SOOO confused about humidity

[Jonny Doum]

OK, so I have received some great info on this forum for my BP (I'm a new owner, just got my first about 2 months ago), but I am really confused about how to maintain proper humidity.

He developed scale rot (vet said it was a yeast infection) due to too much humidity in the first month. I had since lowered the humidity and resorting to just spraying the sides of the tank. After treating for scale rot, it just about went away, but whenever I sprayed the tank a little, the rot would come back.

I was told on here that misting really is unnecessary and that a large water bowl underneath the basking light would take care of the humidity required for the python, and not to use the humidity box.I also switched the substrate from repti bark to aspen bedding.

I just used the digital thermometer/hydrometer to take the temp and humidity levels. I placed it right above the water bowl and it is about 40% humidity, and everyone tells me it needs to be between 50 and 60%.

He is about 2 feet long and in a 30 gallon tank with a screen top. My question is, do I spray or no? Is the water bowl adequate even though the ambient humidity levels are below 50? Anytime I introduce humidity in some other way, he gets the rots. I'm really really confused and I really could use some help. Thanks

[wuldier]

OK, so I have received some great info on this forum for my BP (I'm a new owner, just got my first about 2 months ago), but I am really confused about how to maintain proper humidity.

He developed scale rot (vet said it was a yeast infection) due to too much humidity in the first month. I had since lowered the humidity and resorting to just spraying the sides of the tank. After treating for scale rot, it just about went away, but whenever I sprayed the tank a little, the rot would come back.

I was told on here that misting really is unnecessary and that a large water bowl underneath the basking light would take care of the humidity required for the python, and not to use the humidity box.I also switched the substrate from repti bark to aspen bedding.

I just used the digital thermometer/hydrometer to take the temp and humidity levels. I placed it right above the water bowl and it is about 40% humidity, and everyone tells me it needs to be between 50 and 60%.

He is about 2 feet long and in a 30 gallon tank with a screen top. My question is, do I spray or no? Is the water bowl adequate even though the ambient humidity levels are below 50? Anytime I introduce humidity in some other way, he gets the rots. I'm really really confused and I really could use some help. Thanks

i have a exo terra enclosure and it has issues with humidity, so what i do is, cover the part of screen that dont have the heat lamp on with wet/damp towls.

problem solved..

[Jonny Doum]

I just put the towel on over the cool side and it makes sense. Thank you for the suggestion. My only other question is that side is where I have a flouresent light on a timer so that there is a lighting cycle. If I don't use the light, because I know they don't need uv lighting, will this be very detrimental? The basking spot is a dark colored bulb, so it doesn't give off much light

[Argentra]

Ok, the main reason (I'm guessing) that he got the rot was from the substrate you were using coupled with spraying it. Repti-bark is notorious for holding TOO MUCH humidity when you get it wet and molding easily.

Here's the thing to do with a tank: Use Aspen, newsprint paper, or paper towels as substrate. Cover the screen with a foil treatment or plexiglass (NOT towels, since they harbor bacteria easily) leaving ventilation on one side. Use a shallow but wide water dish (more surface area = more evaporation) and only add a humid box when the snake is in shed. Do Not mist the tank unless the humidity really drops, since wet bedding is a major cause of rot.

Hope that helps. Oh, and while the snake is recovering from scale rot, use paper towels only as the substrate so there's no further moisture or irritation.

EDIT: Just saw your light question. Lamps are not needed, since the best heat sources for these snakes are Under Tank Heat pads or heat tape. But if you want to use one for ambient light or temp boosts, use a regular bulb of 50w or less with the lamp raised at least 8" above the top to avoid messing up humidity. Florescent lights are a bit bright for BPs.