Heating And Humidity Issues

So I'm about to have my first ball python shipped. I have everything I need and it's all set up, but I've noticed two issues. First is the fact that the cool side of her tank, at the far end, is only 70°F. On her hot side, I have an under tank heater and a ceramic overhead heater, and the temperature there is 92°F. The tank is the 4 foot long terrestrial one from AnimalPlastics, so I'm guessing it's either too long for the heat to spread out evenly or the material AP makes their tanks out of is too insulated for the heat to get into the tank from there. The second issue is that the humidity level inside the tank is only 36%, even though her water is directly under the ceramic bulb and on top of the under tank heater. I was thinking maybe I could move the under tank heater to the middle to more evenly disperse heat, and I'm about to test that theory now, but I have no idea what to do about her humidity. Any and all advice is appreciated!! (Even unrelated to her heat and humidity, as I'm an inexperienced owner!) :w00t:

You could use orchid / reptile bark as the substrate , it's a rich dark colour , great looking as well in the viv . Makes your snakes stand out visually . Main thing is it's great for holding and adjusting the humidity - just spray it daily or whatever's needed .
As regards temp . If it's 92F at one end and 70F at the other then presumably it's 81F or near in the middle !?! Anyway if you're experimenting with the heat mat placement it will be interesting to see your temp results . Are you using a digital temp gun ??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

You could use orchid / reptile bark as the substrate , it's a rich dark colour , great looking as well in the viv . Makes your snakes stand out visually . Main thing is it's great for holding and adjusting the humidity - just spray it daily or whatever's needed .
As regards temp . If it's 92F at one end and 70F at the other then presumably it's 81F or near in the middle !?! Anyway if you're experimenting with the heat mat placement it will be interesting to see your temp results . Are you using a digital temp gun ??

---

Ahaha sorry I don't know if I just left a blank reply on your post or not, I'm new to the site. Anyways. I'm using a little hydrometer thermometer. There's a middle temperature around 81°F, yes, but the issue is that 70°F is too cold for her cool side and I don't want part of her tank to be completely uncomfortable for her. Is there a way I can fix the humidity issue without switching substrates? I'd like to keep using newspapers because it's a good way to recycle them and they're cheaper and easier to clean than other substrates. If not I'll definitely switch!

is this for a hatchling? that's a big enclosure for a baby. can you add another UTH/w a second thermostat on the cold end under a second identical hide to get it up to at least 75, preferably 80? to add humidity you can use a spray bottle. I'd hold off on adding substrate till you have had the snake a while and made sure it does not carry mites. the early stages of the mite lifespan render them essentially invisible. a lot of folks use paper towels for the "quarantine" phase till you are sure there are no mites. they are about as common with snakes as flees are with dogs/cats, they are not a big deal but must be dealt with promptly... prevention is the best medicine, they are much harder to get rid of once established. before adding a bunch of things to the enclosure that will just need to be cleaned later, read up on the quarantine process. good for you for getting prepared BEFORE it arrives!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gay

Ahaha sorry I don't know if I just left a blank reply on your post or not, I'm new to the site. Anyways. I'm using a little hydrometer thermometer. There's a middle temperature around 81°F, yes, but the issue is that 70°F is too cold for her cool side and I don't want part of her tank to be completely uncomfortable for her. Is there a way I can fix the humidity issue without switching substrates? I'd like to keep using newspapers because it's a good way to recycle them and they're cheaper and easier to clean than other substrates. If not I'll definitely switch!

---

What kind of thermometer is it exactly, I fear it's one of those stand- alone ones which only give readings of ambient temps which are basically useless when you require surface temps ...




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither Seeker

is this for a hatchling? that's a big enclosure for a baby. can you add another UTH/w a second thermostat on the cold end under a second identical hide to get it up to at least 75, preferably 80? to add humidity you can use a spray bottle. I'd hold off on adding substrate till you have had the snake a while and made sure it does not carry mites. the early stages of the mite lifespan render them essentially invisible. a lot of folks use paper towels for the "quarantine" phase till you are sure there are no mites. they are about as common with snakes as flees are with dogs/cats, they are not a big deal but must be dealt with promptly... prevention is the best medicine, they are much harder to get rid of once established. before adding a bunch of things to the enclosure that will just need to be cleaned later, read up on the quarantine process. good for you for getting prepared BEFORE it arrives!

