Help! Humidity too high!

[Moshimaru]

A few days ago, I moved Ghost to his new Animal Plastics enclosure with a ProPlastics RHP. Everything looks good in there. The heat has a nice gradient. However, the humidity has remained in the 90s since I moved him there! I have been using cyprus mulch, which worked fine when I had him in the tank with the mesh top, but now won't fall below 90%.

What do you recommend to get the humidity down?

Should I change substrates? Mix substrates? Leave the cyprus mulch bag open to let it dry out a bit? I like the substrate, but it's wet when you open the bag, and has remained wet in the enclosure.

I just don't want any health issues arising because of it. O.o

[JRLongton]

Sounds pretty typical to me. PVC enclosures are great at holding humidity. I experimented with a few substrates and saw exactly the same thing you are. I find shredded aspen to be nice and neutral. Newspaper and paper towel can work fine as well, not pretty though.

You could try drying out he cypress mulch, and that would probably work.

[Cheesenugget]

I keep a king in my PVC who does not need as high humidity as a bp but I hope this helps you. I use aspen for bedding. I had to drill some holes on the sides to add more ventilation. I also removed the water bowl now and then and it helps. Each day, when I check on my king, I also leave the door open (supervised with me standing right there) and turn on the fan to air it out for a few minutes. I know it is probably not a big deal to my kingand they are practically bomb proof but I have a pet peeve against cages that lacks proper ventilation. Even my tubs are not like this. Using the above methods, I was able to lower the humidity down from 80% to 50-60%.

[RickyNY]

A fan does wonders to lower humidity.

[zina10]

That's why I like a substrate you buy dry, and then mist to control humidity.

In tubs and PVC enclosures, it takes a LONG time for wet / moist substrate to dry out. You keep creating condensation which in turn keeps the substrate wet. I use Reptile Prime, because it arrives dry, doesn't need to be expanded with water. I mist as needed.

What you could do is this. Find a room that doesn't have much traffic or pets running through it. Spread out a small tarp or a cut up large garbage bad and spread out a layer of your mulch. Fairly thin. Then let it dry out for a day or two. Stir it up with your fingers every so often to get it to dry out all around.

Then either use the drier substrate you created or use it to mix it with the stuff that is moist.

Keeping the humidity that high for days on end is not good. Stuff "grows" when you combine wet+heat.

[Zincubus]

I've only scooted (is that even a word?) quickly through the first post but occasionally the Orchid bark I get is slightly damp and then the viv glass will mist over but it clears within 24 hours or so and it's fine then ...

Wondering if it's similar thing to the ops issue ...

Next time he can always put a decent amount in the oven and bake the humidity out ... before using .


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[Godzilla78]

I never had a ball python behave uncomfortabley in high humidity. Even in 90% humidity with condensation dripping down the sides of the tub, they seem perfectly fine. I only worry when it gets dried out and they risk getting RIs or stuck sheds.

...and stirring up the substrate occasionally helps prevent mold. The heat tends to dry out the substrate fairly rapidly anyway.

[CALM Pythons]

Are you sure its 90%? Is the glass sweeting? With a RHP and 90% the enclosure will fog up then sweat badly.. i dont use any form off wood and cant help there so if it is correct id use dry shavings as others have mentioned.


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[ryknoll3]

Just throw some substrate on a cookie sheet and bake it in the oven for a few hours at 200°F. It will dry it out. If it ends up too dry, you can always mist it.