How to find temp and humidity balance?

[justinsane82]

I'm having a hard time getting my tanks temp up while keeping the humidity where it should be. I have a 7 month old BP in a 20 gallon tank. I have an UTH under a hiding rock but because I'm using cheap thermometers that don't use probes I can't say for sure how far off I am. Regardless, to get the air temp up, I use a heat lamp with a 100 watt bulb in it which just zaps the humidity. I've tried using moss and bark as bedding to try to help with humidity, but my snake doesn't like it as he won't leave his rock until I remove it. I'm finding that I'm having to mist down my tank 3-4 times a day. What am I doing wrong or what can I do differently? I was thinking of getting a lower watt bulb to see how that helps.

[pavlovk1025]

Cover the top of your tank with foil and leave two cut outs, one big enough for your heat lamp and then a 2"x2" on the opposite end for air. That should help keep your humidity in. Now as for the UTH, don't keep that in the tank. If what Im reading is correct, you have it in the tank under the hide? Bad juju. Under tank is under tank, so keep it under tank lol. Also, if you havent done so yet, you need to regulate the temp that the UTH puts out. They can get up to 130 degrees and burn/kill your snake. Best way to do this is get a thermostat or a dimmer and hook it up to it. I recommend, for just one tank and one UTH, a ZooMed Repti 300R, theyre at your local pet shop and cost about 22 bucks. Or you can wire one in yourself, if youre handy, and get a dimmer switch from Lowe's or Home Depot and use that, but it'll require some fiddling. Also, for thermometers, a good one to get is from Walmart called an Accurite, theyre 12 bucks and gauge two temps and humidity and come with a 10 ft probe. Best bang for your buck IMO. Ill post pics and links in the next post.

[justinsane82]

Tin foil...That's interesting for sure. As for the UTH, it is indeed under the tank lol. I'll wait for your pics to see what I need.

[pavlovk1025]

Foil on top. I lined it with plastic wrap up to the lamp and covered the rest in foil. I used the plastic wrap/foil combo and it worked well for me.


Sphagnum moss added to bump humidity over one of his hides.


Thermostat for cheap
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

What you'll be looking for at Walmart
http://willowtreehome.com/Merchant2/...01/00891A1.jpg

Keep in mind that the whole set up was before I moved on to tub and racks. Ever since, I havent had an issue with humidity and have no reason for my big bag of moss. But some people prefer tanks, so Im not going to tell you that you need to switch or else! But there are definite ways to improve the performance of a tank.

You might want to insulate it as well, covering 3 sides with styrofoam or corkboard to maintain temps better. It'l make life easier for you, I promise.

[justinsane82]

I appreciate your help. I'll probably have to try to hit up a Petco or something as I live in Canada but travel to the states every few weeks. Do you know if Petco would carry the ReptiTemp?

[pavlovk1025]

The one around me does. Why don't you just order it online?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611
Shipping info on the bottom.

[withonor]

Just as an alternative. I place a damp washcloth over the screen and cover that with a piece of foil. You'll know when the cloth is dry because it starts absorbing humidity thereby dropping the read out. Not as pretty looking but I don't need moss except that it didn't get high enough during shed so I had to mist a few times a day. Maybe I'll try moss for that but the misting wasn't much work.

[pavlovk1025]

Just as an alternative. I place a damp washcloth over the screen and cover that with a piece of foil. You'll know when the cloth is dry because it starts absorbing humidity thereby dropping the read out. Not as pretty looking but I don't need moss except that it didn't get high enough during shed so I had to mist a few times a day. Maybe I'll try moss for that but the misting wasn't much work.

IF you put the foil over the top and mist, it will maintain humidity just fine. Constantly rewetting a damp cloth would be a nuisance to me, personally. This is a permanent, working solution that you dont really have to ever mess with.

[justinsane82]

How often are you misting though? Also, if you are using a UTH, is it necessary to use a heat lamp also? I just went and fixed up a set up like yours with the foil and put some bark and moss on top and behind his hiding rock. I need to get on that reptitemp though because I put my hand in his rock and it's hot. He's out and about on his nightly stroll.

[justinsane82]

And the reason I don't want to order online is because once it hits the border, we get punched in the face with duty fee's, sometimes the same price as the item.