Humidity Problems

I would just like to take a second to say that this is probably the most helpful, supportive community I have ever stumbled across. You guys are seriously great :)


Down to business. I am having some pretty bad humidity issues, I can't get it above mid to low 40%. I am using a mesh top tank (I know, I know) with aspen bedding. I put a sterilite lid (with holes) on top of the mesh, it doesn't quite cover it all. This bumped the humidity up 2-3%, and putting a warm damp towel between the mesh and lid bumped it up another 2-3%. I intend on doing this http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution ASAP.

My only concern is that the tank might not be able to support its own weight on tipped on the side. Any tips aside from the above to up the humidity in the mean time?

P.S. Misting has done nothing for me.

Might be time to explore using a humid hide, or switch over to a tub set up :gj:

Maybe try switching substrates.
Cypress much holds humitidy very well. If you buy in bulk from a hardware store it can be quite cheap. You just have to be sure to bake the substrate in the oven to kill any unwanted bugs. Makes your place smell earthy but i kinda like it lol.

Other than switching substrate, if your worried about the humidity maybe just give your snake a moist hide, that will help when shedding as well.
A tubberware container with a hole big enough for the widest part of your snake filled with damp sphagnum moss. That will at least give the snake comfort until you can figure out a way to up the humidity.

I have heard humid hides can cause scale rot. If the humidity is low he will probably spend a lot of time in there. I read in another thread that it works best to offer when around shedding time. :confused:

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Originally Posted by mackynz

I have heard humid hides can cause scale rot. If the humidity is low he will probably spend a lot of time in there.

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If the humidity is that low, he'll probably need to spend a lot of time in there.

A humid hide does not have to be a swamp ;)

Try using cypress like adriane said.
It holds humidity really well.
Or i would switch over to a tub setup which will make keeping humidity and temps correct much easier

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mackynz

I have heard humid hides can cause scale rot. If the humidity is low he will probably spend a lot of time in there. I read in another thread that it works best to offer when around shedding time. :confused:

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The moist hide could just be a temporary solution until you either switch substrates or figure out another way to up your humidity. Like Slim said...its a MOIST hide, not a swamp hide :P
Obviously your home and climate must just be dry, I would say switching substrate is going to be your best bet.


Using tubs like mike said does hold humitdy better but might not be something nice to look at, im assuming you just have the one snake and hes a pet. You'd probably prefere to see him well, like in a tank.
Its really up to you but 40% is too low for comfort, something should be done.

Put a moist towel on top of mesh. Helps a lil but requires frequent wetting. A solution for now until you get the proper setup.

I use to keep mine in a 20g tank until I switched to the racks, but when I was having humidity problems I put a damp towel over the majority of the screen top and it worked for me like a charm. Just a suggestion:)

What should the water:moss ratio be?

Here is what I did for my top. No humidity problems, usually gets too humid so I stick a little rubber stopper in there to increase air flow and its just right. 50-60%. Take the stopper out at shed time and bumps to 60-70%. And that is with 2 heat lamps.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42157197/201...2020.45.15.jpg

Is that just plywood?

One last question guys, my little guy has bamboo tubes (big enough to curl up in) for hides right now. These won't work with moss, I picked some up and also got some of those cheap black plastic planting pots. My concern is they smell heavily of plastic. Are they safe to use temporarily? Should I put the humid hide on the warm side? Or one humid and one not humid on the warm side?

Thanks for all your help guys.

I wouldn't be overly worried about the smell, keep an eye on him, if the smell bothers him he will stay away from it.

I would put the humid hide either in the middle or on the cool side.

Hides are in, it appears he wants nothing to do with them :(

Scratch that, apparently on top of the hide is his new favorite place...

Tub FTW! Lol :P

Forreal though if you can't fix your humidity issue with the tank, tubs hold humidity EXTREMELY well.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^True story above, I switched to tubs and haven't had any humidity problems thus far. :gj:

Strongly considering a tub.

He finished his parkour session, took a poop and retired to a new hide.

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Is that just plywood?

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Are you talking about my picture? Thats a piece of plastic with holes drilled in it. Way cheaper and easier to work with than acryllic. 6 bucks for a big sheet at Lowes.