Humidity Nightmare

[calliebobally]

Okay. I am literally stumped at this point.

Let me first start out by saying, I really don't want to alter much else because I am going to stress my snakes too much. I am stressed.

Moved to tubs. They sit literally right next to each other. They are not in rack system - as I only have two BPs.

Tub on the left houses my male. This tub cannot get it's humidity to go down.
Tub on the left houses my female. It's humidity will not get high.

I originally used aspen as substrate but it was literally soaking wet in my male's tub. Upon removal - it has decreased the humidity from 99% (yes. 99%) to 75% but he still seems uncomfortable and the humidity appears to still be rising.
He also seems to spend part of his day in his water bowl. Idk how I feel about this. I have checked him for mites, before anyone asks. I made sure of that before I took him home.

I don't understand the humidity difference? They are literally right next to each other in the exact same set up.

They are on controlled UTHs, with reptile basic hides.
Ambient air temps are 79-82°F. This has also been slightly a struggle, so I have heat lamps placed behind them that help raise temps of tubs UNTIL I get my space heater that is somehow days late in the mail. (I am always trying to have everything perfect and set up ahead of time).

Also; I have added holes upon holes into his tub to help humidity flow. His tub has about ten more than the females. That is the ONLY difference in their setups.
I don't get the difference. Neither tubs produce a large amount of condensation or barely any at all.
But as stated before I did notice when I used the aspen that it was unusually wet...which I know can be a problem with scale rot. Removing it has knocked down humidity. But 75% still seems uncomfortable for him and high.
Females is currently at 63% after small spray.
Current substrate is paper towel.

[calliebobally]

I should also add that lifting his top occasionally and moving it slightly helps decrease humidity.
But I can't do that all day.
So.....more holes? Ahhh

[nightrainfalls]

How are you measuring humidity?

Your problem seems strange, and I suspect that the method of measuring humidity is the problem.

Perhaps you are getting errant readings. Having a BP in the water bowl would usually not suggest that humidity is too high, it would suggest that either humidity is too low or the tank is too warm, or he has mites. If possibility three is eliminated it leaves only the first two.

Tell us what instrument you are using to measure humidity and how that instrument was calibrated.


David

[calliebobally]

How are you measuring humidity?

Your problem seems strange, and I suspect that the method of measuring humidity is the problem.

Perhaps you are getting errant readings. Having a BP in the water bowl would usually not suggest that humidity is too high, it would suggest that either humidity is too low or the tank is too warm, or he has mites. If possibility three is eliminated it leaves only the first two.

Tell us what instrument you are using to measure humidity and how that instrument was calibrated.


David

I use the digital AcuRite. It is mounted on the wall inside of the tub.

[calliebobally]

I also use a handheld temp gauge that seems to be measureong the same along with the ambient temps. But it doesn't measure humidity.


It's seriously weird. Me and my husband are stumped.

[calliebobally]

What I don't get is why his keeps raising and hers keeps dropping. I've had to mist hers to raise it.
Both tubs are used with the exact same equipment. His water dish is slightly bigger - that is it. And he has more holes..

[distaff]

It sounds like maybe your male is splashing water all over the place. It he maybe too hot? Are you SURE about mites?

I don't think that even the digital gages measure accurately. I have humidity readings all over the place. One is currently reading 31%, the other reads 53% These gages are less than six feet away from each other, and in tanks with nearly identical set ups. Both are newer VE temp/hygro's. My others, are of no help either. The others tend to read in the 50%'s FWIW.

You are in NM too. I've never visited Albuquerque, but I doubt all that humidity is coming from the air.

[Yodawagon]

Try changing things up. Switch the hygrometers and see what they say in the opposite tubs. Are you using 1 large heat pad or 2 . maybe you have a hot spot under his.

[calliebobally]

It sounds like maybe your male is splashing water all over the place. It he maybe too hot? Are you SURE about mites?

I don't think that even the digital gages measure accurately. I have humidity readings all over the place. One is currently reading 31%, the other reads 53% These gages are less than six feet away from each other, and in tanks with nearly identical set ups. Both are newer VE temp/hygro's. My others, are of no help either. The others tend to read in the 50%'s FWIW.

You are in NM too. I've never visited Albuquerque, but I doubt all that humidity is coming from the air.

Positive about mites. My husband and I examined him before we took him home and when we arrived.
He could be getting water everywhere - lol.

Ugh. New Mexico. I am from Georgia, so I pretty much hate the dry climate as much as they do.

I just feel like messing with it further is going to stress him out entirely too much and I don't want to do that.

Also my room they are in is at 76°. Don't know of that's important or not. But thought I'd mention it.

I'm wondering if maybe my gauges aren't accurate. I have no idea how to explain this. Maybe it's New Mexico.

[calliebobally]

Try changing things up. Switch the hygrometers and see what they say in the opposite tubs. Are you using 1 large heat pad or 2 . maybe you have a hot spot under his.

I use one large heat pad that takes up a little over 1/3 of each tub.
.........hmmm.......I'm about to switch the readers. But I really hate that I am disturbing him. He's probably like GTFO at this point.