Air Holes in Rack Tubs - Humidity v. Air Circulation

[sharkrocket]

I've been concerned about this lately. I really don't want to have RI's because I didn't drill enough holes in my tubs, but I also want to hold humidity in. How do you know when you have enough air circulation?

I have seen this posted a couple times: "1. Measure the humidity in the tub 2. Take the water dish out 3. Humidity should be the same as the room's humidity within an hour."

Is this true? I have been running tests over the last couple days, and if it's a true test, then I do not have nearly enough holes drilled!

I am leaning towards having more holes and buying a humidifier for humidity. But jeez, I really felt like I had a lot!

If someone has a great test for air circulation, please post it. If you have a general guide for number of holes for a certain size tub, please post it.

As for me, I am concerned with my V-70s and my V-18s.

Thanks!

[kitedemon]

Yes that is fair test but it needs to be with bone dry substrate. The concern is simple not to use the exhalation of the animal housed in a tub to increase humidity.

Look at it this way, open top things with no openings on the sides do not vent well. The proof is in most grocery stores, the open top freezers. If there was good air flow in them they would not hold things frozen with the air movement in the store. They however do hold things frozen there is little air from the store moving into the freezer.

Tubs (and tanks) do not circulate air well. Holes in the sides help, the lower the holes are the better the circulation. Low and high holes will circulate the best. Humidity should never be from the snake it should come from the moisture in the substrate and the water evaporating out of the bowl.

RH is hugely mis understood. It is relative to temperature so the ambient air temp will change how much moisture the air can hold and as RH is just the % to max (saturated air) it changes too. 40% (40% of the saturation point) at 80ºF is 56% at 70ºF (10gm of water per sq meter) The amount of water in the air is the same. This is why I get perfect sheds at 55% and some others need 7-% to do the same my ambient air temp in my enclosures runs average of 82ºF in a cooler enclosure you need much more RH. Just for reference at 5ºF 60% RH is only 0.5 gm/m3 if you had the 10gm it is an impossible 1050%rh.

The Barkers (VPI) likely one of the most knowledgeable snake breeders around suggest that you simply cannot have too much ventilation.

[sharkrocket]

Thanks for the help. I agree, I had the same thought that the test would have to be done with dry substrate. The amount of moisture the substrate holds would change things a lot.

I would love to hear from others about this as well if they want to chime in, as this topic is far from over.