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Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
I live in Colorado, and the moisture is far from snake-ideal here. I've noticed my BP's eyes have been getting dehydrated. I need ideas on keeping moisture in my terrariums. I've decided to stick with tanks because I only have 2 BPs and I just can't afford to build a rack (yet).
Anyway, I'm using aspen bedding and my tanks are 40gal and 20gal (trying to find a bigger tank on craigslist for my male.) Anyway, putting a very thick towel over my cage has done seemingly nothing, and I sprayed the sides of my tanks and it just drys up really quickly... ideas? 
I've tried turning off my lamp and the tank gets really cold. :/
By the way, is a 20gal big enough for a medum sized male?
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
Those mesh lids aren't helping one bit. Try covering a good part of them with Press n Seal (leave enough space for your light of course). Speaking of that light, overhead lights suck humidity - so your problems get worse. Under tank heating would be the better bet for you and for your snake.
You could try picking up some cypress mulch - double milled if you can get it. If not pick out the really big slivers in the regular milled stuff. Just make sure it's not treated with any pesticides. Cypress mixed with aspen makes a really nice bedding. You get the loft and softness of the aspen with the humidity grabbing, resist to mold of the cypress. Cypress tends to be packed wet so you may need to air dry it before use.
You can get a big sort of flat heavy dish (not one deep though that your snake would have to swim in it). Fill it with water and put it on the warm side. The larger surface area will encourage more evaporation in your enclosure.
You can try putting dampened spagnum moss in various areas of the enclosuer and just re-dampen it once daily or as needed.
You could put the tanks in a small room and plug in a room humidifier.
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The Following User Says Thank You to frankykeno For This Useful Post:
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
 Originally Posted by frankykeno
Those mesh lids aren't helping one bit. Try covering a good part of them with Press n Seal (leave enough space for your light of course). Speaking of that light, overhead lights suck humidity - so your problems get worse. Under tank heating would be the better bet for you and for your snake.
You could try picking up some cypress mulch - double milled if you can get it. If not pick out the really big slivers in the regular milled stuff. Just make sure it's not treated with any pesticides. Cypress mixed with aspen makes a really nice bedding. You get the loft and softness of the aspen with the humidity grabbing, resist to mold of the cypress. Cypress tends to be packed wet so you may need to air dry it before use.
You can get a big sort of flat heavy dish (not one deep though that your snake would have to swim in it). Fill it with water and put it on the warm side. The larger surface area will encourage more evaporation in your enclosure.
You can try putting dampened spagnum moss in various areas of the enclosuer and just re-dampen it once daily or as needed.
You could put the tanks in a small room and plug in a room humidifier.
Thanks for the help! I have an under-tank heater already, do I need to keep the light too?
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
Not if the UTH can hold the heat you need, then ditch the heat lamp. Those things are humidity suckers.
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The Following User Says Thank You to frankykeno For This Useful Post:
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Registered User
Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
 Originally Posted by frankykeno
Not if the UTH can hold the heat you need, then ditch the heat lamp. Those things are humidity suckers.
Thanks. I'll turn off the light after I cover the top and watch the temperature. thank you!
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
Flicker, do you have three sides of your tank covered with black foam-core? It really helps hold in the heat, and may allow you to ditch the lamp. The lamp is probably killing your humidity.
Thomas "Slim" Whitman
Never Met A Ball Python I Didn't Like 
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The Following User Says Thank You to Slim For This Useful Post:
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
 Originally Posted by Slim
Flicker, do you have three sides of your tank covered with black foam-core? It really helps hold in the heat, and may allow you to ditch the lamp. The lamp is probably killing your humidity.
Nope! I'll pick some up tomorrow! That's a really good idea!
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
a 20gallon is plenty big for a male BP.
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
 Originally Posted by Flicker
I live in Colorado, and the moisture is far from snake-ideal here. I've noticed my BP's eyes have been getting dehydrated. I need ideas on keeping moisture in my terrariums. I've decided to stick with tanks because I only have 2 BPs and I just can't afford to build a rack (yet).
Anyway, I'm using aspen bedding and my tanks are 40gal and 20gal (trying to find a bigger tank on craigslist for my male.) Anyway, putting a very thick towel over my cage has done seemingly nothing, and I sprayed the sides of my tanks and it just drys up really quickly... ideas?
I've tried turning off my lamp and the tank gets really cold. :/
By the way, is a 20gal big enough for a medum sized male?
1- Aspen bedding is fine but you do not need larger than a 20gal tank for a full sized adult. BPs like confined spaces and could actually get stressed from too large a setup.
2- Towels do nothing to help humidity and those open screens will not allow you to keep it anywhere close to where you need it. Use foil and duct tape and seal off most of the top of your tank like so:

Mine holds humidity up in the high 50s/low 60s for days without misting. I also have 2 smallish pieces of terrarium moss in there which does wonders.
3- You can build a small tub setup for 2 BPs for pretty cheap... Take a look in the DIY section for tips. A sheet of melamine, a few sterlites and some flexwatt and you're done. You likely already have the tstat and hides and everything since you've had them for a long time(i sure hope anyway...) so you don't need to re-buy that stuff. With what you already have I can't imagine it costing you more than $100.
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The Following User Says Thank You to ScottyDsntKnow For This Useful Post:
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Re: Suggestion to really up the humidity in my tanks..
 Originally Posted by ScottyDsntKnow
1- Aspen bedding is fine but you do not need larger than a 20gal tank for a full sized adult. BPs like confined spaces and could actually get stressed from too large a setup.
2- Towels do nothing to help humidity and those open screens will not allow you to keep it anywhere close to where you need it. Use foil and duct tape and seal off most of the top of your tank like so:

Mine holds humidity up in the high 50s/low 60s for days without misting. I also have 2 smallish pieces of terrarium moss in there which does wonders.
3- You can build a small tub setup for 2 BPs for pretty cheap... Take a look in the DIY section for tips. A sheet of melamine, a few sterlites and some flexwatt and you're done. You likely already have the tstat and hides and everything since you've had them for a long time(i sure hope anyway...) so you don't need to re-buy that stuff. With what you already have I can't imagine it costing you more than $100.
Is that a 40 gallon?
Could I just keep my snakes in the same cage? They've been living together for 4 years and I have never had a feeding problem, stress, ect.
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