!!!!!!!humidity problem!!!!!!!

ok, so im getting a ball python soon, and ive read in alot of places that a heat lamp ontop of the tank will cause the humidity to drop alot. but ive also read that if u have the lamp over the water bowl it will actually help RAISE the humidity.

whats the best answer here?!?!:confused:

im planning on getting a lamp anyways with a Zoo Med 75wat red light. does anyone have any suggestions to help keep the humidity up, without misting constantly?!?!

Some people put aluminum foil over the top of their cage.

I used to put a damp towel on top every morning.

Well, you didn't believe me in that other thread, so I don't know if this is going to do anything, but here goes:

I read that too, and I tried it. Put the heat lamp over the water to cause evaporation and thereby increasing humidity. IT DIDN'T WORK.

Perhaps it works only on paper, or with general heat sources, but not reptile heat lamps. I'm guessing it sucks out more moisture in the air than created by evaporation. Whatever the reason, the tank humidity absolutely PLUMMETS when the heat lamp goes on.

And I'm a stone's throw from the coast. This is a beach community here. When the rest of Southern California is sweltering, we're cool, grey, and foggy because of the marine layer. We're not far enough inland for it to burn off and become dry. We're damp, grey, foggy, and humid, but switch on that heat lamp and bam! 70% drops down to 40% in less than an hour.

Try it for yourself. Just be sure to have an accurate hygrometer set up.

First of all, there's no need to spaz your thread title box out...

As far as the humidity goes, you might have some success if you put saran wrap over 3/4s of the screen on the top. You'll most probably still have to mist.

You can try a very large water bowl to allow for maximum evaporation/humidity...

Or you can just not use a bulb and be alright with just an under tank heater..

To add to ways of covering part of the top; if you want a cleaner look, you can go with a sheet of acrylic or plexiglass. It's what I did, and loved it. If it is a larger tank, you can use two separate pieces that overlap slightly, so you can slide them as a means of controling the humidity. :gj:

Get a mister.

Mist the cages/tubs every night with hot water (it gets warm when sprayed into the air).

Ta-da. Humidity!

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Originally Posted by Mitch21

First of all, there's no need to spaz your thread title box out...

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doesnt hurt anything. gets ppl to look and help me

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Originally Posted by iloveleucie63

doesnt hurt anything. gets ppl to look and help me

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People will look without all of the "looogameee" goodness. I'm going to slightly modify the title. Don't worry, people will still see it ;)

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Originally Posted by Nate

People will look without all of the "looogameee" goodness. I'm going to slightly modify the title. Don't worry, people will still see it ;)

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haha ok

Mine are both in tanks, the tops are 3/4 covered with foil, light above the water and i mist once a day and my humidity is great

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Originally Posted by Friday2214

Mine are both in tanks, the tops are 3/4 covered with foil, light above the water and i mist once a day and my humidity is great

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thanks, ill probably try that. either foil or a sheet of plexiglass

When you say mist do you mean using a spray bottle and spraying everything inside the tank?

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Originally Posted by casper

When you say mist do you mean using a spray bottle and spraying everything inside the tank?

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using a spray bottle

Is there any reason that you need a lamp? If you don't need one, don't use one. It is more trouble than it is worth. Trust me.
If you live in a dry climate you will be constantly fighting with that lamp to maintain humidity.

I used to use a lamp with a 60 watt red bulb and I had it directly over a large waterbowl. I had most of the top of the cage covered and I still had to mist in the morning and in the evening. I have recently switched to a UTH and now the humidity is perfect on its own and I have never had to mist once since I changed over.
UTHs are a beautiful thing.