Humidity and ambient Temp problems in new home

[Herbetsdad]

Hello friends, I have read this forum many times in the past 3 years since I got my BP, but I am still fairly new to the game.

Me and my BP recently moved, both to a new house for me and a new enclosure for him. (My cat damaged my old one and he was able to escape quite frequently)

My new house is very dry, and his new enclosure is larger than his previous ones. Unsurprisingly I am having trouble with Humidity and Temp on the cold side.

Currently I have a UTH and a heat lamp with a 100w heating bulb, his hot side is at a perfect temp and he seems very comfortable there. However his cold side doesn't seem to want to push over 73 and I can't seem to get the humidity up over 40 either. Currently the heat lamp is over his water bowl and that evaporation is helping along with a humidifier I keep going in that room for the house humidity level. However I definitely need to get those two things under control because his last molt was less than ideal and he has refused a couple of meals.

I have two different hides and he definitely prefers one over the other no matter what side I put it on he goes for that one. I am going to the store tonight to get him a duplicate hide but I was wondering what else I can get or do to improve his situation. Will upgrading my heating bulb to 150W help enough with the temp? His water bowl is quite large so I don't think I can go any bigger there.

Thank you so much, I have gotten great advice from this forum in the past as a lurker but I am worried about my little guy and want improve his living situation.

[Citrus]

Where is it located? If the cage is against an outside wall then it can make issues with temps, especially if it's cold outside. You could try wrapping a towel around that side, it's what I do to insulate my rack at night when it's chilly out.


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[Herbetsdad]

It is on an inside wall and in the warmest room in the house but it jus tdoesn't seem to retain heat well. I have paper on the sides and foil on the top to try to keep warmth and humidity in.

[scalrtn]

Maybe a second UTH on the cool side, tuned to a lower temperature / damp hide made from a tupperware container with hole cut in it, filled with moist sphagnum moss?

[Herbetsdad]

Maybe a second UTH on the cool side, tuned to a lower temperature / damp hide made from a tupperware container with hole cut in it, filled with moist sphagnum moss?

Yeah I think I can get some moss tonight and make him one of those, wont be as pretty as his other hides but he will have to deal I guess. I will also at least price out a new UTH to see when it can fit in to the budget. Thanks.

[Albert Clark]

Hello friends, I have read this forum many times in the past 3 years since I got my BP, but I am still fairly new to the game.

Me and my BP recently moved, both to a new house for me and a new enclosure for him. (My cat damaged my old one and he was able to escape quite frequently)

My new house is very dry, and his new enclosure is larger than his previous ones. Unsurprisingly I am having trouble with Humidity and Temp on the cold side.

Currently I have a UTH and a heat lamp with a 100w heating bulb, his hot side is at a perfect temp and he seems very comfortable there. However his cold side doesn't seem to want to push over 73 and I can't seem to get the humidity up over 40 either. Currently the heat lamp is over his water bowl and that evaporation is helping along with a humidifier I keep going in that room for the house humidity level. However I definitely need to get those two things under control because his last molt was less than ideal and he has refused a couple of meals.

I have two different hides and he definitely prefers one over the other no matter what side I put it on he goes for that one. I am going to the store tonight to get him a duplicate hide but I was wondering what else I can get or do to improve his situation. Will upgrading my heating bulb to 150W help enough with the temp? His water bowl is quite large so I don't think I can go any bigger there.

Thank you so much, I have gotten great advice from this forum in the past as a lurker but I am worried about my little guy and want improve his living situation.

Well, what type of enclosure is it? I really didn't get that. If its a glass tank you might consider a "versa top" which is a folding glass top for tanks. It can help with both ambient temp and humidity. a 100w heat bulb is kind of high. IMO, I would forget about going to a 150w bulb, and concentrate on another method. Check the uth and make sure it's on a thermostat and functioning appropriately. Maybe consider a ultratherm as a replacement because the mechanism for heat transfer is a bit different. Ultratherms are more efficient than standard uths. Peace. Good luck.

[Sauzo]

A UTH is not going to heat the air, it will only give a spot for belly heat. My advice is get the 150 watt and a lamp dimmer from Home Depot. Then you can adjust the dimmer to achieve the temp you want. Do you have almost the whole top covered? And are you using a large water dish? If yes to both, I'm pretty surprised you cant get higher humidity. If you really cant achieve 50%, then the next best thing is just make a humid hide box and then you don't need to worry about humidity really. IMO correct ambient temp is more important than a UTH. I don't use a UTH on any of my 3 snakes, only correct ambient and they are all happy and eat like horses.

[Herbetsdad]

Well, what type of enclosure is it? I really didn't get that. If its a glass tank you might consider a "versa top" which is a folding glass top for tanks. It can help with both ambient temp and humidity. a 100w heat bulb is kind of high. IMO, I would forget about going to a 150w bulb, and concentrate on another method. Check the uth and make sure it's on a thermostat and functioning appropriately. Maybe consider a ultratherm as a replacement because the mechanism for heat transfer is a bit different. Ultratherms are more efficient than standard uths. Peace. Good luck.

It is a glass enclosure, so I will look in to a new top as the is probably where I lose most of the heat and humidity. The UTH is doing good, and the side it is on is fine but the other side is just a bit cold. I got it up to about 75 which isn't perfect but better than before. I will look in to both a versa top and ultratherm as I was planning to get a new UTH or something like that.

A UTH is not going to heat the air, it will only give a spot for belly heat. My advice is get the 150 watt and a lamp dimmer from Home Depot. Then you can adjust the dimmer to achieve the temp you want. Do you have almost the whole top covered? And are you using a large water dish? If yes to both, I'm pretty surprised you cant get higher humidity. If you really cant achieve 50%, then the next best thing is just make a humid hide box and then you don't need to worry about humidity really. IMO correct ambient temp is more important than a UTH. I don't use a UTH on any of my 3 snakes, only correct ambient and they are all happy and eat like horses.

The only part of the top not covered is where the lamp shines in, and it is a big glass pie dish for his water so he can chill in it if he wants, and so there is more surface area to heat/evaporate. I am thinking the humid hide will be necessary because the house is just so freaking dry. I just don't know if i have tupperware big enough for him xD I can always try to make my own out of one of his hides. He is a really timid snake overall so sometimes just my presence while offering to him seems to keep him from eating, and I haven't had much luck with leaving it for him overnight. I am going to try again this weekend and see how it goes his temp and humidity are closer to where they ought to be around 75 and 45 but still not perfect.