Can a hide be too humid?

[stratus_020202]

It's just a plastic cereal bowl, with a hole cut into it. She loves it, but when I got her out the other day the bark was really moist. She is in shed now, so i'm not too worried about, but i caught her moving over to the hot side today, and the bark was so wet it stuck to her. Should I stick a probe in it and test the humidity? I'm not going to do any changes until she sheds, but I heard too much high humidity can give them RI. Has anyone had any other problems with this? Usually her humidity is a flat 50-55, but because of the shed i've bumped it to 70.

[llovelace]

60% humidity is fine

[Kaorte]

If your substrate is wet, that probably isn't good.
Can you tell us more about your setup?
Do you mist your enclosure?
Could she have tipped her water bowl?
Could she have peed?

[stratus_020202]

If your substrate is wet, that probably isn't good.
Can you tell us more about your setup?
Do you mist your enclosure?
Could she have tipped her water bowl?
Could she have peed?

No. I don't mist. I have a 55 gal, and i tried misting, but it just doesn't work in something that big. I do have a waterfall, but it's not near her hide. And her water bowl, which both i check for spills daily. they seem fine. I do use a cup with some paper towels as a humidifier, and it does sit in the opposite corner on the same side as her hide, but i have it locked in with a branch/log thing. She could have peed, but it didn't smell. I'll see if I can't get some pictues up later. I know the tank is huge for her, but her temps and humidity are usually perfect, and she seems to be comfortable. she eats great. I might do some rearranging after her shed, its going to be cleaning time anyway. I could also use paper towels instead of the repti-bark. It would be easier to see where the wetness is coming from. Do you think I should knock her humidity down a bit?

[Kaorte]

You could either switch to paper towels, or just replace the substrate where it feels wet and see if that helps.

[DrEwTiMe]

60% humidity would work. But that wouldn't mean that there wont' be a problem if the substrate is wet. If the substrate is wet that could lead to mold(possibly causing a RI) or could cause scale rot on the snake. Neither of these are a good thing so i would be really careful with whats going on under those hides.

I can also say to stay away from the plastic bowl type and such as they dont' let condensation escape so even if the snake did pee or something that would trap that moisture under that hide. I use the logs that are made out of the hard non wood substance cause they are easy to clean and my BP loves them. It allows me to use my humidifier and not worry about trapping moisture in hides that could potientally cause problems for my snake.

Hope this helps.

[stratus_020202]

60% humidity would work. But that wouldn't mean that there wont' be a problem if the substrate is wet. If the substrate is wet that could lead to mold(possibly causing a RI) or could cause scale rot on the snake. Neither of these are a good thing so i would be really careful with whats going on under those hides.

I can also say to stay away from the plastic bowl type and such as they dont' let condensation escape so even if the snake did pee or something that would trap that moisture under that hide. I use the logs that are made out of the hard non wood substance cause they are easy to clean and my BP loves them. It allows me to use my humidifier and not worry about trapping moisture in hides that could potientally cause problems for my snake.

Hope this helps.

Wow. I didn't think about that. Thanks!! I'll do a little cleaning under the hide for the next few days. Then, after the shed. I'll see if I can get something better. I don't want to change anything during shed. She's a little grumpy

[Kaorte]

There is nothing wrong with plastic hides. You should never have a problem with condensation.

Wood hides are pretty terrible and in fact, hard to clean. There is no way to sterillize all of the small crevices unless you stick it in the oven for a half hour.
Not to mention those log hides provide 0 security for the snake.

Stick to plastic.

edit: wait, so you have a non-wood log hide? What is this??

[DrEwTiMe]

There is nothing wrong with plastic hides. You should never have a problem with condensation.

Wood hides are pretty terrible and in fact, hard to clean. There is no way to sterillize all of the small crevices unless you stick it in the oven for a half hour.
Not to mention those log hides provide 0 security for the snake.

Stick to plastic.

I have seen those bowl hides trap moisture. If it is moist under there at all it will not allow the condensation to escape. Plastic is not a porous substance so if you only have a little hole where the snake can go in as well as having a actual substrate not just paper towels they are ment to hold in moisture more. That coupled with the fact that there is nowhere for the moisture to go it could absolutly pose a problem.
I do not use the wood logs, like i said in my post i use the hard plastic kind of hid logs. Wood is a terribel thing to use as it harbors bacteria. However i use clorohexidine solution to disinfect my stuff. And those logs can be washed with ease in the sink or dishwasher. And since its a log structure it gives her plenty of security and she loves it. She prefers it to any other hide i have put in her tank.


Ill see if i can pull up the link on the internet for you. They are great to use cause it takes out all the bad points of wood while still giving all the plus points.

[Kaorte]

So, explain to me how a hard plastic log is more porous then a plastic bowl?