Temp/Humidity issues. I need help!

[enchantress62]

I have my baby bp in a 40L tank. It's her home for life so I've been working on making it perfect for her. I'm having trouble keeping the temp at 90F and the humidity is way too low even though I spray it constantly and have a rather large water dish in there. Today I'm going out to buy whatever it takes to correct this problem but I don't want to buy anything unnecissary. I have a themometer and humidity gage but I'm hoping they sell some kind of mister system. I have a heating pad and red light but I think I need a bigger pad and stronger light bulb. Anyway, advice would be appreciated.

[Skittles1101]

What kind of thermostat do you use? What kind of thermometer/hydrometer? If your using an inaccurate thermometer, then the temps could be much hotter than you think. My heat mat without a thermostat (small) runs at over 130 degrees...

[kitedemon]

Insulate the sides and back bottom too I like the ridgid blue or pink insulation this will help get the temps up some but the room temp will quickly over come that if it is cool the easyiest is to make the room warmer and usually everything will fall into place. A humid hide will solve the humidity problem.

You might find a CHE will help raise the ambient temps around the tank too you may need both.

[PitOnTheProwl]

the thermostat is most important.................

you can also add another heating pad and put it under a ceramic water dish to try to up the humidity.
that is a huge tank for a little snake too

[enchantress62]

Thanks guys. Yea the tank is too big for her right now. This is my first bp and I fully admit I'm ignorant and gulable. In my attempt to get educated I've listened to people who were only interested in selling me high priced stuff. Now I'm trying to compensate. The temp/hum gages are the kind you stick to the side of the viv. I haven't found the probe kind yet so I put what I have as close to the substrate as I could on the warm side. The hottest I can get it to go is 85F. The humidity is right now just above 40% and only goes up to 50% when I spray. I use "Rain forest" reptile substrate but I have heard that I should use coconut husk for the humidity. Can I find what I need at Petco or Petsmart? The closest reptile store is a long way from where I live.

[PitOnTheProwl]

You can find the coco at either but petco usually has both, the brick and bag.

Lose the sticky gauges and go to walmart and get a digital one. I think petco has a couple digitals but they are over priced.
also, have you covered part of the screen lid with foil yet?

[Skittles1101]

Your temps are not what you think they are then, and if you're not using a thermostat, than you are risking a burn...

[ARamos8]

I'd like to give you an idea of how much ambient temps could impact stabilizing your scale kids home and how a good thermostat helps. During the summer months I keep the room temps around 76 degrees, this gives me tub temps of 90/80. The thermostat is set to its summer setting of 88.1. During the cold months I keep the same room heated to 73 degrees (air is drier during this time), this gives me tub temps of 89/80. The thermostat is set to its winter setting of 89.9. That is a difference of almost 2 degrees to stabilize my scale kids year round.

Many moons ago (when I picked up my first ball) I kept him in a 40L tank with a screen top. I also had a humidity challenge and looked to solve it by covering up portions of the screen with an adhesive material (cloth type) found at a local hobby store. It took several attempts until I reached my goal. It seemed like an obvious solution considering the heat was at belly level. I hope this helps the effort.

[enchantress62]

Okay so let me see if I have this right. I should insulate the sides and bottom, get a good themometer and humidity thingy, and a moist hide? No I don't have tin foil on the screen top should I do that? She has two hides one on each side but neither are heated or moist. Anything else I should get?

[Skittles1101]

I still haven't seen you mention a thermostat at all lol...are you using one or not? Insulating the sides and back will help keep ambient temps good, but will do nothing for burning hot surface temps that the uncontrolled heat mat.....