Shedding in rack

[whispersinmyhead]

So I have moved to a rack system. I used to have one ball in a cage that was heated with a CHE and used cypress mulch for substrate.

Now I have a rack and use paper towel as substrate. Cypress was just too humid. I was at 100%.

Now my humidity is always 50-65% and 70-80 during shed. I used to have perfect sheds with the cage and now I getting poor sheds in a rack that holds humidity better!? This is boggling mind. This last she'd wasn't bad but still I'm pieces and a couple patches stuck on.

Any thoughts? My temps are 78-90 and all humidity and temp readings are checked with multiple instruments to eliminate the possibility of false reading.

Any thoughts?


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[satomi325]

Just add more humidity. (i.e. larger water dish over the hot spot or try the cypress mulch again)
Or you have too many air holes.

I've learned not to read humidity gauges and to go by my snakes' ability to shed. If they shed well, then my humidity is good. If they don't that means they need more humidity.

[whispersinmyhead]

Yeah that is why I bumped up the humidity to 80-85 but any more and I get condensation. Maybe I didn't notice the shed cycle fast enough this time. I have another that is I the blue now so we'll see if her shed comes out ok.

I measure the humidity on the cool side of the 41 qt sere lite tub so maybe I will check the hot side. It may be lower than I realize. Thanks.


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[Punkymom]

I mist mine once a day when they're in shed. I don't always get them every single day but it results in nearly perfect sheds every time. I have mine in a rack on newspaper.

[West Coast Jungle]

A bad shed isn't the end of the world it just means you need to make an adjustment. Paper towels don't hold humidity like mulch. You have a new set up so you need to make a few new adjustments, it will be fine and so will your snake. Satomi gave good advice.

What are you using go measure humidity?

[Mike41793]

What are you measuring the humidity with?

[rickm]

Just add more humidity. (i.e. larger water dish over the hot spot or try the cypress mulch again)
Or you have too many air holes.

I've learned not to read humidity gauges and to go by my snakes' ability to shed. If they shed well, then my humidity is good. If they don't that means they need more humidity.

very true! and who cares if you get condensation...I want condensation in my racks. condensation is only a bad thing when it starts to cause mold on something...and racks rarely get mold unless you are using something like different woods that will mold. I love to see condensation, as long as the enclosure is not wet and stagnant...I love to see it.

[Mike41793]

I hate seeing condensation. That usually means they pissed and/or crapped all over. Don't get me wrong, i love cleaning a dirty tub just as much as the next keeper, but i prefer clean ones.

[rickm]

also crumble up some newspaper and put it in the tub, spray it down really good with a spray bottle and your problem is solved. I use this trick on all of my racks with paper type substrates, I always have condensation, and I always have perfect sheds. I either use packing paper or newspaper on my racks unless I am using coconut husk...I use paper though in my racks almost all the time. even when I use the white packing paper as the bottom layer and substrate, I always have crumpled up newspaper. I only have to spray every two or three days to re~moisten the newspaper. works awesome.

[satomi325]

Im not aiming this at anyone. Just in general..

There can be humidity without condensation.

Condensation usually just means the outside room temp is significantly colder than inside the tub. Like condensation on your house windows in the winter. Or your cold drink in room temp. It means that water has turned from gas to liquid, which is too much moisture for a ball python in my personal opinion. Or as mike said, they peed/pood.

Anyway, as long as there is no standing moisture on the substrate or on the enclosure sides, its OK. But I personally hate seeing condensation.

You can remedy condensation by warming up the room to match the enclosure. Or vice versa. As well as have more air circulation in the room.

I do like the newspaper idea. Its similar to the moss in a humid hide method.

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