Humidity Q?

[spode]

Ive had a boamaster rack for about 6 weeks now with dual back heat. Without misting my humidity is running about 40-45%. I have to mist everyday to get it up to spec which has been a pain. Im thinking the dual back heat is drying up the moisture faster since its running at higher temps vs say belly heat. Thinking about trying the sphagnum moss deal. Does anybody do this and how long till you have to rewet the moss? Thanks --James

[CoolioTiffany]

So it's back heat not belly heat? Like heat being transfered from light?

That will definitely dry up your humidity. That is also the reason why I'm proud of using belly heat

[spode]

No its 2 11" flexwatt running down the back.

[seeya205]

Try moving the water dish closer to the back!

[Kaorte]

I take it you are using tubs? Just hot glue some of the holes closed.

[mrmertz]

Ive had a boamaster rack for about 6 weeks now with dual back heat. Without misting my humidity is running about 40-45%. I have to mist everyday to get it up to spec which has been a pain. Im thinking the dual back heat is drying up the moisture faster since its running at higher temps vs say belly heat. Thinking about trying the sphagnum moss deal. Does anybody do this and how long till you have to rewet the moss? Thanks --James

That question has too many variables to it. Ambient humidity in the air, how much peat moss is used for bedding, heat/light setup, etc.

Living in southern AZ humidity is practically non-existant. Make no mistake, it does hold the moisture and you can get a big bag of it compressed for pennies on the dollar compared to other substrate. We used peat moss for some time but found out several things we didn't like;

1. Messy. We always had to towel off the boys any time we took them from their tanks.
2. Hard to find dark feces when spot cleaning against a dark background - particularly when the dookie itself is encased in peat moss.
3. Seems like we were swabbing (especially the big boa) the inside of their mouths out along the gumline from having them push around/through the moss at times. I'd come home from work and Biggs would look like he had a fat lip or something.
4. Did I mention the mess?

We just gave up and went to compressed aspen bedding. All our guys with the except of the Kingsnake have their humidity levels running from 70% up.

[Kaorte]

Sphagnum moss is not the same thing as peat moss. Using a little sphagnum moss in the tub won't really increase the humidity that dramatically.

[bads15]

toss a small water bowl in the tub at the back and that will bring up the humidity quite a bit.
john

[mrmertz]

Sphagnum moss is not the same thing as peat moss. Using a little sphagnum moss in the tub won't really increase the humidity that dramatically.

Good catch. OP did say sphagnum. Sphagnum I wouldn't think could compare to peat so far as humidity holding values. All I remember is how messy the peat was all the time. Great for humidity though.

[spode]

Whoah I did say sphagnum didnt I. I should be ashamed I only work with peat for a living Didnt really think about it being a little messy too. Ill move the water bowl to the hot side and see what I get with that. Messes up the preferred feng shui arangement, but oh well. Thanks for the suggestions so far. --James