Sphagnum and ATB's

[TekWarren]

Anyone know of any reason I should NOT use sphagnum for my ATB? I mist regularly but the humidity is just not where it should be and we found a nursery down the road that we can get it from now.

[Schlyne]

Are you talking about just adding some to the enclosure to up the humidity or using some in a hide box?

[TekWarren]

I've never known ATB's to use a hide box but I guess its possible. I was meaning for the bottom of the enclosure yes. A layer on the bottom of the tub will hold in humidity alot better, I'm just wondering if any folks here have heard of any issues or reasons not to use it.

[ErikH]

There might be an issue with keeping the enclosure clean, I'm not sure. I wonder if it would be easier to put damp sphagnum in a couple of plastic containers with vented lids and leave them in the enclosure?

[Evan Jamison]

Depending on the relative humidity in the room, and how much ventilation you have in the cage, even the sphagnum may not help that much. Try using a water bowl with a parge surface area over the heat (if you're using UTH/flexwatt) and/or reducing the escape routes for the humidity. I've kept ETBs in Neodesha 2' cubes before, and kept the humidity at 70-90% with newspaper substrate. I used a large cat litter tub for the water bowl (took up about 75% of the bottom of the cage) and one daily misting, and that was in dry Utah air. I know some breeders raise their ATB neonates in large jars with water in the bottom third of the jar and perches up top; no substrate.

-Evan

[TekWarren]

I've read bad things about standing water. I might try a larger water bowl/dish though. Thanks for the tips.

[deskjet]

what type of cage is your ATB in if it is in one with a screen lid you could cover a portion of the top with a towel or something like that. Sphagnum is good to use you could use it on one side of the cage floor or you could do the whole thing and you would want to keep it damp thats what i do. the idea with the water bowl over the heat surface i a real good idea too.

[TekWarren]

I am using tubs for all my snakes including the ATB. I appreciate all the suggestions but I am already aware off the different ways to raise humidity. I was just looking for sphagnum specific info. I have changed to larger water container (deli cup) and also misting in the morning and again at night. Looks to be holding pretty well.