Humidity trouble, what changes to make?

I'm new here and in desperate need of advice. The humidity is really low in my tank and I decided I'm going to completely switch it up and try something new, but I'm now sure what changes to make. I currently use aspen bedding; what would be a better substrate for holding humidity. I also use an under tank heat pad; would a heat lamp or some kind of bulb be better? I live in Las Vegas so its already really warm. Summers get up to 115 F. and winters get down to 40 F. Any tips or recommendations would be a huge help :)

A lamp will kill your humidity even more. I would switch to coconut husk (eco earth) for the substrate. I did and it has been wonderful :).
What are the temps in the enclosure? I'm assuming it's a tank? You can cover 3/4 of the lid with a damp towel or foil

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Coco husk or cypress mulch are amazing substrates that help retain humidity.

Having a wide large water dish over the hot spot will help promote evaporation and keep your humidity up.

You can so cover 90% of your screen top with a damp towel, plexiglass, or tapes down tin foil.

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I've heard a lot about eco earth but a few people have said you're only supposed to mix it in with what you normally use. Is this correct? The temperatures stay mid 80's. But with humidity I'd be lucky just to keep it up to 40%

Do you have a hot side and cool side? No people mix it for looks, and sometimes a combo of substrate works best for some but it doesn't need to be mixed

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Also do you mist the tank at all?

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Yes I have a cool side and I keep her water dish over there. I guess I should move it to the hot side? I also have a screen top, I heard putting damp towels over it helps humidity. Is this true?

I use to mist it and it definitely helped, but the people at the reptile shop that I got her from told me to stop because they said it can cause scale rot.

Not unless you actually have the bedding soaking wet. Misting is perfectly fine. Yes as we stated cover the lid about 3/4 with a damp towel, tin foil, or some even use both

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oh sorry you're right someone did already state that.. I missed it. Well thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it, I'm gonna get started right away and hopefully my girl with be much happier :)

No problem I'm blind 9/10 of the time lol. Good luck!! :)

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If you're using a tank, and 2/3 of the top are covered with a towel or foil, and the other 1/3 has a heat lamp on it- Isn't that promoting stagnant air conditions? I'm a newbie and could be completely wrong here, this just seems to make sense to me.

Thanks,
Dev

Air is still circulating through the open part where the light is. The heat lamp is not flush against it

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I cover about 70% of my screen with a damp rag....I also have a large full water bowl and I have recently added a tup o ware container about 4" deep and about 6 inches in diameter with filled with pretty damp/wett sphagnum moss and even with my heat lamp going and a UTH my temps are at 86-88 hot side and humidity around50 consistently . I use Aspen bedding myself. The sphagnum moss helps big time,I keep placed slightly off to the side of the heat lamp,basically half under the heat lamp and half not..hope this helps

I'm having some humidity trouble too but there is some great advice here.

Is it ok or being suggested to most inside the cage periodically?

Yep misting the tank is perfectly fine

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I have kept my ball python in open screen tops for the whole 7-8 years I have had him...at no point have I covered this screen with a damp towel...that's called asking for mildew, at least here in the south east. Like many have said, a more efficient substrate will likely alleviate the issue, I use coconut bark for my BP and I saturate it very well on a weekly basis...he has never experienced a bad shed. The only catch with eco earth is I have found it to mold rather easily, but this is a simply fix: add a light top layer of cypress mulch, it has a natural acidity to it and will inhibit mold growth.

Wow, that's really interesting and I didn't know that. I was getting ready to get eco earth for my guys tanks as humidity escapes super easily even with foil taped to 85% of the mesh screen. Thanks for the knowledge!

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Originally Posted by Dev_DeCoste

Wow, that's really interesting and I didn't know that. I was getting ready to get eco earth for my guys tanks as humidity escapes super easily even with foil taped to 85% of the mesh screen. Thanks for the knowledge!

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No problem, the stuff holds humidity well and I am going to incorporate it in almost all of my cages later on, but it needs something like cypress with it if humidity is going to stay relatively constant. My GTP's cage dries out in 24 hours so I use plain eco earth for him due to the fact that this drying out prevents mold growth.

This set up uses coconut coir (which is what eco earth is and other related products) with a cypress top layer and is currently housing a 2013 pastel...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...141403_945.jpg

What are the humidity levels like typically with the mulch top layer? Do you keep anything like foil on top of the cage or mist the substrate first? Sorry for all the questions, just thinking about switching to that next time

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dev_DeCoste

What are the humidity levels like typically with the mulch top layer? Do you keep anything like foil on top of the cage or mist the substrate first? Sorry for all the questions, just thinking about switching to that next time

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I have ventilation holes in my tubs at the top and sides. Moisture is reapplied to my tub set-ups when the condensation on the sides has reached a minimum. I do not use a gauge to measure humidity, I use what I smell, see, and feel...trust your instincts and you will be fine. Humidity is obviously sufficient as the pastel just fed and shed for me; in addition too, it is apparent that the humidity is not excessive seeing as how there are no signs of scale rot or related illnesses. You and your specimens will work it out, hope that helps.

Damp towel over the screen top is totally fine and doesn't promote mold as long as you have airflow. Not to mention to heat lamp will even it out and dry the air.

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