High Humidity!!!

[jgras]

Im having lots of trouble keeping the humidity low, it is around 80% now which I know is to high and it is getting higher (it is not like this in my other snakes but I have just got a new vivarium and its hard keeping it low). My question was if high humitidy can harm a snake and if anyone has any tips for getting the humidity low.

[KMG]

Yes it can. The most common problem is respiratory infection (RI).

What is your new cage?(make, material?) What is the substrate? What type or heat source? Where is the water bowl in relation to the heat source?

If you are using cypress mulch it will dry out over the next few days and the humidity will drop. You can help it by turning it each day. Some will say bake it in the oven but you want some moisture so I don't see the point of that.

Having a fan in the room not directly blowing on the cages will help move air in the room and lower your humidity a bit.

[jgras]

I am using orchard bark (quite humid, not aspen becasue aspen is not humid enough) and how long before they can get an RI and how long before it dries out ?!? also the heat has bean quite low since we put him in there (15 hours ago) (from 17C/62.6 not on the hotspot when we first put him in there to about 20.5/68.9 not on the hotspot now)

[KMG]

I can't give you a number of hours for RI as it depends on the conditions and Im not there.

Also the time it takes to dry out is variable on the conditions you are creating. You can speed this process up by turning the substrate and airing out the cage a few times a day. When I use fresh cypress this is what I do.

Another thing I do is place fresh mulch in a large tub to allow it some time to breath and dry out before I use it.

Its also a good practice to get a new cage setup and dialed in before you move in its occupants. This way you can sort out issues without placing animals at risk.