Need help with lowering humidity (80%)

So today is my first day with my ball python so I set him in his cage, gave him water, turned on his UTH and everything was fine. Well, a few hours later I check and the hygrometer was reading 80%. I have no clue how it got this high, I never spilled any water. I'm using coconut husk fiber substrate if that helps. Does having a full water dish make it so humid? Also, to lower humidity is it okay to to hang a pack of silica gel packets from the top screen of my terrarium or get something like DampRid? Is it possible that I just have a crappy hygrometer? So basically, any theories on why its so damp or any suggestions for lowering it? Thank you so much for the help!

For future reference it's a great idea to have your setup.. well setup at least 2 weeks prior to putting the inhabitant in!

it's probably the coconut, I suggest pulling it all back out and letting it dry for a few days and let your new friend on paper towel for his first week with you.

what are you using to measure humidity?
what type of enclosure are you using?
is the substrate the type you have to soak and break apart? if so, did you allow it enough time to dry?

for the time being, turn on a ceiling fan (or any type of fan in the room) and let it run.

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Originally Posted by Brixxart

For future reference it's a great idea to have your setup.. well setup at least 2 weeks prior to putting the inhabitant in!

it's probably the coconut, I suggest pulling it all back out and letting it dry for a few days and let your new friend on paper towel for his first week with you.

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Thank you so much! I will put him on paper towels and look into getting a different substrate. Also, the reason I was so surprised that the humidity rose so much is because I've had this setup for a few weeks now, though it is the first time I put water in and ran my UTH for more than an hour.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

what are you using to measure humidity?
what type of enclosure are you using?
is the substrate the type you have to soak and break apart? if so, did you allow it enough time to dry?

for the time being, turn on a ceiling fan (or any type of fan in the room) and let it run.

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Thank you! I do have my fan on and will open the top later (I'll supervise the whole time). I have a tank and my substrate was from the bag, zoomed eco earth loose substrate.

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Originally Posted by bps_in_space

Thank you! I do have my fan on and will open the top later (I'll supervise the whole time). I have a tank and my substrate was from the bag, zoomed eco earth loose substrate.

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what are you using to measure the humidity?

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Originally Posted by bps_in_space

Thank you so much! I will put him on paper towels and look into getting a different substrate. Also, the reason I was so surprised that the humidity rose so much is because I've had this setup for a few weeks now, though it is the first time I put water in and ran my UTH for more than an hour.

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Also, you shouldn't need to change substrate, I use eco earth and I absolutely love it... I just need to let it dry throughout for a week or two before I use it!

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Originally Posted by Brixxart

Also, you shouldn't need to change substrate, I use eco earth and I absolutely love it... I just need to let it dry throughout for a week or two before I use it!

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Oh, okay! That's wonderful then! I have never heard of that before but I'm glad I know it now!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

what are you using to measure the humidity?

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I'm using a analog hygrometer I got at a pet store. The brand is Grreat Choice. Would it be a good idea to get a better one?

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Originally Posted by bps_in_space

I'm using a analog hygrometer I got at a pet store. The brand is Grreat Choice. Would it be a good idea to get a better one?

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analog thermometer/hygrometers are basically worthless in terms of accuracy; you're most likely getting an inaccurate reading which is why the humidity seems so high. get a $10 digital thermo/hygrometer combo from walmart.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

analog thermometer/hygrometers are basically worthless in terms of accuracy; you're most likely getting an inaccurate reading which is why the humidity seems so high. get a $10 digital thermo/hygrometer combo from walmart.

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Wow, thank you! I'll definitely be ordering that!

I posted last week about this same occurrence although judging from the responses I got, I'm not sure it's a bad thing. I initially was using reptichip which had some slight moisture and my humidity was pegged at 99%. The windows, hides, and ceiling had condensation. I pulled everything out, wiped it down and proceeded to put in some dry coco soft and I got the humidity down to the low 80s. Now yesterday, I filled up the water bowl w/ a little more water and in doing so, I think I dropped ' one drop or two' of water on the floor.....very minimal. My humidity is now around 95% but I'm still not sure it's a problem. There's no condensation on the windows. I'm using a pvc enclosure which 'really' holds in the humidity.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

I posted last week about this same occurrence although judging from the responses I got, I'm not sure it's a bad thing. I initially was using reptichip which had some slight moisture and my humidity was pegged at 99%. The windows, hides, and ceiling had condensation. I pulled everything out, wiped it down and proceeded to put in some dry coco soft and I got the humidity down to the low 80s. Now yesterday, I filled up the water bowl w/ a little more water and in doing so, I think I dropped ' one drop or two' of water on the floor.....very minimal. My humidity is now around 95% but I'm still not sure it's a problem. There's no condensation on the windows. I'm using a pvc enclosure which 'really' holds in the humidity.

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Good luck, that doesn't sound like a fun situation. Judging from the responses I got here you can try airing out your coco soft. Obviously I'm no expert since this is my first day with my first bp. Right now I put some of my coconut fiber substrate into the oven on low temperature to dry it out pretty fast without it burning/catching fire. I really hope everything will turn out okay for you!

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Originally Posted by bps_in_space

Good luck, that doesn't sound like a fun situation. Judging from the responses I got here you can try airing out your coco soft. Obviously I'm no expert since this is my first day with my first bp. Right now I put some of my coconut fiber substrate into the oven on low temperature to dry it out pretty fast without it burning/catching fire. I really hope everything will turn out okay for you!

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I don't know......Im really not sure if it is a bad situation. I was told it's a lot worse to have low humidity. The only thing I could do would be to not put any water in the dish and I surely don't want to do that.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

I don't know......Im really not sure if it is a bad situation. I was told it's a lot worse to have low humidity. The only thing I could do would be to not put any water in the dish and I surely don't want to do that.

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I would just be worried about respiratory infections... You could try swapping out your substrate to newspaper or paper towels while you figure out what's going on...? I'm far from a professional though so I'm not sure how much that would help.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

analog thermometer/hygrometers are basically worthless in terms of accuracy; you're most likely getting an inaccurate reading which is why the humidity seems so high. get a $10 digital thermo/hygrometer combo from walmart.

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I have that thermometer/hydrometer 0-0 It looks a bit diffrent on the outside though :) Very easy to read and the temps and humidity are right there for you to see

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

I have that thermometer/hydrometer 0-0 It looks a bit diffrent on the outside though :) Very easy to read and the temps and humidity are right there for you to see

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That's great to know! Thank you!