bowl and two hides, and maybe some decorations such as leaves for ground cover. If you're after a naturalistic approach like I do with my boy, get the half-coconut hides instead of the logs. Most of the time logs aren't favored by BPs... Quetzal won't lay in a log even if it's the only hide he's got. I've got a half-coconut shell on one side and a Petco cave he can burrow into on the other and he loves them.

A lot of people on here like the minimalistic approach too; there are these little black box hides that you can get from Reptilebasics. Easily removed and cleaned, and the snake can push it around to put it whereever it wants to.

Also remember that BPs are shy snakes that like a hide they just barely fit into. They like being able to touch every side; it lets them know there's no possibility there's anything else in there with them that might be a threat. Since you've got a baby, that means you might do more frequent upgrading than someone who's got a juvi, but at least your snake is happy :P

You'll need two hides either way; one on the warm side and one on the cool. You do have thermometers/hyrdrometers as well, right?

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Originally Posted by emmm1984

Appreciate it. I've quickly learned why people become so frustrated with chain pet stores like Petsmart. In hindsight that guy didn't know nearly as much as he said. I think I'm going to look for a store that specializes in reptiles. Hopefully that will help in the future.

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Oh yeah definitely. I work at a big chain pet store and was hired specifically for my knowledge in exotic animals. None of my co workers know anything about reptiles. Like I said if you have any question that you're not sure about, just ask someone on here :gj:

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Originally Posted by Jazi

Slim, I'm surprised you didn't call him a window licker! I was waiting for that little emoticon you use :P

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I've recently been told that the term "window licker" offensive to windows everywhere...

:lick:

:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Jazi

You'll need two hides either way; one on the warm side and one on the cool. You do have thermometers/hyrdrometers as well, right?

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I have a digital thermometer w/ probe and am waiting on a dig hydrometer (right now I'm using one of the rinky dink little gage ones. My temperature seems to be fine, but my humidity level is still an issue. I bought some sphagnum moss today, wet it and put it in the tank. I also applied tin foil to the cover, but I still can't keep the humidity above 50. Any thoughts?

Also, I think my hide is a bit too big for him right now. I looked for a smaller one when I went to the store today, but they only had ones that were even bigger than the one I own now. Currently searching around the house for something I can make one out of until I can purchase one.

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Originally Posted by emmm1984

Also, I think my hide is a bit too big for him right now.

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If you can, go to a Dollar Store or a Family Dollar. They have tons of stuff in there you can make a hide out of.

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Originally Posted by Slim

If you can, go to a Dollar Store or a Family Dollar. They have tons of stuff in there you can make a hide out of.

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I found this tupperwear thingy. The plastic is a bit darker, and it's pretty durable. I was thinking I could turn that into one? I'm sorry for all the questions..

Here is my set up, with some tweaks on the lighting I have finally figured it out :)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=1#post1807335