Humidity issues? Here's a quick & easy fix!

[TaylorMade]

Are you having shed problems, or trouble keeping humidity in your enclosures? Well at one point I was having humidity issues as well (even though I live on a very humid island). I was brainstorming one day & came up with a system that fixes low humidity & wanted to share it with all my fellow ball owners!
What I've done is come up with a pretty simple & cost efficient system (IMO).
WHAT YOU NEED:
· An aquarium air pump, depending on how many tanks you have you may want to get one with multiple air nozzles.
· Aquarium air hose.
· An airline connector kit (includes y-valves, air control valves & suction cups)
· Extra suction cups (if needed- figure two per enclosure)
· Bubble stones (enough for one per enclosure)
WHAT TO DO:
1. First I set up the air pump & made sure it was close enough to a plug.

2. Then I cut one main airline and put a y-valve(pink) at the end to make a two air line spit. One of the spits you make will lead into one enclosure, the other air line spit will be used to put another piece of air hose & y-valve(pink) on. For each individual tank line, cut a small piece of air hose that will connect your y-valve (pink) to your air control valve (purple) Repeat this until you have enough individual air lines for your tanks.

3. Next, I cut enough air hose to go into the enclosure, all the way down the sides then under the substrate & finally into the water dish. You may want to tape the line to the bottom of the tank just to make sure an active snake doesn't end up uprooting the line. It also helps to run the hose down the side & secure it with two suction cups circled in orange (one on top, one near the bottom)


4. Next, attach your bubble stone (lime green) at the end of your line & put it in your water bowl.
5. Finally, put a towel over your inclosure to keep in the humidity!
Hope this helps anyone having humidity issues! Blessed be!

[NewBP]

One thing that I wonder about with this is how each individual snake my react to the air and bubbles in its water bowl. I am guessing your BP doesn't mind it?

[TaylorMade]

One thing that I wonder about with this is how each individual snake my react to the air and bubbles in its water bowl. I am guessing your BP doesn't mind it?

Nope, I've noticed it hasn't bothered them at all... they do like to wrap around the tubing that's suction cupped on the side of the tank. I have, however, noticed my albino male has been spending some time under the water bowl, I don't know if it's because he likes the way it vibrates/bubbles or what. Lol. & I must mention his cage temps/hides are perfect temperature wise, so too hot temps or not a cool hide aren't the issue.

[joefer13]

haha love this, think I might give this a try when my snake goes into shed again...what kinds of humidity differences did you see...also is that the water dish from petco? I think I have the green version of it lol

[Vasiliki]

With those wide open-top enclosures, it can definitely be hard to keep humidity up. That's why I always recommend to people to use a Humid Hide in their enclosures as well as their cool and warm hides. My girl will often hang out in there, even if the humidity in her enclosure is just dandy. She'll peek her little head out and watch from there. Haha. Goofball.

The only downside I can see with this is that you could end up with humidity spikes and drops, rather than a more stable humidity. But, that's some of the challenges with those open top tanks.

A topic I know all too well. My hermit crabs thrive at 90% humidity. Try getting that in an open-top tank in a dry region. Haha.

Love the innovation though. And if your snake doesn't mind, hey, whatever works, right?

[Pyrate81]

This is great, thank you!

2 things I'd like to add if you don't mind:

1. "You may want to tape the line to the bottom of the tank just to make sure an active snake doesn't end up uprooting the line."
Perhaps use another suction cup to leave tape out of the equation.

2. For more than 2 tanks, they make air gang valves: 1 line in, 4 lines out. So you can send equal amounts of air to each water bowl.


This is definitely more cost effective than buying one of those $60-$90 1-liter repti-foggers. Seriously, you just spent maybe $20?

Keep us posted on how your humidity has changed. I'd be interested in knowing for sure.

Thanks again.

[TheSnakeGuy]

I really wanted to build an at home humidifier, but I have a 20 gallon long with sliding screen top. I have no way of getting tubing into the tank without compromising the mesh on top and/or the plastic edge the screen slides/locks in to. No humidifier for me. sad face.

[MrLang]

You may want to tape the line to the bottom of the tank just to make sure an active snake doesn't end up uprooting the line.

Great idea! Except this ^^ I don't think anyone would advocate tape inside the enclosure. I have seen a few NASTY pictures of dead pets on here caused by the use of tape.

Other than that it's definitely a lot cheaper than repti-foggers!

About how many % up from ambient humidity are you able to get them just using the bubbler?

[TaylorMade]

With those wide open-top enclosures, it can definitely be hard to keep humidity up. That's why I always recommend to people to use a Humid Hide in their enclosures as well as their cool and warm hides. My girl will often hang out in there, even if the humidity in her enclosure is just dandy. She'll peek her little head out and watch from there. Haha. Goofball.

The only downside I can see with this is that you could end up with humidity spikes and drops, rather than a more stable humidity. But, that's some of the challenges with those open top tanks.

A topic I know all too well. My hermit crabs thrive at 90% humidity. Try getting that in an open-top tank in a dry region. Haha.

Love the innovation though. And if your snake doesn't mind, hey, whatever works, right?

Thanks! Wow 90%?! I couldn't imagine! & I do provide at least 4 hides per enclosure, two on hot side (one moist & one dry) & the same on the cool side. I haven't noticed any spikes or drops, I have noticed about a 5-8% more humidity. Where I live we have at least 50% humidity most of the time, so this was only intended to bring the humidity slightly up.

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haha love this, think I might give this a try when my snake goes into shed again...what kinds of humidity differences did you see...also is that the water dish from petco? I think I have the green version of it lol

It's been about 5-8% more humid. I'm sure it would really work better in a rub or rack system, glass just sucks to keep humidity in. I think I got the bowl from Petsmart... but what's the difference? Lol.

[TaylorMade]

This is great, thank you!

2 things I'd like to add if you don't mind:

1. "You may want to tape the line to the bottom of the tank just to make sure an active snake doesn't end up uprooting the line."
Perhaps use another suction cup to leave tape out of the equation.

2. For more than 2 tanks, they make air gang valves: 1 line in, 4 lines out. So you can send equal amounts of air to each water bowl.


This is definitely more cost effective than buying one of those $60-$90 1-liter repti-foggers. Seriously, you just spent maybe $20?

Keep us posted on how your humidity has changed. I'd be interested in knowing for sure.

Thanks again.

No problem, my pleasure to share! You have an EXCELLENT suggestion about the tape & I am actually about to change that out. Your second point was awesome too... I did not know of a valve that will connect four hoses! I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for one! I've noticed an 5-8% increase, but I will keep y'all posted! have a blessed day & thank you for the helpful input!


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I really wanted to build an at home humidifier, but I have a 20 gallon long with sliding screen top. I have no way of getting tubing into the tank without compromising the mesh on top and/or the plastic edge the screen slides/locks in to. No humidifier for me. sad face.

You can most definitely run tube through mesh & plastic. I have mesh tops and on some I had to poke an itty bitty hole into it, from the inside so the sharp parts end up on outside of the tank. Also- for plastic, heat up a skewer or screw driver & poke/burn a hole from the inside out. Hope this helps...