Substrate to REDUCE humidity?

Is there such a thing? My humidity is constantly too high, above 80% quite frequently. I'm experimenting with different diameter bowls to see what I can do with that. I know about the rice in a bag thing, and I'm going to do that as a last resort, but any suggestions on a different substrate to use? Using newspaper only now...

Newspaper is your best bet for substrate. I'm assuming you're using a tub-enclosure? What kind of holes do you have for ventilation? What's the ambient humidity in the room? Setting up a fan nearby to circulate air around the enclosure may help. Also, the smallest diameter bowl you can find...placed as far away from the heat source as you can put it.

I'm experimenting with ventilation holes right now also, I should've mentioned that... My primary problem is that I'm having cool-side temp issues too, which I'm afraid will be compounded by ventilating the tubs. This is in a Reptile Basics closed rack, btw... Only one side exposed to the environment.

Room humidity seems pretty stable in the 44-50% range.

you might try shredded paper or Aspen bedding
maybe even Carefresh.

They are all moisture absorbant, and have a lot more surface area to absorb humidity from the air than a flat sheet of paper.

I had an issue with humidity in my RBI rack as well. I remedied the problem by drilling a total of ten holes in each tub (8 along the front and 2 on the sides, toward the front). I now only fill my water dishes half way and keep them on the cool side. A combination of these things has stabilized my humidity to where I like it.

I'm using newspaper substrate btw,

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Originally Posted by Tainted Glory

I had an issue with humidity in my RBI rack as well. I remedied the problem by drilling a total of ten holes in each tub (8 along the front and 2 on the sides, toward the front). I now only fill my water dishes half way and keep them on the cool side. A combination of these things has stabilized my humidity to where I like it.

I'm using newspaper substrate btw,

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Well, the depth of the water makes no difference whatsoever. Surface area is what impacts the evaporative coefficient, and thus the humidity. I've been working with various water dishes, and think I've got the right ones now. I also melted holes every 2" all the way around the upper lip of the tubs, so it's very well ventilated now. I'm using 2 different combinations of water bowls. One larger single bowl for my adult tubs, and 2 smaller bowls for the tubs I have dividers in. It's maintaining humidity in the 52-57% range right now, after 2 days.

sounds like you're all set...

Thanks for the clarification. I think I'm going to add holes all around my tubs, too.

try using a smaller water dish, like a soufflé cup, and keeping it as close to the cool side as you can.

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Originally Posted by Rapture

sounds like you're all set...

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Now if only I could get my cool-side temps up to 80...

you can't heat the room you keep the snakes in? i don't remember if you said before you couldn't. maybe some insulation around the sides (styrofoam, reflectix, heavy blanket), maybe a plexiglas door with some holes for air flow in it. also try keeping it higher off the ground, as heat rises maybe you can get a subtle 2˚ change. also i noticed my aspen tubs are always a little warmer then the newsprint ones, maybe get a substrate that holds in heat a little better.

just some suggestions...

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Originally Posted by Kagez28

you can't heat the room you keep the snakes in? i don't remember if you said before you couldn't. maybe some insulation around the sides (styrofoam, reflectix, heavy blanket), maybe a plexiglas door with some holes for air flow in it. also try keeping it higher off the ground, as heat rises maybe you can get a subtle 2˚ change. also i noticed my aspen tubs are always a little warmer then the newsprint ones, maybe get a substrate that holds in heat a little better.

just some suggestions...

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Yeah, can't heat the room. I LIVE in the room (1br apt, so the whole place is basically 1 room) and don't want to sweat in my sleep.

I'm working on a couple of different ideas for keeping it warm. I hadn't thought about the substrate, but it makes sense. Solid objects transfer heat much more efficiently than air does, so aspen as substrate may make the difference. I've been considering switching anyways so I won't have to cut water bowl holes in the newspaper sheets every time I change it since the bowls I'm now using are going to have a mount permanently attached.

does it get colder in they winter where you live. cause thats when temperatures get low. it would cost a fortune to heat the apartment to even 80˚. so i would thinking about added some flex to the front of the rack. plug it in to a lamp dimmer and then that into the thermostat. this will lower the temp of the front flex by a constant degree. this will help alot in the winter when the ambient temps fall.

I have an idea. Have you tried using a de-humidifier in the room? I am having a smiilar situation. I use newspaper and small water dishes in my rack, and I still get condensation. I melted enough holes in the tubs and any more would compomise their heating.
I guess that your house might humid, as mine is? If the hmidity outside the tub is high to begin with, I think that it'd make it harder for humidity in the tubs to be released via ventilation?
It is great during shed time though!