Humidity/Enclosure Questions

[Immy]

My BP is in shed right now and I don't mind so much spraying the tank once in a while, but I do use a heat lamp and it sucks most of the humidity out anyway. I know some people don't use heat lamps. What do you use to keep the tank regulated? Also, I'm thinking about changing the lid on the tank. I've been having problems with the temp/humidity going down whenever I put the air conditioner on in the house. Its at 75 degrees but the temps go down. I live in Florida and Its getting too hot since I never put it on for the sake of my poor baby's health. I'm using both 'press 'N seal' and aluminum tape trying to keep temps in the cage and not from getting out or cold air in. The lid is a normal metal mesh lid that most reptile cages have, but since the pet store I went to a while back didn't have 10 gal tanks (for reptiles) I used a 10 gal aquarium with a 10 gal reptile lid that doesn't have the built in slits that let you slide the lid in. The lid doesn't look like it fits tightly around the top of tank. What should I do?

[llovelace]

For our 1 BP that Bri insists on keeping in a tank I put 2 5# weights on top, you could get the lid clamps, but I don't trust those, as far as humidity and the air conditioning, I live in Fl also but the snake room air vents are closed for now.

[Immy]

Well, here's the problem. I live in a small 1 bedroom apartment. I wish I can have another room where It can be nice and warm all day every day. But alas, It's in my room. I wouldn't mind closing the vents, but I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, lol. Maybe I can turn it away from where the enclosure is, If that'll do anything. :/

[kc261]

There are 3 steps to having the right humidity in a BPs enclosure:

1) - have enough sources of humidity in the enclosure
2) - keep the humidity trapped in the enclosure
3) - use a digital hygrometer so you know what humidity you have

It sounds like you are working on step 2. You don't mention how you are measuring your humidity or what it is at now, but since you obviously believe it is not high enough, I'll go with that assumption.

You may need to add sources of humidity in your enclosure. Often, the easiest way to do this is to either change your water bowl for one with more surface area, or put the water bowl over a UTH, which will cause it to evaporate faster.

If you can't get the humidity right, or as a temporary measure until you do, a humid hide does wonders.

[Argentra]

Here are my suggestions:

1 - foil treat the screen top instead of using the plastic wrap. 3 layers of foil works MUCH better than flimsy plastic.

2 - close the vents to your room and get yourself a rotating fan for the foot of your bed. That's what we do (small 2 bdrm apt with the snakes in the bedroom) and it works great.

3 - a humid hide for shed times. Just a tupperware container with a hole in the side and some damp moss inside works great!

EDIT: Ah, I see I was beat to the punch. Thanks KC

[Immy]

That sounds perfect! But I have another problem, lol: I live with my boyfriend and he's very picky when It comes to certain things. I asked him about a small rotating fan we can have in the room, but he thinks they're too noisy. I'll try to talk him out on having one If I can, but If not, Is there another solution?

[Argentra]

Some of the newer fans are so quiet you would forget they're around if not for the cool air. See if you can get a quiet model.

If not, I would just make sure the tank is as far from a vent as possible, keep the back and sides well insulated with foam board, foil treat the screen (helps with temps as well), and if things are still unstable wrap the tank with a blanket to help keep heat in.
If it's only the humidity that's affected by the AC, see about putting up a barrier over/next to the BP tank to block the air.

Good luck.

[Immy]

Thank you so much, I'll do that.

[Immy]

Some of the newer fans are so quiet you would forget they're around if not for the cool air. See if you can get a quiet model.

If not, I would just make sure the tank is as far from a vent as possible, keep the back and sides well insulated with foam board, foil treat the screen (helps with temps as well), and if things are still unstable wrap the tank with a blanket to help keep heat in.
If it's only the humidity that's affected by the AC, see about putting up a barrier over/next to the BP tank to block the air.

Good luck.

About the foam board, do I completely cover the tank? or half?

[Argentra]

You cover the entire back, and both sides, on the outside of course. Most people also place background of some sort on before adding the foam to make it look nicer as well.