shedding - feeding - humidity

[casper]

I think my snake is in the beginning faze of shedding as I noticed its eye color is changing.

I have been feeding it on Wednesdays so should I go ahead and feed or should I wait?

I have a 20 gallon fish tank I'm using and can not get the humidity above 40%. Right now it is 38% but it is usually around 40. I have 2 water bowls in it now and I also put in a wet wash cloth in. I am using a 50 watt heat lamp and the temp on one side is 90 and 79 on the other. The betting is shredded wood chips. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[mrshawt]

Some people feed, some don't during shed. It will definitely be able to last another week though with no problems.

The heat lamp is the source of your humidity problem. Get a UTH to maintain temps, but make sure it's on a rheostat or thermostat to regulate it.
Also, you can do this: foil magic!
You'll want your humidity to be 50-60% normally and 60-70% during shed.

[Reptile King]

Proper humidity levels in a glass tank can be a pain in the rear to maintain. Since you know she is going to shed you make a hide (container that contains damp sphagnum moss for example) and allow your ball python to enter. This type of hide will have higher levels of humidity than your glass tank. Also, there is a "sticky" in the caging section of this website that goes through step by step how to regulate humidity levels in your snakes glass enclosure. Basically, you use foil and duct tape and make a vent hole so air can circulate throughout the tank. This can hold in humidity more effectively.

As for feeding your ball python during a shed I think that is up to the snake. I have heard that they will not eat druing a shed but mine has yet to refuse a mouse during her shed. Try and feed your ball python and see what happens. If it doesn't eat I would not worry about it.

Are you using an under the tank heater or are you using your above cage heat lamp to get your temperatures to 90 degrees? A heat light will suck the humidity right out of the cage. Although it is good to have your snake on a day/night type schedule they do not require specific lighting as they are nocturnal snakes.

Good Luck!

[casper]

Some people feed, some don't during shed. It will definitely be able to last another week though with no problems.

The heat lamp is the source of your humidity problem. Get a UTH to maintain temps, but make sure it's on a rheostat or thermostat to regulate it.
Also, you can do this: foil magic!
You'll want your humidity to be 50-60% normally and 60-70% during shed.

How much would this cost me? Is there something else I could do without spending any money?

[mrshawt]

UTHs are $15-20 I think (you want one that covers 1/3 of the bottom of the tank), then a tstat is about $25. The sphagnum moss idea will also help, or using a substrate that holds humidity better (like cypress mulch, newspaper, or Repti bark). But if you always use a heat lamp, you'll be constantly fighting to keep the humidty up. I'm talking misting the tank multiple times a day, which can cause bacterial growth.

In the long run it's just easier to use a UTH, especially since BPs do well with belly heating.

I think anything you do is going to require some investment, the amount will depend on what you choose.

[Reptile King]

You can get an under the tank heat mat for $15 to $25 bucks depending on where you go. You can get a dimmer switch at Home Depot or Lowes for $10.

[casper]

Thank you all for the help.

I’m currently using a 50 watt infrared spot lamp. I already have the top covered in foil except a section where the lamp is. The temperature has been ok.

I need to go get a mouse tomorrow so I will check into getting a under the tank heat mat, sphagnum moss and new substrate. I really can’t afford this but is something that needs to be done.

[mrshawt]

Another thing you can do is run a humidifier in the room if you have one. That is, if you don't mind the sound of it 24/7. I think UTHs are a much better solution though.

BPs are no cheap animals I'm afraid.

[Kaorte]

Another thing you can do is run a humidifier in the room if you have one. That is, if you don't mind the sound of it 24/7. I think UTHs are a much better solution though.

BPs are no cheap animals I'm afraid.

Quite the contrary I think. If you use tubs that is! I spend about $50 per BP setup

Its the thermostat that gets ya, and the whole buying things you don't need to begin with. That is what is expensive.

Getting rid of that heat lamp is really the only way to effectively bring up the humidity. Better to have high humidity than a bad shed in my opinion.

What are you using to measure temps and humidity? like, what kind of thermometers and hygrometers?

[casper]

I use a springfield digital gage that measures both temperature and humidity I bought from walmart. I have a taylor digital on the cold side of the cage.

I was pressured into purchasing Bed-A-Beast bedding instead of getting a under the tank heater from the local pet store here.

So far the humidity level is around 70 percent for 2 days straight.

I also can not believe the conflicts between the internet, books and people from pet stores. I am totally confused on how to raise my snake.