Humidity keeps dropping

The humidity in my terrarium keeps dropping to a few percent under the room humidity. For example; room humidity is 53%, terrarium humidity is 48%. That is not to bad yet, but what if te room humidity drops to 35%? Witch it does in the wintertime....

I already covered 90% of the ventilation on the top of the terrarium. Should I allso cover some or all of the ventilation on the lower-front? (see picture below)

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMG_2124.jpg


I have three lampfixtures, right a 13W Sun Glow, in the middle a 100W CHE and left a Blue Moon LED 0,5W.
I keep the ambient temperature between 78 and 82 F.
There is a heatmat at 91 F on the left.
The ambient temp is regulated by the CHE.
I have a large waterbowl in the middle (approx) under the CHE.
I have Aspen as substrate.
I'll have to spray daily to keep the humidity above 50%.

How do I keep the humidity up? Cover the lower-front ventilation or raise the room humidity with a humidifier or both?

Thanks for your thoughts.

The CHE is drying up your humidity. I use them too, but that's what they do. Try keeping some sphagnum moss in a bowl and wet it down, see how that works for you; add more if you need to. You could also try and cover the open ventilation holes too, the less there are, the less humidity will escape.

Aren't you worried about the snakes burning themselves on either the bulbs or the dome fixtures hanging inside the enclosure? It looks like an accident waiting to happen to me.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Aren't you worried about the snakes burning themselves on either the bulbs or the dome fixtures hanging inside the enclosure? It looks like an accident waiting to happen to me.

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It looks dangerous, I agree, but it ain't . The dome's get a bit warmer than 90 degrees but they are comfortable to hold. I can hold them without getting burned. The CHE is surrounded with a metal wire cage, so are the undersides of the domes. So I'm not that worried.

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Originally Posted by Cowtipper

The CHE is drying up your humidity. I use them too, but that's what they do. Try keeping some sphagnum moss in a bowl and wet it down, see how that works for you; add more if you need to. You could also try and cover the open ventilation holes too, the less there are, the less humidity will escape.

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I'll give it a try. Thanks! [emoji106]

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Originally Posted by Giddy

It looks dangerous, I agree, but it ain't . The dome's get a bit warmer than 90 degrees but they are comfortable to hold. I can hold them without getting burned. The CHE is surrounded with a metal wire cage, so are the undersides of the domes. So I'm not that worried.

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Do you know what temperature they are (besides a bit warmer than 90 degrees)? I can certainly hold things in my hand comfortably that I wouldn't want my snakes coming into contact with on a regular basis.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Do you know what temperature they are (besides a bit warmer than 90 degrees)? I can certainly hold things in my hand comfortably that I wouldn't want my snakes coming into contact with on a regular basis.

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He is right you know. have you measured with heat gun bet its way over the 110 mark in spots. My 100 watt ceramic made basking spot up to 110 8 inches away for my tegu. change your bedding to cyprees or exo earth imo way better for that type of setup.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Do you know what temperature they are (besides a bit warmer than 90 degrees)? I can certainly hold things in my hand comfortably that I wouldn't want my snakes coming into contact with on a regular basis.

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Yes, I measured the temperature and it got up to 106 F. I think because it is a 13W power saving bulb. I'm talking about the lampfixture here of course with the dome.

The CHE is in it's own cage (see photo below). I hope this eases your mind. ;)

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMG_2125.jpg

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

He is right you know. have you measured with heat gun bet its way over the 110 mark in spots. My 100 watt ceramic made basking spot up to 110 8 inches away for my tegu. change your bedding to cyprees or exo earth imo way better for that type of setup.

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I've changed a few things;

- I changed the substrate: Was Aspen, is now Cypress mulch.
- I changed the CHE: Was 100 watt, is now 60 watt.

The humidity is now around 60% and steady (+/- 2%). The Cyprus was damp when I got it, but I haven't misted for 3 whole days now. :gj:


So thanks for the advice FrostysBP!

You evidently have never seen or smelled a cooked snake.
FYI they dont clean off of the ceramic at all.

Yes I have seen it happen in a couple pet stores that had their enclosures set up the same way.

Also, I can hold a heat rock in my hand all day but I wouldnt have one in my house.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

You evidently have never seen or smelled a cooked snake.
FYI they dont clean off of the ceramic at all.

Yes I have seen it happen in a couple pet stores that had their enclosures set up the same way.

Also, I can hold a heat rock in my hand all day but I wouldnt have one in my house.

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Okay, but what would you suggest that I should do?

They should be outside the enclosure ON TOP of the screen lid

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

They should be outside the enclosure ON TOP of the screen lid

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Well that is a problem than, I have a glass terrarium with sliding doors on the front and a perforated metal plate on part of the glass top. Not a tank with a mesh screen lid. I don't think that it is a possibility for me to place the CHE outside of my terrarium. Do I have an option?

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Originally Posted by Giddy

Well that is a problem than, I have a glass terrarium with sliding doors on the front and a perforated metal plate on part of the glass top. Not a tank with a mesh screen lid. I don't think that it is a possibility for me to place the CHE outside of my terrarium. Do I have an option?

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Think you answered your own question there.
UTH and a thermostat OR even a radiant heat panel with a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Think you answered your own question there.
UTH and a thermostat OR even a radiant heat panel with a thermostat.

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I already have a UTH with a thermostat, but that is not enough to keep up the ambient temperature. A radiant heat panel could be an option, but how do you attach it to the glass? My CHE is controlled by a thermostat so it's not even on all the time. I think this will have to do.

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Originally Posted by Giddy

I think this will have to do.

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Good luck to you................

Why dont you get a bigger cage for the CHE to stop your snake getting that close to it. I have a similar set up to you and have a bigger cage around it. I will measure temps of it if I can when I get home from work.

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Originally Posted by George1994

Why dont you get a bigger cage for the CHE to stop your snake getting that close to it. I have a similar set up to you and have a bigger cage around it. I will measure temps of it if I can when I get home from work.

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Okay, I would appreciate that George! Can you please send me a picture of your cage? Thanks!

http://www.customguards.co.uk/produc...-heater-guard/

I am fairly certain this is the cage that I have, the dims are 170mm x 170mm x 235mm high. Judging from your photo I don't think that cage has a diameter of 170mm. I also think my CHE is lower wattage, I'm not sure if that constitutes a lower size or not I dunno. You should be able to find bigger ones than this also.

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Originally Posted by George1994

http://www.customguards.co.uk/produc...-heater-guard/

I am fairly certain this is the cage that I have, the dims are 170mm x 170mm x 235mm high. Judging from your photo I don't think that cage has a diameter of 170mm. I also think my CHE is lower wattage, I'm not sure if that constitutes a lower size or not I dunno. You should be able to find bigger ones than this also.

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You are correct, my dimensions are; 120mm x 120mm x 200mm high.


I added a photo, to show you the dimensions better.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMG_2133.jpg

The cage houses a 60 watt CHE at the moment. From the bottom of the cage to the substrate is aprox. 250mm. Furthermore, I doubt that my BP's are going to latch on to the cage............:confuzd: