I have a number of questions about the setup I have for my little ball python, Kylara. When I first got her, I set up her plastic rubbermaid tub with papertowel substrate, an under-the-tank heat cable, and a Herpstat ND thermostat. I am also using a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo meter from Zilla to measure temps and humidity. Originally, she was in a small cardboard hide, but recently I bought a similarly sized rubbermaid tray and converted it into a hide for her.

The first issue that I have had has been with her humidity. Her last shed wasn't as great as the previous one, with retained skin on the tip of her tail that I managed to soak off of her. Additionally, her skin doesn't feel the same smoothness as it did before I got the new plastic hide; it feels coarser and dryer. Since the only thing that has changed in her enclosure has been the addition of this new heavy plastic hide, could that be what's leading to humidity problems? Readings with the hygrometer outside the hide are at around 50 to 55%, with the hygrometer failing to return a result when the probe is placed inside the hide.

Another thing that has been bothering me is that the readings from the Herpstat and the Zilla combo temp and humidity meter do not match one another; the Herpstat (set for 94 degrees for the warm side) will give a reading on the Zilla thermometer of about 85 degrees at the warmside. I'm not all that sure what is going on there. Is this something I should be worried about? She seems warm and happy, so I have just left her temp at the 94 degrees Herpstat setting.

Finally, I had a quick question regarding my cleaning schedule (I haven't had any problems with this so far, but I want to stay on top of this too ). I clean Ky's tank every 5-7 days with soap and water and I change her papertowel substrate whenever she makes a mess. However, I know that I need to add a disinfection component to the cleaning process. I see some people use a 10% bleach solution to clean their ball's enclosures. I would assume that this would be safe for Ky as well then? Would regular weekly cleaning, and a biweekly or monthly disinfection with bleach, be appropriate to make sure her tank is healthy?

Thanks.

-Exo-ky