80% humidity for BP, vet visit story?

[200xth]

There are a LOT of different thoughts on ball python husbandry. You see just a small sampling here and most just point to a care sheet. I keep my ambient temp around 73-75. During the winter the ambient temp has even went into the high 60s. My hotspot is around 88. I know people that run similar temps and some people tell me my snakes will get sick the way I keep them. Well I have been keeping balls for just short of a decade now and no RI yet. Ball python husbandry is like everything else in life. If you hear info don't roll your eyes at it. Listen to it and take notes. There isn't always just one answer to everything. I feel ambient temps of 80 or more and a hotspot of 90+ is too hot. However if it works for you then stick to it.

That's about what mine are at. Low to mid 70's ambient, hot spots 87 to 89 at most.

Humidity is in the 70's most of the time.

[tbowman]

I would venture say that a constant ambient temp of 86 with an even higher hotspot is running a bit warm. I keep the room at 80 and hotspot 88-90. I don't use a hygrometer in the tubs, but when I did, they consistently read in the high 70s to low 80s with no ill-effects.

[SadieJ]

What are the range of temperatures/humidity levels ball pythons experience in the wild? Warmer or cooler/wetter or dryer? That could be interesting research but I'm a huge nerd too lol!

[Snake Judy]

What are the range of temperatures/humidity levels ball pythons experience in the wild? Warmer or cooler/wetter or dryer? That could be interesting research but I'm a huge nerd too lol!

Termite mounds are popular hideouts of wild ball pythons, and they have to maintain a relative humidity upwards of 80% in order for the termites to survive. Maybe that's the research the vet is working from? A high humidity enclosure would have to be managed pretty carefully to avoid mold and anaerobic bacteria, though, which I think is the reason it's not standard.

[SadieJ]

Termite mounds are popular hideouts of wild ball pythons, and they have to maintain a relative humidity upwards of 80% in order for the termites to survive. Maybe that's the research the vet is working from? A high humidity enclosure would have to be managed pretty carefully to avoid mold and anaerobic bacteria, though, which I think is the reason it's not standard.

That seems likely, but granted, those are the animal's temporary hides during the day right? They would come out at night to hunt & 'dry off' per se. Being in a tank or tub at those levels constantly probably isn't good. Maybe it just depends on where they're born, I don't know. It would be nice to see a ball python documentary about their lives in th wild

[bondo]

What are the range of temperatures/humidity levels ball pythons experience in the wild? Warmer or cooler/wetter or dryer? That could be interesting research but I'm a huge nerd too lol!

I posted those temps already and got blasted by a few here for it. Some people get really mad if you don't follow the care sheets they follow. The temps I posted don't agree with those care sheets lol

[SadieJ]

I posted those temps already and got blasted by a few here for it. Some people get really mad if you don't follow the care sheets they follow. The temps I posted don't agree with those care sheets lol

O so those are temps more like their native environment? Interesting... My ambient temps are closer to yours than th caresheets & he seems fine. Hot spot of around 88°. Also his humidity stays in the low-mid 60s

[bondo]

O so those are temps more like their native environment? Interesting... My ambient temps are closer to yours than th caresheets & he seems fine. Hot spot of around 88°. Also his humidity stays in the low-mid 60s

Depends on the area they are from. Some are close to the care sheet and some are not.