Humidity issues

[Sinity]

Hello, I am new at keeping my ball python. He is 3 years old now. Previous owner had his terrarium stored in lower part of the house (basement), and she explained humidity was at OK level, she used additional moisture only before shedding.
Now I experience a problem; I live in a house, temperature in a room is about 23 degress C during day, 22 during night. Air humidity in a flat is rarely poor (around 30-max.40%). In terrarium I use heating cable with hot spot 29-30 degrees C. Humidity in the tank rarely gets to 50%. In the beginning when I got him, it went even to 39% (I use Exo terra digital hygrometer). Now I bought Exo terra waterfall, which made humidity rise to aproximately 42-45%. I spray water on the floor of the terarium on daily bases, it raises humidity to aproximately 55%, but it gets back to 45% in no-time.
I bought now additional fogger (Exo terra) and placed it into the waterfall. This helps and raises humidity well. In the terrarium I also keep a bowl of water so python can "bath" there easily.

But my quesion is now; the diversity in keeping a ball python on certain humidity level on the interent is really amazing. As some breeders claim that their ball pythons leave normally at the same humidity level as the house without any additional humidifiers (that would probably be level at around 40%), some of them claim that it is necessarily to raise humidity level up to 70%, and before shedding even up to 80% or even 90%.

Can you please give me any advice, I would think the best ones would be the ones that come from your personal experiences?

thank you all

regards,
Nika

[justinsane82]

There's no need that I know of the keep a constant 70% nor going up to 90%. You'll be fine if you can get it up to 50-60% until shed in which you'd want to get it up to 70%. If you're having a hard time keeping it at 50, a good tip is to put tin foil on the top of your tank assuming you're using a mesh top, and cut holes for airflow as well as for any heat lamps you may have. As soon as I did that, my levels for humidity were great.

[Sinity]

Yea, there are 2 rather big holes for air flow at each side of a tank...so I was thinking maybe to put some tape or something over some small part...as I don't want to cut completely air flow...
Pffff, this is rather more gambling I see...first I thought of this humidity issue because snake is refusing to eat since I got him...it will be 25 days now since his last meal....

I forgot to mention, that he also shedded about a week ago, it didn't came off in one piece, but shedding was still complete...

thanks anyway for your reply

[Kaorte]

well, 30*C is a bit too low for a hot side temp. Ball pythons like a belly temp around 32-33*C.

A waterfall and a mister is overkill for a ball python. Those things are mostly meant for very tropical animals that require high humidity (over 70%). Ball pythons do well in the 50-70% humidity range but a little lower isn't so bad. There is no reason to ever have your humidity over 70%.

Could you take a picture of your setup? I am not quite understanding what you mean by the two big holes for air flow.

[Sinity]

Sure, I will take a pic of the tank when I get home...so you will be able to see what I am talking about...