Early shed after humidity fix??

[Kris Mclaughlin]

So. As a few of you know I picked up a neglected ball a few months back. She was passed around a lot... But I have an awesome habitat for her and recently did the foil tank cover DIY to do away with the heat lamp. Works great! It jacked the humidity to about 78percent. Now my issue...

My poor shiva has such a hard time shedding(and yes everyone told me it was humidity related) but she shed just barely over a month ago. I fixed up the lid and uth n made it real nice and shes gettin that blue tint again, the little snot...

Keeping in mind she was scrawny as all and has also darn near doubled in length... Is it because she's growing like mad??? Or did I trigger a early shed? Should I leave the humidity elevated or take it down???

Here's my Shiva:


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The heat lamp is gone... Good god was that climb hot...

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The tank is 36x18x18 and there is a massive water soak on the right you don't see, cold side of course. I Also moved the stone water dish is warm as well. I made a foil flap I just move to adjust my levels.

[ballpythonluvr]

It sounds to me like your snake is shedding again so soon because she is growing.

[Kris Mclaughlin]

Then that makes me more than happy! I really hoped that would be the case...

[The Serpent Merchant]

So how long has it been since she last shed? From what I read above it has been about a month. That is actually about the right amount of time between sheds, not early/soon at all.

[Kris Mclaughlin]

So how long has it been since she last shed? From what I read above it has been about a month. That is actually about the right amount of time between sheds, not early/soon at all.

My friend this is exactly what I was lookin to hear! So...

My ambient temp is 78.9 and usually varies by about 5-8 degrees... Current humidity at 78.9 and will stay almost right there... This sound good for a (god willing) better shed?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Proper temperature temperatures/humidity aren't the only factors in producing a good shed, but they are usually the only ones that you have direct control over. (stress, illness, and a number of other things can cause a bad shed) You've done your part, now it is up to your BP. Chances are he will have a much better shed this time round

You mentioned that you are using a UTH. Is it being regulated by a thermostat? Are you using a thermometer with a probe to measure the hot spot temperature in the cage? (sorry if this has been covered before, just trying to make sure that everything is perfect)

[Kris Mclaughlin]

Yes. I do hvac work so I have a house thermostat holding it at 85 give or take... I have an ambient in the back center as well thats my humidity as well. I used a digi thermometer we use at work for the hotspot and it's 85-90

[The Serpent Merchant]

THe hot spot really needs to be at least 88 degrees. (88-92)

How did you get a household thermostat to work with a UTH?

[Kris Mclaughlin]

Some new digital thermostats come with remote temperature sensos. Either direct wire or battery... Since my hot side hide has a solid base to it that's where the probe is, under it. Since its only 2 wires usually that runs to your furnace(heat pad) one of the wires is constant hot. So my main power is on the constant hot side and my ground is still the normal uncut side of the power cord it kicks the pad on when the temp drops below my desires and shuts it off when satisfied. It's something I brewed up with some spare parts from a job. If it continues to work properly I plan on making a DIY

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It's a live to the thermostat and it'll be dead to the pad hooking up the power. When it calls for heat the thermostat will complete the circuit

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Easiest way I can think of it is that the thermostat acts like the remote wire on a car amp...


Am also experimenting with water bed heater controls. 120 volt, and most of the time they also have a remote temp probe

[The Serpent Merchant]

The home thermostats I have worked with always just sent a signal voltage to a larger relay to turn the AC unit on/off not 120V AC so I was just wondering (I'm an electrical engineer)