Is this OK?

So, I JUST cleaned the two girls enclosures, and because we use Forest Floor, their humidity spikes for a few days because the bedding comes moist.

Willow's humidity is reading 90% because of this and there is a bit of fog on her glass. She also didn't go to her hut but is hiding under her tree.

I've included pics of the tops of their tanks - could you tell me if the air flow is sufficient that they won't get RI's from humidity? (The tops are covered except around yzma's lamps and for Willow covered except around the backs of her lamps.)

Willow's 20g:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ps1ros5wb8.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...pskjdfi41n.jpg

Yzma's 40g:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...pszf68ulhx.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...psc23adcxr.jpg

Honestly, I'm not too sure what I'm looking at, but if you're experiencing humidity that high, even for just a couple of days, it's time to re evaluate the substrate you're using... remember, it's not about what's prettiest to look at, it's what's safest for the snake.


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It comes moist. after 10 mins her midity dropped back down to 80%. I was wondering if the space around the lights that isn't taped, is enough for air flow.

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

It comes moist. after 10 mins her midity dropped back down to 80%. I was wondering if the space around the lights that isn't taped, is enough for air flow.

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Well, 80% is still too high. And if the substrate itself is damp, that's just not ideal for a BP. Sorry, but I would change the substrate.

With as much as you have it closed off w the tape and what not, is try a drier type of substrate such as aspen or something. Raising humidity is easier than lowering humidity in my opinion.


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Dry the substrate out before use if you really want to use it. Just open the bag and wait a few days. I'm not familiar with Forest Floor but it would be a simple fix to make it dry and then add enough misting to get humidity right.

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Dry the substrate out before use if you really want to use it. Just open the bag and wait a few days. I'm not familiar with Forest Floor but it would be a simple fix to make it dry and then add enough misting to get humidity right.

What do you have covering the lid?
Cardboard and aluminum foil is easier to use.

I have packing tape on the adults lid and saran wrap on the baby's lid.

It is cypres mulch and dries out over the course of 2-3 days, especially if I churn it once a day.

It only stays at 80% for a day and drops to 70% then 60% over the next 2 days. the bedding isn't wet when we use it, just damp. Like a rain forest floor.

We have used the bedding with the adult since June with no issues. Just noticed there was a bit of condensation from the dampness and heat in the tank in the baby's tank this time. It goes away within a day. Just wondering if the openings around the lights are enough for air flow.

Idk I guess I'm missing something. Ball pythons aren't rainforest animals.... but to each their own. Not trying to offend.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

... we use Forest Floor, their humidity... is reading 90% because of this and there is a bit of fog on her glass. She also didn't go to her hut but is hiding under her tree. I've included pics of the tops of their tanks - could you tell me if the air flow is sufficient that they won't get RI's from humidity?...

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I had a look at your photos. We have pet enclosures similar to yours, i.e. tanks, lamps, & screen tops partially covered. I uploaded photos on a recent thread on this forum but have forgotten which one. Your humidity is not 90% throughout the entire tank, is it? Have you moved the monitor around? With our enclosures the closer the monitor is to the lamp the higher the temperature and the lower the humidity, the farther it is the lower the temp and higher the humidity. If/when I get readings of >80% near cool spots I begin to see a small amount of condensation on the glass and then peel back a bit of the cling-wrap near the lamp to alleviate this. This especially occurs during Summer months.

We used Forest Floor cypress mulch with our Blood Pythons, tried a few different brands but liked Forest Floor the best. I don't know of too many using it for Ball Pythons. Do your Ball Pythons burrow in it? Why do you want to use it, other than that it is the most expensive bedding available and probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing? I don't think you should use it for Ball Pythons. If you think it looks cool then get yourself a Blood.

Also, I've (unfortunately) seen upwards of 30 snakes with RI when I used to check them out on CraigsList. IMO humidity is not the main culprit. Cold is #1 followed by unhygienic tanks. I would think that in the natural setting, the one in which snakes evolved in for God only knows how many eons, RI was entirely non-existent. Snakes did not spend much time near defecation.

