How to Boost My Humidity by

[tobixforever]

So this is a response to this thread which has all the info about my enclosure so you can get some background.

I got the thermometers and humidity gauge like I posted. The hot side (right above her UTH) stays right around 90 because of the dimmer, and the ambient temperature is usually anywhere from 80-83 (and I switched to only one light in the center of her enclosure). So her temps look great, but I'm having serious problems with her humidity.
The natural humidity in the room she is in is around 16-18% (winter in Oklahoma, sigh) and I'm struggling hard to stay on top of it. I'm using a humidifier, but that only raises the humidity to 22-24%. Obviously, I'm misting her to at least 50% whenever I can, but when I'm asleep and when I'm at work, there's nothing I can do, and she drops back down to the 20% range again. I've tried putting a damp towel over the enclosure (over her water bowl) because I've heard it can help, but it's really not making a difference. Also, her bedding is cyprus mulch, which I've also heard helps retain moisture, but that's what I've always used for her bedding, so I can't tell if it's making a difference or not.
Does anyone have any ideas to help raise the humidity by 30%? Thanks!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

So this is a response to this thread which has all the info about my enclosure so you can get some background.

I got the thermometers and humidity gauge like I posted. The hot side (right above her UTH) stays right around 90 because of the dimmer, and the ambient temperature is usually anywhere from 80-83 (and I switched to only one light in the center of her enclosure). So her temps look great, but I'm having serious problems with her humidity.
The natural humidity in the room she is in is around 16-18% (winter in Oklahoma, sigh) and I'm struggling hard to stay on top of it. I'm using a humidifier, but that only raises the humidity to 22-24%. Obviously, I'm misting her to at least 50% whenever I can, but when I'm asleep and when I'm at work, there's nothing I can do, and she drops back down to the 20% range again. I've tried putting a damp towel over the enclosure (over her water bowl) because I've heard it can help, but it's really not making a difference. Also, her bedding is cyprus mulch, which I've also heard helps retain moisture, but that's what I've always used for her bedding, so I can't tell if it's making a difference or not.
Does anyone have any ideas to help raise the humidity by 30%? Thanks!

Here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-using-a-tank!

[tobixforever]

Here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-using-a-tank!

That sounds like it would work! Thanks! But I do have one question. I have my lamp in the middle of her terrarium, so where would you recommend I have them cut the other holes for ventilation?

[AnnaK231]

I saw someone had plexiglass on top with the lamp hole in the middle. I want to say they had 4-5 small holes drilled on each end of the plexiglass. Let me see if I can find the thread.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-in-your-tanks

[tobixforever]

The plexiglass is a good idea too! I'll make a few stops around town and see which one I can get my hands on. Thanks for all your ideas. I was worried about the ventilation and I never thought about making holes in the material I cover it with.

[Borgpython]

Had the same problem. Things you can do to boost humidity in tanks


-Cover 90% of the top with aluminium foil
-Cover 90% of the top with cling wrap
-Combination of covering the top with aluminium foil then cling wrap on top of that. Seals in heat and humidity. Make sure to not cover 100% though, enclosure still needs ventilation.
-Put damp sphagnum moss in the enclosure in combination with covering the top. The moss holds a lot of moisture so it helps.
-Change your substrate/bedding to "Eco Earth" which is just coconut, or "Cypress Mulch", both boost humidity very good. You can even use a combination of the two, blended for even better effect.

If all that still doesn't work then invest in plexi glass top yes. And if that still! doesn't work then try a fogger for the enclosure that's on a timer, wont have to worry about misting ever again.

[Sauzo]

I use aspen in a 36x18 glass tank and I can keep 50-60% humidity. First off are you using a digital or dial type humidity gauge? Dial types can be 20% off. What I did was cut a thick piece of cardboard to fit completely over the whole screen top. Then I put the dome in the center and traced it with a pen. Then I cut the circle out but did it 1" bigger than the pen circle I made. This gives me the airflow I need. Then I wrapped one side in tin foil and taped the tinfoil down in the side that would be facing up(away from the screen/cage). Then I put a large water bowl half under the CHE in the dome and shazam, I got 50-60% depending on the time of day. Plus it keeps a lot of heat in so I had to actually turn down the CHE. And like I said, I'm using aspen since I used Eco Earth for a year on my boa and I hated that stuff. Aspen is so much easier to change and I do full substrate changes every month to 2 months so makes life easier for me.

Plexi can work too but one thing the local plexi company that I was gonna have make me a custom lid told me was make sure you use thick plexi and make sure you give enough space around the dome or the heat from a CHE can warp or melt the plexi. And they told me thin plexi will bow after a bit if you are placing something on top of it with weight. I also talked to a glass company and they told me a better idea might be to use tempered glass but that would weigh more and be more expensive but you wouldn't get the bow or warping/melting of plexi too close to a CHE. Regardless though, I do think the clear tops look really nice vs my tinfoil wrapped cardboard top but it works and my snake is happy so I guess whatever makes them happy.

[Citrus]

Lol I'm in Florida and the natural indoor humidity is like 50-60%. You could but a humidifier. Or you could get a spongy material or a wet sock and place it in the enclosure. Something that will slowly evaporate. A humid hide with miss could help. Or you can place your water dish over the hotspot.

I don't want to start a "glass cage is better! no, plastic tub is better!" war but you may want to switch to a plastic tub if you ind that nothing works. Again, just a suggestion.


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