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Scale Rot Prevention?

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  • 12-21-2015, 05:44 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Scale Rot Prevention?
    Hey everyone!
    I recently moved my ball python into a tub to increase humidity from 30% to the appropriate levels. Sadly, my plan backfired. Even after adding a lot of ventilation holes in this 15 (about) QT tub, the humidity is between 70-80% (usually lower 70s). I even tried reducing the amount of water in his bowl. I wanted your opinions on firstly how to decrease humidity, but more importantly, wether or not that high of humidity in a dry (aspen) very clean environment puts my 80 gram lesser at risk of scale rot.

    ​Everyones opinions are appreciated,

    Thanks,
    -HenryTheSnake
  • 12-21-2015, 05:48 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
  • 12-21-2015, 05:50 PM
    AllThatInThemGenes
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    Quote:

    I wanted your opinions on firstly how to decrease humidity
    you could run a small fan in the same room as the snake. You don’t want it
    pointed right at him by any means but increasing the circulation can bring down
    the humidity.

    Quote:

    wether or not that high of humidity in a dry (aspen) very clean
    environment
    puts my 80 gram lesser at risk of scale
    rot.
    When you husbandry is off the snake is at risk. that being said scale rot is
    caused primarily by unsanitary conditions. If you spot cleaning the tub well
    and fully cleaning every month scale rot should not be your primary concern.


  • 12-21-2015, 05:52 PM
    AllThatInThemGenes
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    Just looked at the pictures. More holes lol. You have enough but if the humidity is still too high you can defiantly add more


  • 12-21-2015, 05:55 PM
    bcr229
    I would be less concerned with scale rot than with mold, as aspen gets moldy quickly in high-humidity environments. If you find that's the case then swap it out for newspaper or paper towels instead.

    Your snake will be ok as long as his substrate is clean and dry, even if the humidity is high.
  • 12-21-2015, 06:21 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AllThatInThemGenes View Post
    Just looked at the pictures. More holes lol. You have enough but if the humidity is still too high you can defiantly add more



    Oh I added plenty more holes than what you see in those pics and its still above 70. Those pics are from yesterday. Everything else is the same

    Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
  • 12-21-2015, 06:35 PM
    redshepherd
    You can definitely add more holes if needed! A lot of holes doesn't hurt.

    In my 15 qt, I have around 40 holes on the lid, and 30 holes on all four sides... LOL. And my humidity was around 70~80% during the summer. Now in winter, it's dropped to 60%.

    If you have that level of ventilation, high humidity is not a problem. What what I understand, scale rot appears in high humidity with not enough ventilation, or with damp substrate.

    I also believe that taking out the fake plant will help a lot. Humidity in the enclosure doesn't have so much surface to cling onto/there's more open air relative to the size of the water bowl, so it will lower.
  • 12-21-2015, 06:36 PM
    Galaxygirl
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    High humidity is okay as long as temperatures are not too low, and substrate is dry. :)
  • 12-21-2015, 07:18 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by redshepherd View Post
    You can definitely add more holes if needed! A lot of holes doesn't hurt.

    In my 15 qt, I have around 40 holes on the lid, and 30 holes on all four sides... LOL. And my humidity was around 70~80% during the summer. Now in winter, it's dropped to 60%.

    If you have that level of ventilation, high humidity is not a problem. What what I understand, scale rot appears in high humidity with not enough ventilation, or with damp substrate.

    I also believe that taking out the fake plant will help a lot. Humidity in the enclosure doesn't have so much surface to cling onto/there's more open air relative to the size of the water bowl, so it will lower.

    Since I'm only giving him one hide, I want to keep the plant in for security. Also, is it OK to melt the holes (using a soldering iron) in the tub and then immediately putting him back in? I don't have a temperery holding container.

    Thanks,
    HenryTheSnake
  • 12-21-2015, 07:49 PM
    AllThatInThemGenes
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    when the plastic melts it puts off fumes so i would not put him right back in. You should be able to find a shoe box or something while you wait the 5 min for the tub to air out. Using the soldering iron is perfectly fine tho.
  • 12-21-2015, 08:08 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    If I put a 2000 gram book onto of my enclosure (with locking handles for the lid), would a 80 gram BP be able to get out?
  • 12-21-2015, 08:21 PM
    redshepherd
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by HenryTheSnake View Post
    If I put a 2000 gram book onto of my enclosure (with locking handles for the lid), would a 80 gram BP be able to get out?

    I doubt it. But you can also just get these kinds of clips, and clip the edges down.

    https://myitchyfingers.files.wordpre...8/05/clip1.jpg
  • 12-22-2015, 02:57 AM
    Aztec4mia
    I can't see where your heat pad is placed but not putting the water bowl over it would help with reducing the humidity, and maybe not put the hygrometer directly above the water bowl.

    Is your place normally humid? from 30 to 70-80 is a big jump with aspen bedding and no rack enclosing it.
  • 12-22-2015, 12:30 PM
    HenryTheSnake
    Re: Scale Rot Prevention?
    It's a rainy week so it's 50% in my house. Also, the water bowl is not over the heat source.
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