humidity

[ChristinaP]

I'm having a hard time keeping the humidity up at night. During the day, if it gets to 40% not a big deal, I can spray some water on the glass, boom back up. At night is the issue. I go to bed, he's normal around 60%. I get up, he's down to 30% but it seems to stay regulatory at 30%, no lower. But that's still too low, so how do you guys regulate humidity at night?

[STORMS]

Does the tank have a screen top? Are you using a heat lamp or a CHE?

[ChristinaP]

I use a 10 gal aquarium with the screen top. The heat lamp is on top along with 2 books, 1 on each side to prevent escape until we get a locking lid

[STORMS]

I use a 10 gal aquarium with the screen top. The heat lamp is on top along with 2 books, 1 on each side to prevent escape until we get a locking lid

The heat lamp is eating up your humidity

Can you cover up about 2/3 of the screen top? A lot of people will use foil, damp towel, vinyl or something similar.

This will help you hold humidity a bit longer, but you will probaly still have to mist on occasion.

[kc261]

I recommend you don't trust the books to keep the snake in.

To answer your question, you can probably fix your humidity issues by covering up most of that screen top with something that will prevent the humidity from escaping. A lot of people have had great success with a few layers of aluminum foil taped in place. This helps keep the heat in too.

If that doesn't do the job, try using a water bowl with a bigger surface area.

[STORMS]

Not sure how clearly you can see it in the pic, but I have vinyl cut to the size of the screen on my 40 gal with holes cut out for the heat lamps & air circulation.



I may have a better pic...

: Off to look for a better pic:

OK...Found one, you should be able to see it more clearly in this pic



I picked up the vinyl at Wal-Mart in the fabric dept for under $4.

[ChristinaP]

Thanks guys! I'll try the foil until I get to the store for vinyl

[twisted-wing]

The best thing you could do is get rid of the CHE and go for some UTH (under tank heaters). Covering 2/3 to 3/4 of the top screen with foil or something similar, as was mentioned already, is a good tip too.

I did that, and ended up getting a larger surface area water bowl so my snake can soak a bit if he wants. With the new water bowl, I've never had to spray again, period. In fact, it gets slightly too humid in there now.

[ChristinaP]

I have the UTH but without the CHE the ambient temp is only about 65'ish, not warm enough.

[anatess]

Some humidity tricks aside from the foil:
1.) T-Rex Cypress Blend substrate holds humidity better than Aspen, in my experience
2.) The Zoo Med Repti Rock water bowl allows water to evaporate faster, thereby increasing humidity, than the Exo-Terra water dish. Place the Repti Rock half-way over the UTH for even increased humidity.
3.) Damp spaghnum moss in little containers in the viv improves humidity as well.
4.) If all else fails, a room humidifier works wonders.