Small-ish low humidity-loving species?

Yes another one of my hypothetical threads. Once my BP moves out of his current 30 gallon tank I'm essentially going to have a fully set up enclosure just, you know, sitting there. I'm not going to add anything until after he has his full PVC enclosure proper (he's going to a temporary tub system soon for now until it eventually gets here, that way I'll have the tub to use as a quarantine enclosure instead of the glass tank to start).

Thing is, I've had horrendous luck keeping humidity at acceptable levels for a BP, often hovering at 30/40%. So what are some snake species that prefer low humidity while also not being too big for a 30 tank? First one that immediately jumped to mind was a Kenyan sand boa, but I already have a snake that acts like a pet rock most of the time so I was curious if there are any other more, "visible" options you guys can think of.

Any colubrid would work really. Corn snakes, king snakes, rat snakes, and milk snakes are all pretty active species and they would all do pretty good in that size enclosure with the exception of black milk snakes, they get like 6-7 foot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toad37

Any colubrid would work really. Corn snakes, king snakes, rat snakes, and milk snakes are all pretty active species and they would all do pretty good in that size enclosure with the exception of black milk snakes, they get like 6-7 foot.

---

Really? Huh... I was always under the impression that anything the size of an adult corn snake (who can potentially get longer than even a female BP) needed something like a 40 gallon breeder if not bigger. :hmm:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toad37

Any colubrid would work really. Corn snakes, king snakes, rat snakes, and milk snakes are all pretty active species and they would all do pretty good in that size enclosure with the exception of black milk snakes, they get like 6-7 foot.

---

None of those will stay small enough for a 30 gal. tank for life, which is what I think the OP is asking about? (except maybe a smaller sp. of milk snake)

A male rosy boa would work okay- (females get larger), or a Children's python (or Aussie. spotted python). The latter (Antaresia sp.) will be fine with only a humid-hide provided- you don't need to humidify the whole tank.

One difference- a rosy boa is mostly terrestrial, whereas the "Antaresia" group will make better use of vertical space by climbing/basking on a wide branch (or driftwood). You didn't mention if this was a "tall" 30 or a long 30 gal.- but something to consider when choosing the most appropriate pet to occupy it.

Between you & me (I've kept all the species mentioned), the best "pets" for interaction & ease of feeding/care* are the little Antaresia pythons. ;) Also, rosy boas tend to go off-feed in winter, males more than females, but my Aussie spotted python NEVER refuses to eat, lol. And while they have heat-sensing pits, I also make no effort to warm her prey- she couldn't care less- & these generally prefer f/t (or fresh pre-killed)- either way, live not needed. Whereas rosy boas- at least as neonates, will want live until talked into f/t- & some are easier than others to convert. (milk snakes also take f/t very well)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

None of those will stay small enough for a 30 gal. tank for life, which is what I think the OP is asking about? (except maybe a smaller sp. of milk snake)

A male rosy boa would work okay- (females get larger), or a Children's python (or Aussie. spotted python). The latter (Antaresia sp.) will be fine with only a humid-hide provided- you don't need to humidify the whole tank.

One difference- a rosy boa is mostly terrestrial, whereas the "Antaresia" group will make better use of vertical space by climbing/basking on a wide branch (or driftwood). You didn't mention if this was a "tall" 30 or a long 30 gal.- but something to consider when choosing the most appropriate pet to occupy it.

---

A tank for life yeah. And it's a 30 gallon "long" (by technicality there's 29 gallon and 30 gallon, with the 30 being half a foot longer and slightly shorter).

https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/antaresia-pythons/ -I just snagged this link real quick- there's lot's more when you search- & they're not imported from Australia, they're c/b in the USA- not super rare, but not as plentiful as BPs or corns, but available.

You could also look into African "house" snakes- I have no experience with those, but they stay small & seem to make good pets also.

Also garter & ribbon snakes- but they eat way different things & aren't much for handling.

You mentioned a smaller milk snake. What are the smallest milk snake species that are typically around on the captive-bred market?

I think a Western Hognose snake would fit the bill of staying small and requiring low humidity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Snagrio

You mentioned a smaller milk snake. What are the smallest milk snake species that are typically around on the captive-bred market?

---

Mexican milk snakes (stay small) for one, but there's probably others.

I'll co-sign the suggestion for one of the smaller Antaresia like a Children's Python. A male Hognose would also be fine - they are really great little snakes.

Editing to add: the humidity levels you mention are very concerning for a Ball Python. Do you need a little help brainstorming solutions?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

I'll co-sign the suggestion for one of the smaller Antaresia like a Children's Python. A male Hognose would also be fine - they are really great little snakes.

Editing to add: the humidity levels you mention are very concerning for a Ball Python. Do you need a little help brainstorming solutions?

---

I have a solution, the aforementioned tub setup (which he is not moved into yet). Problem is due to some snafus (was switching from coco powder to coco chips for the first time and added way too much water) I've run into the opposite issue where the humidity is so high it goes beyond what my hydrometers can read. Even leaving the lid off and periodically sifting the substrate around to expose all of it to the CHE hanging above hasn't really done anything, it's still so soaked almost a week later that squeezing any given chunk produces entire droplets of water.

Really don't know what I can do to dry it out. Bake it or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Snagrio

I have a solution, the aforementioned tub setup (which he is not moved into yet). Problem is due to some snafus (was switching from coco powder to coco chips for the first time and added way too much water) I've run into the opposite issue where the humidity is so high it goes beyond what my hydrometers can read. Even leaving the lid off and periodically sifting the substrate around to expose all of it to the CHE hanging above hasn't really done anything, it's still so soaked almost a week later that squeezing any given chunk produces entire droplets of water.

Really don't know what I can do to dry it out. Bake it or something?

---

Add more dry substrate to it, mix very well, & take some out if there's too much. Sure, you can also bake it, but that's more hassle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Add more dry substrate to it, mix very well, & take some out if there's too much. Sure, you can also bake it, but that's more hassle.

---

There's already a little too much (again, never used it before so it was very trial and error on my end). If I add anymore there's basically no room to fit amenities since the tub is rather shallow.

I could take most of it out and mix in dried chips, but then I don't know what to do with what would be taken out. None of the other animals I have would have a use for it so it'd essentially be wasted unless I can just set it out somewhere to dry out over a longer period of time and "reuse" it when the substrate needs to be changed out for cleaning.

Set the excess out to dry (& humidify your house, lol), or bake it. Your choice. It will dry faster in a shallower layer- buy a new kitty litter box or a laundry tub- or a new large lasagna pan? -something inexpensive but with future multi-purpose uses- to spread it out in.

I'm flabbergasted at this point. Couple days ago I removed well over half the oversoaked substrate and replaced it with bone dry chips (put the rest in another tote) and it's STILL too humid. Not quite outreading the hydrometers now but still 80's-90's in percentage. Bored a bunch of holes in the lid earlier to see if that helps but this is just crazy. Worst thing is even if it lowers to acceptable levels soon the addition of his water bowl is probably going to shoot it right back up again.

Well, at least if I ever get something like a Brazilian rainbow boa I know exactly what to do. :rofl:

:hijackd: Congratulations, you've derailed your own thread. :rofl: Whatever happened to the "small low-humidity-loving species" you were looking for? ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:hijackd: Congratulations, you've derailed your own thread. :rofl: Whatever happened to the "small low-humidity-loving species" you were looking for? ;)

---

Realized that a while ago. It was either derailing this thread, making a new one or necroing an old one from the caging section. Eeni minni minni mo. :confuzd:

Couldn't resist teasing you...:D