RI is a by-product of domestication. Newspaper or paper towels make spotting waste, and thereby enabling its rapid removal, much easier vs mulch.
Mangia pane is correct quando he says "it's not about what's prettiest to look at, it's what's safest for the snake." I'm all for pets vs DNA storage in sock drawers, but I think we owe it to the reptile to provide what is best for them. Even if it's not aesthetically pleasing to the human eye.

Not offended at all! Just wanted to be sure that 80% with a bit of fog for a day and then drop to normal is ok.

Not offended at all! Just wanted to be sure that 80% with a bit of fog for a day and then drop to normal is ok.

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

Not offended at all! Just wanted to be sure that 80% with a bit of fog for a day and then drop to normal is ok.

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But you said it spikes for " a few days".. and at 90%... that is way too high. And condensation is no good. You should just give me your Ball Python and put a rainbow Boa in there instead lol. :) kidding.... sort of..

If it were me, I would change the substrate, like now... or at least try removing some of the foil or whatever it is you're using.


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Why not remove some of the covering over the screen for those few days? Just cut a flap or partially unwrap the saran wrap or whatever until the substrate dries out some.
I've found its really helpful to have vents i can open and close depending on the weather, the temperature in the house, time of year, new substrate, etc. Just open and close as needed and you can keep the humidity very stable even when conditions change.

I think because of winter and the dry air, everything dries out faster. I cleaned the enclosures 7 hours ago and they are both safely mid 60s and no fog on the glass. I will churn up the bedding each day to air it out so it dries faster.

I've found spotting urine and feces is quite easy with the Mulch. Liquid urates soak into it and turn it darker. I'm able to see where they have pooped and peed and remove it. I can look into Aspen though. (We check for soilage every day to every other day. They tend to come out of their huts and hang out outside when they've gone, so it gives us a heads up.

I use forest floor for the tank I keep my pied in, but I live in a really dry area. Even when I put a fresh layer down the humidity never goes above 70%. Humidity in my room is usually 20-40% and it's even drier outside. So I started using cypress specifically got to help with humidity issues.

Aspen is clean, dry, and asthetically pleasing if you're looking for a drier mulch. I use it for my colubrids, used to use it with my ball pythons too before I switched them over to cypress.

Awesome! I shall open up some space at the top whenever I add new bedding and/or try to let it air a bit more.

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

And condensation is no good.

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Condensation is also caused by the temperature difference inside and outside of the enclosure.
My and many others have condensation on their rack tubs. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

Idk I guess I'm missing something. Ball pythons aren't rainforest animals

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Yes you are...........
Its Cypress mulch.
Though you can get regular cypress way cheaper at Home Depot or Lowes but you have to make sure its not treated and is pure.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Yes you are...........
Its Cypress mulch.
Though you can get regular cypress way cheaper at Home Depot or Lowes but you have to make sure its not treated and is pure.

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I was only referencing her "it simulates a rainforest floor" comment.

So you're saying prolonged condensation is a normal and acceptable thing??


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Condensation is also caused by the temperature difference inside and outside of the enclosure.
My and many others have condensation on their rack tubs. ;)

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How much of a temperature difference are we talking here? My snake room stays at 78 but the warm end of the tubs in the rack are 90. And I never experience condensation.


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When i kept my ball pythons in tanks i used "versa tops" on all them. It's a glass top that folds and comes with a plastic attachment that clips and slides onto the glass. You have to make ventilation holes in the plastic part. It's a great tool and will not only fix humidity issues but it will contribute to overall ambient temperatures. They are sold at Petland , Petco, and Petsmart. Whatever the gallon capacity of your tank you ask for the corresponding sized "versa top". :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

So you're saying prolonged condensation is a normal and acceptable thing??

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Yes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

How much of a temperature difference are we talking here? My snake room stays at 78 but the warm end of the tubs in the rack are 90. And I never experience condensation.

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When I am not heating the room the ambient is between 70 and 75 while my hot spots are between 88 to 90 degrees, shaved aspen bedding and dog bowl water bowls.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Yes


When I am not heating the room the ambient is between 70 and 75 while my hot spots are between 88 to 90 degrees, shaved aspen bedding and dog bowl water bowls.

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Hmmmm... everything else that I've read and been told is that if there is condensation, that's a key indicator that more ventilation is needed. ... and if there is condensation, it's almost a for sure thing that the humidity is way higher than 60 or even 70 percent. So now all of a sudden, the caresheets are all wrong too?

