Give Me Answers!

Haha, sorry couldn't think of a topic name. anywho...

Alright, so i've had problems with my humidity, whatever, i spray it alot during the day, this does no good. I have one of those things from Walmart that shows the humidity and Temp, temp is good and what not. My question is, I put in a box with a hole in it, and damp moss, Is this alright to keep as the only source for his Humidity? He loves it so far, and goes in there all the time, but i just didn't know if i had to have my cage humidified (sp?) also.

Also, i have his hide on the cooler side the box with the damp moss, is this okay for his hide? or should i have another one? The problem is i have his water bowl on his cooler side too so there isn't any more room with the 2, because i was told not to have his water bowl on the warm side of the tank.

like always, any information would be great, thank you.

ALLWAYS HAVE 2 HIDES :sabduel:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cornfuzed

ALLWAYS HAVE 2 HIDES :sabduel:

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1 warm side 1 cool side

yes, you do need 2 hides--one on each side of the tank. placing the humid hide on the warm side will keep it more humid in the hide itself.

you can also place your water bowl on the warm side to increase humidity--not sure why someone would tell you not to do this. using a ceramic dish over your heat source will help.

cover half to two-thirds of the tank lid with seran wrap to help hold in the moisture and use a uth in lieu of any lamps because they dry out the air a lot.

I do have 2 hides, one on each side, i just didn't know if it was ok to have the box with damp moss as his hide for one of the sides, or if i need that, AND a hide on that perticular side.

I thought it was kind of silly too not to have the waterbowl on the warm side too, i just have like, a stone type one i bought at petco, is this ok, or does anyone have any other suggestions where i can get a ceramic one?

The reason why some people say not to put the water bowl on the warm side is because if you leave the water there for too, too long it may mold because of the heat. If you change the water every few days, there's no problem.

Here's a link that shows how a tank should be set up, it shows how to tape off the cover and stuff, that should help with humidity.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800

What you're doing is fine, but you should try to find a way to keep the ambient humidity up. If you're using a screen top cover most of it with plastic or mylar. If you are using a tub you might need to cover some of the vent holes.

Now someone correct me if I am wrong, but if you keep hides containing damp moss all the time, isn't it possible to promote scale rot?

If your looking to increase the humidity, seran wrap the lid, move the water bowl to the warm side and mist as needed. Also keep in mind that if you're using a over head lamp (red bulb, white bulb) that will suck the humidity out of the cage too.

I have a few corn snakes and only put a humid hide (what you've been using with your moss hide) in when they're shedding.

Alright so some of the things i should do?

Get the tank to stay humid for the most part, then remove the box with moss out of the cage, unless he's shedding? One question i have about that is, my Uncle is a reptile freak, worked at Reptile Gardens, has had his share of snakes, alligators, lizards, etc. He told me it was fine to keep the box with damp moss in all the time, and when the snake wants in it, he'll go. But then the question that it can cause scale rot concerns me? So i'm still a little confused. I'm going to put some suran wrap over the top of the screen except for maybe like a 1/3 of it where i have my light, to try and get the humidity under control, is this ok?

I have a white bulb, purchased from Petco also, and you say this will take away the humidity, any brands, and if so could i get some pictures of what i should use? and where i can get it?

I'm going to try and get pictures tomorrow ( i know i always say this ) of his cage, and you let you guys tell me what you think. However i'm terrible at uploading pictures on forums, so some help with that may be needed.

I moved the lamp over to the other side where the box of damp moss, and his water bowl are, so his cooler hide is good, now, i still don't think the question has been answered, maybe it has!? and i was too dumb to pick up on it, but CAN I or CAN'T I use the box of DM as his hide for the warmer side? or should i make another hide, AND have the box of DM on that side?

I'm kind of getting mixed feelings about the whole damp moss thing, and it's making me concerned because he loves it, maybe because it's his only form of humidity? but i thought i had gotten that part under control. Someone recommended to me that i put in some type of waterfall for humidity? Does this work?

Thank you for any information, i'm sure i will have a ton more questions in the future!

I would run back to petco and pick up a few of those exo-terra rock-like caves and put one on teh warm side and one on the cool side. The humidity in the BP cage should be between 40-60% humidity, and i'm assuming that in the moss-box, it is much much higher-- too high for your BP to sit in for an extended period of time without the risk of scale rot.

Hey Mighty Monty,


You want the two hides PLUS the damp moss hide.

I have a humid hide in my tanks all the time and find they only use them when they need them providing the hot and cool hides are making them feel secure enough.

The waterfall thing might prove very time consuming to keep clean and working right. It's up to you of course but it might just be more trouble than it's worth.

When you say white light do you mean only so you can see the animal or as part of the heating setup?



dr del

I mean the heating setup, right now i have 150watt bulb, it's the white bulb. But it on the hot side it's like 98degrees, and its usually in the upper 80s on the cooler side. I think it's because of the bulb, and because its in a room that is pretty warm. I have a 100watt red bulb that i was thinking about replacing it with, I have a 20 gallon tank, but i figure with it being so warm in that room i probably don't need as high of a bulb.

Another thing is, i use the Aspen bedding, but saw that some others use that brick type stuff. What should i use?

Dr Del, do you just have the moss hideaway for your humidity, or do you keep the cage pretty humid also? I'm going to do like i saw on one of the forums and use tinfoil, then duct tape. But even when i mist it, it doesn't do a thing, and i mist it alot during the day. it still stays in the 20's that's why i added the moss hideway.

But i'll add ahide on the warmer side now too since that's where my moss hide is.

Hi again Mighty Monty,


Yeah, thats the problems with bulbs - they only come in specific sizes and it's never the one you want. :D

I'd go for the red bulb alright and connect it to a standard lamp dimmer to give you better control. The advantage of this is you can use any wattage of red bulb you like as it can always be turned down. Thermostats are of course a better method of control than dimmers but for bulbs you need to use dimming thermostats ( I think they are called proportional in america) as the others switching the bulb on and off wear it out quite quickly.

The aspen bedding and the coconut bedding both seem quite popular on the site though I think people say the coconut holds humidity better. Covering the OUTSIDE of the lid with tinfoil and taping it down (you don't want the tpe anyplace the snake can come into contact with) seems to work quite well for people but remember to leave a small gap or two to allow ventilation.

I use the humid hides as my main method of helping them shed without any problems but obviously its yet another container taking up room in your tank so if it can be made unneccessary I think it's a good thing. Hopefully if I ever get this flipping rack built I will not need to use any at all.



dr del