Aspen vs. forest moss substrate

[Lion]

I'm a new bp owner, just got my boy at the Herp World expo in San Jose on Saturday. I started him with shredded aspen, but I live in a particularly dry location and I'm having difficulty keeping the humidity constant. I've moved some things around in the terrarium and draped a blanket over half of the screen top, and this seems to be working better than yesterday. It used to be that the humidity would drop from 50 to 20 within an hour, but right now it's been at 45 for a good amount of time. However, it's still steadily decreasing.

Now, I've bought a few blocks of Exo Terra forest moss, and I'd like to give it a shot. Just wondering if this is a good idea, or if I should stick with aspen, because I see that aspen is a fairly popular substrate option.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I'm a new bp owner, just got my boy at the Herp World expo in San Jose on Saturday. I started him with shredded aspen, but I live in a particularly dry location and I'm having difficulty keeping the humidity constant. I've moved some things around in the terrarium and draped a blanket over half of the screen top, and this seems to be working better than yesterday. It used to be that the humidity would drop from 50 to 20 within an hour, but right now it's been at 45 for a good amount of time. However, it's still steadily decreasing.

Now, I've bought a few blocks of Exo Terra forest moss, and I'd like to give it a shot. Just wondering if this is a good idea, or if I should stick with aspen, because I see that aspen is a fairly popular substrate option.

It would be easier for you to make a humid hide box, than to try and maintain humidity in the aquarium. It's like holding a glass upside down and trying to keep te water from spilling out.

[Recreation]

Humidity control has been an old-as-time issue with reptile keepers. If you can, I suggest switching to something that allows air to flow horizontaly (rubbermaid tubs with holes drilled in sides) rather than verticaly (Terrarium screentop). But if you need to keep the terrarium I suggest adding a moderate sized water container on the cool side, and maybe even consider adding a humid hide? Another good way to go is the use of concanut fibers, as it holds moisture very well. Mix and match these until the humidty is right or your snake seems comfortable.

[Lion]

It would be easier for you to make a humid hide box, than to try and maintain humidity in the aquarium. It's like holding a glass upside down and trying to keep te water from spilling out.

Could I maybe lay down a little patch of moss underneath his hide, then?

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Could I maybe lay down a little patch of moss underneath his hide, then?

Yup! Just make sure it's not dripping wet. You don't want your snake to be laying on wet moss for too long, or it could get scale rot.

[Lion]

Humidity control has been an old-as-time issue with reptile keepers. If you can, I suggest switching to something that allows air to flow horizontaly (rubbermaid tubs with holes drilled in sides) rather than verticaly (Terrarium screentop). But if you need to keep the terrarium I suggest adding a moderate sized water container on the cool side, and maybe even consider adding a humid hide? Another good way to go is the use of concanut fibers, as it holds moisture very well. Mix and match these until the humidty is right or your snake seems comfortable.

I've got a fairly big water bowl in there already, but it looks like I may just have to try the humid hide. I could always go find a plastic Tupperware container to throw in there, I suppose.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

An older thread, may help you: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ighlight=ricky

[Lion]

Yup! Just make sure it's not dripping wet. You don't want your snake to be laying on wet moss for too long, or it could get scale rot.

Excellent, thank you very much! I'll see how he takes to that, maybe try the Tupperware thing later -- I did kinda want to put a second hide in there, anyway.

[Lion]

An older thread, may help you: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ighlight=ricky

Ooh, really helpful thread, thank you.