increasing humidity

[killedbyfire]

I cant seem to keep the humidity up in my 55gal tank. ive tried covering most of the top with plastic but it still doesn't seem to help i can spray and it will raise the humid for about 10 mins then go back down.

[RR - Mackenzie]

I have a 55 gallon too... but I am switching to a tub today! Try placign a towel over top, and I know of some people who put in a extra heating pad and place the bowl of water on top.

[stevepoppers]

55 gallons is freakin huge. I would definitely downsize. Looking at your other thread, the heat lamp could be the problem, if not the size. A lot of this depends on how you've got the enclosure set up. Take a look at the caresheet if you haven't. Do you have under tank heat, as well as the lamp?

[sarahlovesmiike]

I saw a post a few days ago about how you can hook up a humidifier to a vaccuum hose and attach it to the screen so that it pumps into the enclosure. Or if you can't figure that out you could just hook one up the room that your snake is in a boost the humidity of the room and not just the enclosure.


What type of heat source are you using? A heat lamp and a big tank are a pretty bad combo, they suck the humidity right out. I couldn't keep it up in my 55 gal no matter what I tried, but I had to keep the lamp because I couldn't keep the ambient temps up. So in the end I switched to tubs.

[killedbyfire]

No i don't use under tank heat ive heard that it can burn the snake. 55 gallon isn't that huge when she stretches out she only has around a foot of room.
I moved the water bowl directly under the lamp hopefully that helps. i also have a water hide that she can crawl into and soak. its so cool to watch her in the water hide when she has her head sticking out.

[sarahlovesmiike]

I would recommend going and picking up an under tank heat AND a thermostat or a lamp dimmer. You're right, they CAN burn a snake but only if you don't hook it up to a thermostat. Uncontrolled they can get to 120*+.


There are no set rules when it comes to bps. Yes, there are some good and correct caresheets, but you need to figure out what works best for YOUR snake. I wouldn't necessarily say that a 55 gallon is too big as long as your snake is eating well, pooping, and shedding in one piece. If it's spending most of its time during the day in its hides then I wouldn't say it's too big. Make sure he's not displaying any signs of stress.

Also, is he spending a lot of time in his water bowl? Most bps don't soak unless they have mites or are shedding. Not saying yours does, but you should check for little black bugs crawling around his heat pits. And look on yourself after you've handled him because you may see some if he does in fact have mites.

[stevepoppers]

The generally accepted enclosure size is 2/3 the snakes body by 1/3. A 20 gallon long is the biggest I've seen recommended. The don't need room. The spend 90% of their lives in a tiny hole in a termite mound. Room is usually cited as a cause of stress. Under tank heat and a thermostat will give you much better results, as well as a smaller enclosure. I recommend Flexwatt, because it's infinitely cheaper than stick-on UTH pads.

If it's eating, shedding, and not roaming during the daytime, you're probably ok, but UTH will be much easier on the humidity, and with a thermostat, just as safe. Possibly safer. Those lamps get HOT. I burned a hole in my carpet being absentminded...

I've read that soaking may be because of low humidity.

[killedbyfire]

No she doesn't soak all the time but when she starts to shed she will soak for about 2 days b4 sheding

[killedbyfire]

I've read that soaking may be because of low humidity.

that's why i put the water hide in there in the first place

[stevepoppers]

And that's great but it's not a real solution. I've also read that low humidity can cause damage to their lungs, leaving them open to respiratory infections.