First snake setup. Having problem with humidity and temp on cold side

[Brokenangelr]

HI everyone!

Please be slightly patient with me as I know this topic has probably been covered more times than anyone would like to count.
A little background first. This is my first snake, I bought a "dark morph" ball python at the local reptile expo yesterday and am so happy to have her here finally. I've done research for the past year and a half (at least) in preparation of her arrival and wanted to know everything I could before bringing her home. I know that the humidity needs to be around 60% with an increase around sheds and should have about 70*F on the cool side and about 85-90*F on the warm side.

Here's what I have:
-36x18x18 exo terra tank
-Large size zoo med UTH which is down the center of the tank from the hot end, so there is about 2-3 inches on either side to the front and back of the tank that do not have head pad but it extends halfway down the tank.
-Zilla temperature controller for UTH
-ecoearth bedding
-hide/water dish combo and extra hide on cool side
-hide and water dish (not combo) on the warm side
-a few climb branches in the center
- 2 8.5 dome lamp with 100w day and 100w night bulb that is set on a timer for 12h each bulb (9am-9pm for day and 9pm-9am for night)
-flukers hygrometer on warm side of tank
-digital thermometer with probe on warm and cool side (the warm side probe is on top of UTH to monitor temp

I have a bigger water dish for the warm side and some moss for the hide that I will put in when I take her out next week for a first attempt at feeding. I brought her home yesterday and they said to give her a week to acclimate since she was previously in a rack system.

So my warm side reader for the UTH is between 85 and 90*F and my cool side is sitting at around 67*F and my humidity usually sits between 45 and 50%.
I have a damp towel across half of the mesh top but that isn't doing as much as I hoped it would as far as humidity goes.

Are there any suggestions for improving the temp on the cool side and the humidity levels? I do live in a basement and am aware that I will be actively maintaining the tank on a daily basis and am more than willing to do so. Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[dereklondon24]

Your setup doesnt sound too bad, I would switch to Cyprus mulch bedding it's the best humidity substrate I have ever used. Your temps need to be 90-92 on hot side and 80-84 on cool side. Try putting tinfoil on the screen top instead of a towel cause it will hold heat and humidity in better


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[kitedemon]

Eco earth is far better with humidity than cyprus environmentally responsible. Things sound like you are on the right track. I'd suggest setting everything up and running it for a while before you adding the animal.

[Randy J.]

I would say adding slightly dampness moss to one hide on each side, and misting the Eco-earth every other day.. That would cover your humidity issues, since they spend more time in their hides, than the rest of tank.. Place your lamps dead center, and cool side temps will level off without over heating.... Message me with results, after a 24 hour period... That would be long enough for everything to fall in place... Good luck, and congrats on your new friend.. What morph is it exactly ???

[Brokenangelr]

I would say adding slightly dampness moss to one hide on each side, and misting the Eco-earth every other day.. That would cover your humidity issues, since they spend more time in their hides, than the rest of tank.. Place your lamps dead center, and cool side temps will level off without over heating.... Message me with results, after a 24 hour period... That would be long enough for everything to fall in place... Good luck, and congrats on your new friend.. What morph is it exactly ???

I will definitely try that and let you know.
The vendor compartment she was in just said dark morph. I have emailed the breeder about that and about her age and have not yet gotten a reply

I will add some pics and see if anyone can help me identify exactly what she is.

TBH she looks a lot like a black pastel but her back stripe is a lighter color than the pics of black pastels I've seen. Almost yellow.
Here's a link to her photo album on my fb page
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1618468&type=3

thinking now that not everyone will be able to see those, i will try to find someplace to host them so i can get a better link

[snakemomma77]

I saw your snake on fb. she is a beauty. I noticed you had those stick on thermometers and hydrometers. They can be off 10 degrees in either direction. I would go to Wallmart and in the '"do it yourself" section on the same isle where the outdoor thometers, weather radios are get yourself a Acurite thermometer with a prob around 13.00. it is far better than what you have now. Put the probe just under your substrate and run the line to the cool side and prop the actual thermometer against the glass with the digital temps facing outwards. hope that helps, it sure helped me out.

[Brokenangelr]

I saw your snake on fb. she is a beauty. I noticed you had those stick on thermometers and hydrometers. They can be off 10 degrees in either direction. I would go to Wallmart and in the '"do it yourself" section on the same isle where the outdoor thometers, weather radios are get yourself a Acurite thermometer with a prob around 13.00. it is far better than what you have now. Put the probe just under your substrate and run the line to the cool side and prop the actual thermometer against the glass with the digital temps facing outwards. hope that helps, it sure helped me out.

I have replaced the thermometers and have a digital for each side now. Will get the hygrometer tomorrow while I'm out and about.

[Mike41793]

Cant see the pic. Please upload to photobucket or other pic sharing aite.

[Brokenangelr]

I figured as much. Here is a link to my photobucket:
http://s716.photobucket.com/profile/BrokenAngelR/index