---

I know it's a very big enclosure. :( I bought it for an adult blue tongued skink originally but i didnt get that and now i just cant afford a smaller one. I have five different hides in her tank, though, so I hope it'll be okay. If not I'm going to make more. She's six months old, should she still go through the quarantine process? None of the care sheets I read had mentioned that at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What kind of thermometer is it exactly, I fear it's one of those stand- alone ones which only give readings of ambient temps which are basically useless when you require surface temps ...




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

Oh no, it is a stand alone one! I didn't realize there was a difference. :O None of the care sheets mentioned that either. I'll pick up a temp gun asap. Do they sell them at walmart or exotic pet stores?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gay

I know it's a very big enclosure. :( I bought it for an adult blue tongued skink originally but i didnt get that and now i just cant afford a smaller one. I have five different hides in her tank, though, so I hope it'll be okay. If not I'm going to make more. She's six months old, should she still go through the quarantine process? None of the care sheets I read had mentioned that at all.

---

I've read hundreds of posts here, lots of stickies and I started out thinking the quarantine process was stressed mainly for breeders with big collections they wanted to protect but now I think of it more as a process for every snake. keep the enclosure simple for starters, makes dealing with anything that might come up much easier!

two identical hides, one that is about 80 and one that is about 90 is enough for now. I'd find another source of heat to make sure the ambient temp is above 75 throughout. a second UTH or flexwat should help, at least below the cool side hide.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither Seeker

I've read hundreds of posts here, lots of stickies and I started out thinking the quarantine process was stressed mainly for breeders with big collections they wanted to protect but now I think of it more as a process for every snake. keep the enclosure simple for starters, makes dealing with anything that might come up much easier!

two identical hides, one that is about 80 and one that is about 90 is enough for now. I'd find another source of heat to make sure the ambient temp is above 75 throughout. a second UTH or flexwat should help, at least below the cool side hide.

---

Thanks. I'm picking up another RH tomorrow, as well as a temp gun and a bark substrate. (Is it sanitary to wash and reuse that, btw? Someone mentioned you could be soaking it in very hot water and then allowing it to dry in the sun but... I'm not sure.) Are you sure two hides will be enough for her? I read that a ball python can become stressed if provided with a too large enclosure and not enough places to hide, especially a snake as young as this one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gay

Thanks. I'm picking up another RH tomorrow, as well as a temp gun. Are you sure two hides will be enough for her? I read that a ball python can become stressed if provided with a too large enclosure and not enough places to hide, especially a snake as young as this one.

---

You can play the hides by ear. Start out with two, if the snake doesn't settle down in a couple days add a few more. Toilet paper roll and paper towel rolls make great temporary hides for babies. Just toss them when they get dirty.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

You can play the hides by ear. Start out with two, if the snake doesn't settle down in a couple days add a few more. Toilet paper roll and paper towel rolls make great temporary hides for babies. Just toss them when they get dirty.

---

Thanks for the suggestion!

my favorite substrate is cypress, it seems to be the best for holding moisture and has the least tendency to mold. I would skip the substrate initially, just use paper towels for the first month or so. mite eggs and baby mites are impossible to see and the key is breaking the cycle the leads from babies to adults and more eggs. once you are 100% sure you don't have mites, then it's time for substrate if you like. I spot clean the substrate. I plan to eventually go with a bio-active set up but want our BP's to get a little older first to make sure I have a solid handle on husbandry. bio-active has been great for our BRB, but they like it wet/very humid. I haven't changed the substrate in our BRB vivarium for over a year, which probably freaks some people out but it's a heavily planted jungle environment with a decent grow light and I started out with spring tails and a "pro-biotic" approach and has been remarkably stable. I like being judicious with the cypress mulch, it's not all that sustainably harvested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gay

Thanks. I'm picking up another RH tomorrow, as well as a temp gun and a bark substrate. (Is it sanitary to wash and reuse that, btw? Someone mentioned you could be soaking it in very hot water and then allowing it to dry in the sun but... I'm not sure.) Are you sure two hides will be enough for her? I read that a ball python can become stressed if provided with a too large enclosure and not enough places to hide, especially a snake as young as this one.

---