I understand misting or something that can creat condensation for a few hours, but you're saying that condensation as a constant, is completely fine?? I'm really confused now.


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No one said at a CONSTANT.....
Do as you wish.......
Im saying dont worry about it when it drops in a couple days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

When i kept my ball pythons in tanks i used "versa tops" on all them. It's a glass top that folds and comes with a plastic attachment that clips and slides onto the glass. You have to make ventilation holes in the plastic part. It's a great tool and will not only fix humidity issues but it will contribute to overall ambient temperatures. They are sold at Petland , Petco, and Petsmart. Whatever the gallon capacity of your tank you ask for the corresponding sized "versa top". :)

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We use versa tops for our fish aquariums. Have you tried using a heat lamp with versa tops? The OP's photos show heat lamps. I think versa tops limit the heat source to tape or pads.

So you used to keep pythons in tanks but now in ... racks? Could you elaborate as to why and the major differences?

Snake behavior?

I'd imagine cost could be an advantage for some DIY racks, but I've also seen BoaPhiles that are more expensive vs tanks.

Ease of cleaning?

Ease of maintaining heat/humidity?

I'm sure space is the biggest advantage. I'm impressed with this photo of 36 adult sized tubs: http://www.boaphileplastics.com/Rhin...ing_a_ball.jpg
those are 34" long tubs, almost as long as a 40gallon tank.

I'd imagine breeding is easier with use of a thermostat which means racks too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Macropodus

We use versa tops for our fish aquariums. Have you tried using a heat lamp with versa tops? The OP's photos show heat lamps. I think versa tops limit the heat source to tape or pads.

So you used to keep pythons in tanks but now in ... racks? Could you elaborate as to why and the major differences?

Snake behavior?

I'd imagine cost could be an advantage for some DIY racks, but I've also seen BoaPhiles that are more expensive vs tanks.

Ease of cleaning?

Ease of maintaining heat/humidity?

I'm sure space is the biggest advantage. I'm impressed with this photo of 36 adult sized tubs: http://www.boaphileplastics.com/Rhin...ing_a_ball.jpg
those are 34" long tubs, almost as long as a 40gallon tank.

I'd imagine breeding is easier with use of a thermostat which means racks too.

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. Versa tops would eliminate the need for heat lamp as they increase ambient temps in a terrarium setting. Unless you just want better visibility of the animal in the terrarium you could certainly use just a daylight or incandescent bulb.
As far as differences of tanks vs racks, tanks really are for fish as it's problematic maintaining both humidity and heat. Certainly as my collection grew and space became a issue it was apparent I had to go in a different direction. I invested in C serpents racks initially but Reptile basics racks are competitive and probably more affordable.
Ease of cleaning is straightforward.
Heat /humidity incomparable to tanks :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

. Versa tops would eliminate the need for heat lamp as they increase ambient temps in a terrarium setting. Unless you just want better visibility of the animal in the terrarium you could certainly use just a daylight or incandescent bulb.
As far as differences of tanks vs racks, tanks really are for fish as it's problematic maintaining both humidity and heat. Certainly as my collection grew and space became a issue it was apparent I had to go in a different direction. I invested in C serpents racks initially but Reptile basics racks are competitive and probably more affordable.
Ease of cleaning is straightforward.
Heat /humidity incomparable to tanks :)

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Preach brotha, PREACH. Lol

Love my new rack from C Serpents. :)


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My adults humidity dropped to 67% but she made fog after slithering over her bedding, over the water bowl and against her glass. She's in her tree now, waiting for food. (Tomorrow is feeding day.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

My adults humidity dropped to 67% but she made fog after slithering over her bedding, over the water bowl and against her glass. She's in her tree now, waiting for food. (Tomorrow is feeding day.)

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Yz, are you using any other heating fixtures or solely going with the lamp heat? Ie, heat pad?

She has a heat pad run by a thermostat and the heat lamps just boost the basking side to 90 (I keep the thermostat a bit lower because I'm afraid of burns,) and on the cold side to keep it at 80, because it's below 75 with no lamp. I'm assuming with a 90 hot side and 80 cold side, her ambient temps are proper.