Proper humidity

[GeneralPatton]

I just brought home another member of the Family, a juvenile BP. His set-up is a basic 20g long with a UTH and a basking lamp that I use to keep his day/nite.
The lid is a basic open screen and I am using repti-bark for a substrate. This is my first Python(rest are corns) and I want to achieve the proper set up for him as far as humidity and heat. I have two thermometers on each end and i am ranging btwn 80-90 depending on the which end and My hygrometer is set-up in the center and i am only getting about 45% humidity unless i mist several times a day. What can i do to retain humidity in the tank with out having to sacrifice ventilation or is wrapping a portion of the screen okay and if so how much? Also I have his water bowl set up in the warm end of his tank. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated since i want this guy to be happy here with the rest of the clan. Thanks everyone.

[Alexandra V]

If you are having issues with humidity, you can either cover part of the screen with plastic wrap (up to 60% of the lid covered is just fine) over your water bowl and the hot side to hopefully trap any moisture that comes off the dish. OR you could ditch the lamp and opt for an under tank heater for the heat, because lamps dry out the air like crazy and BPs are nocturnal, so they don't much care for or need light/ light cycles. What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures?

[GeneralPatton]

What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures?[/QUOTE]

I am using a flukers digital with the probe laying free in the substrate.

[Alexandra V]

What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures?

I am using a flukers digital with the probe laying free in the substrate.[/QUOTE]

Okay. Your temps sound fine for on top of substrate, but you'll want to also get a reading right up near the heat source, because you don't want it to be so hot (my cutoff is usually around 95) that it could potentially burn the snake if it gets up there (and it will eventually find a way lol).

Oh, and another thing I forgot to put in the previous post, something you can also do to help humidity is use a substrate made from coconut husk or cypress mulch, because it will retain the humidity when misted and make it last longer. I use coconut husk (chunk type stuff) for my snakes, and shredded coconut husk for my T's. It comes in this compacted block, and you add water and let it sit for a while and it'll expand and make a nice bedding for you.

[Steve Bankes]

My son and I purchased a juvenile BP over the weekend and I am concerned about the humidity. From what I've read, I think we are going to abandon the heat lamp in favor of a UTH. We added a bigger water dish. I'm wondering if there is a humidifier that people recommend.

Is there a substrate that would retain water and we could even grow plants in? Common sense tells me that would do the trick, but I'd like to hear if from those with more experience.

Also, we forgot to buy a hide and so we put in a baseball hat and he really seems to like sleeping under it. He is really active at night and I hope that is a good sign.