A Problem with the Humidity

So I'm setting up an enclosure for a Colombian Red Tail Boa I'm getting in a couple weeks and I've almost got it perfect. I have it well-decorated with fake plants, some hides, rocks and branches, and it would be ready if it weren't for the fact that I can't get the humidity to stay above 50%. The enclosure has a really big water bowl and I'm using Zoo Med Eco Earth for the substrate. Is there another kind of substrate that is better at keeping high humidity? I'm considering possibly adding some live plants to the terrarium. Are there any easy to take care of plants that would be good for raising the humidity?

Note: this is a melamine enclosure that I made, so it doesn't have a screen top where the humidity could escape easily.

Thanks for any helpful advice you have to offer!

I think due to the ridiculous cold that has hit much of the country, I see you're in NC and I believe it's been cold there too, a lot of us are having a little more difficulty with humidity than usual. I've added some sphangnum moss to my enclosures. It helps, but I'm still needing to mist the the pythons at least daily and the colubrids almost daily.

We might hit 50 here in MA today, nice break from the weeks of single digit and sub zero weather!!

I use a mix of eco earth and orchid bark for all my boas ,I found just using eco earth dried a bit to much with the ceramic when it kicks in more with the cold weather outside


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You could always try some sphagnum moss

how are you measuring the humidity?

a trick i use is to get a hand towel nice and damp and lay it over one of the hides.

How are you heating it? If you are using a bulb, that will be your biggest problem. Also i'm guessing you are getting the Eco Earth nice and damp but not like mud.

Honestly you shouldnt really have a problem unless you have too much air flow. I use AP cages with aspen for my snakes and i mist once maybe twice a week and it stays 60-70%.

You can put in live plants. I have them in my GTP cage. There are lots of stuff you can use like Pothos, different palms, Prayer Plant, lots of ferns. Just stay away from Ivys as most are toxic. The only problem is a boa will most likely crush or tip over any living plants. My boas and retic and BP destroyed plastic plants so they all live in plain set ups now lol. The GTP is much more stealthy plus he is just a little tiny baby.

Maybe put up a pic of the set up and we can try and point out some stuff to fix it.

If I mist the enclosure twice a day, I can maintain a good humidity, although I am hoping to find a solution to where I don't have to mist so often.

I have heard about using orchid bark along with Eco Earth, I'll make sure to give that a try.

I use the AcuRite electronic thermometer/hygrometers, one at each end of the enclosure.

To heat the enclosure, I use a UTH and a ceramic heat emitter. And yes, I make sure not to make a swamp out of the substrate lol. If I can't get it to stay at a good humidity, I'll probably try some of those plants and hope they don't get crushed haha.

Here's the enclosure:
https://imgur.com/a/Ul2S8

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SomeTallGuy

If I mist the enclosure twice a day, I can maintain a good humidity, although I am hoping to find a solution to where I don't have to mist so often.

I have heard about using orchid bark along with Eco Earth, I'll make sure to give that a try.

I use the AcuRite electronic thermometer/hygrometers, one at each end of the enclosure.

To heat the enclosure, I use a UTH and a ceramic heat emitter. And yes, I make sure not to make a swamp out of the substrate lol. If I can't get it to stay at a good humidity, I'll probably try some of those plants and hope they don't get crushed haha.

Here's the enclosure:
https://imgur.com/a/Ul2S8

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before i recommend something, what kind of liner are you using? can it withstand semi-standing water?


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I you already have a big water dish on the hot side then your best bet is to limit ventillatio until it holds the humidity you want. I would recommend only having ventillation on the cold side. I use melamine enclosures with sliding glass doors. They are 48" long by 24" deep by 12 tall heated with rhp's. Each enclosure has 1 - 2" ventillation insert on the cold side. I use shredded aspen for bedding and a ceramic dog bowl for water on the hot side. With ambient humidity here in Arizona in the mid 30's at best I am able to maintain 55-60% without any misting. When I see snakes going blue I will give a light mist with warm water and it will hold in the mid 70's for a few days.
I have been doing this successfully for over 2 years now and get perfect sheds every time with our bp's, womas and blackheads.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by enginee837

I you already have a big water dish on the hot side then your best bet is to limit ventillatio until it holds the humidity you want. I would recommend only having ventillation on the cold side. I use melamine enclosures with sliding glass doors. They are 48" long by 24" deep by 12 tall heated with rhp's. Each enclosure has 1 - 2" ventillation insert on the cold side. I use shredded aspen for bedding and a ceramic dog bowl for water on the hot side. With ambient humidity here in Arizona in the mid 30's at best I am able to maintain 55-60% without any misting. When I see snakes going blue I will give a light mist with warm water and it will hold in the mid 70's for a few days.
I have been doing this successfully for over 2 years now and get perfect sheds every time with our bp's, womas and blackheads.

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I agree... I use Postal Tape on the outside of my AP Enclosure to cover 1/2 the vents. Im always 58-62%. When its shed time I mist the walls every other day and that brings it to 70/75%.


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