New Ball python owner ........ Need input!!!

[Bodiebroadus]

I just purchased a baby ball from petco yesterday she's approximately 12 inches I have him/her in a 29 gal tank (understand it's too large after researching on the forum today but yesterday the petco associate recommended & I assumed she was informed) I have a UTH, 2 lamps 1 daytime (100 watt but I keep it at about 45-50 percent w/ the dimmer) 1 nighttime (60 watt infrared) 2 thermostats hot side is always 85 to 90 degrees cool side is approximately 76 to 80 degrees. There's also a log that I have angled from the top if the cage to the bottom which I saw the ball on a little bit today, a small water dish, decorative plant, I have a screen top w/locks and I use Aspen bedding, I also have 2 hides a small half log on the cool side and a medium rock cave (too big) on the hot side neither of which my ball seems to use so I have two small exo Terra reptile caves on rush order from reptilesupply.com now. My main concern is my humidity though it always at around 35% except when I mist the cage (3x daily) then It jumps to about 60 I was wondering what could I do to keep the humidity up on a more consistent basis? And also any other tips you could give me based off the things that I listed

[chasingtime]

cover the top a bit to keep humidity from escaping...

[Vypyrz]

To the forum. It's good you have the identical hides on order because BP's will often choose security over temps. As long as you have the right size UTH you shouldn't need to use the lamps much, unless the room temperature is cool. I used to have a 29 gal tank that I was having problems with. Here is a link to a thread where I posted some pics of how I corrected it. The only things that I eventually did that isn't shown is replace the dimmer with a thermostat and I ended up adding foam board to three of the sides to help insulate it better. Hope it helps...

Rob

http://www.repticzone.com/forums/mes...on/2/118/main/

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

You can try using a larger water bowl. Something long and shallow. Cypress mulch reptile bedding holds humitidy great and resists mold. Cover the top of the screen etc.. Humidity is important. Too low for too long can lead to URI. There are a few things you can do. just be sure the temps stay constant.

[Southernshooter]

You could switch to reptile mulch the coconut bark is real good. Also you didn't state if your UTH was controlled by a dimmer or thermostat. If not it needs to be.

[Bodiebroadus]

Thanks for the advice guys, southernshooter my UTH isn't controlled by a dimmer or a thermostat but thx for the tip also after more research I see the one I have is too small for my tank it's only 1 step above the smallest one that ZooMed makes

[FatBoy]

Cover 3/4 of the screen and lose the lamps. See what the temps do with just the uth's. Also get a larger water bowl as mentioned above. Heat lamps can really kill humidity.

[Bodiebroadus]

Cover 3/4 of the screen and lose the lamps. See what the temps do with just the uth's. Also get a larger water bowl as mentioned above. Heat lamps can really kill humidity.

Thx trying this now we'll see how it goes

[zantedeschia]

76 is too cool, 80 to 85 is better. Or if you're shooting for a warm side/cool side, 80 on the cool, 90 on the warm.

I covered most of my screen top with plastic wrap to help hold in the humidity.

Aspen is fine. Your medium rock cave is fine, the half log doesn't give them enough security. I've found if there's more than one "door" in the hide, mine won't use it. Yours will grow into the medium cave.

Ditch the day time bulb, too bright.

The small caves are probably going to be outgrown in a matter of a few months, I'd stick with mediums for now.

[Bodiebroadus]

So i've tried all of you guys suggestions but nothing is consistently keeping the humidity stable so I was wondering if this product would work just wondering what you guys think?

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product...roducts_id=341