ways to DECREASE humidity significantly...?

[redshepherd]

(Sorry for all the threads these days. My albino is shipping tomorrow. Much excite.)

My house humidity is unexpectedly high at 55%. I have a tub setup, and now am in the problem with too HIGH humidity... it's at 75%! I've already poked so many holes all over the sides and top of the tub, and it is still like this. :s The water dish is on the cool side.

Any other way to decrease humidity? I can't use a heat lamp with a tub setup...

It practically would have been fine for me to just get some kind of cage with extreme airflow everywhere, with the humidity around here. LOL.

[Reinz]

Two things possibly, one a very small water dish/cup. I see where some folks use a heavy crock type cup only 1 1/34 - 2 inches in diameter that hold plastic condiment cups.
Two, get an oscillating fan with adjusting speeds and play with the distance and direction that you point at your rack.

Best

[redshepherd]

Thanks-

switched out my crock dish for a little glass condiment dish. Hopefully this helps enough!

[redshepherd]

Alright, it's at 66% now. :s Almost there... Any other methods? I don't currently have a fan on hand.

[Reinz]

When my humidity gets out of hand, when I'm working right there in the room, I just open the tops or doors and keep a very close eye on the snakes. If they get frisky and try to make a break for it, then I lock it up. But usually they just lie there. I know this is very temporary, but it helps some.

But the fan will do the trick. Once you get some more air flow.

[hungba]

What's wrong with 66%? 60 to 70 is fine.

[Skeletor]

Mine gets up over 65 in the summer very easily, if it gets too high I will run the ceiling fan in the room. That seems to bring it down a bit. In the winter it stays normally around 50 and I have to mist a little bit....I push it up to 60 during a shed by using moss in the winter.

[Snake Judy]

75% or higher is perfectly alright. Humidity in southern Ghana today is 84%. It's 79 in the south of Togo. It rarely dips below 70 in the regions where ball pythons are found in highest numbers.

The only real issue is that high humidity speeds up bacterial growth a bit. Just be a little more vigilant about keeping things clean I guess?

[nightrainfalls]

We have been having thunderstorms and rain for the last month, there is standing water in my yard, so I can't mow the lawn. Humidity outside is around 70% right now, and my enclosures are running between 69% and 99% depending on the location and temperature. (Important note, a BRB lives in the 99% tank, my balls are about 74-79%) Snakes enjoying cooler temps have higher humidity than those that like hot tanks. All of my snakes are currently fine. All of my snakes were fine last year when the same thing happened.

Unless you have a desert species, humidity is not a problem as long as the tank is kept clean. Your snake may actually appreciate the higher humidity, since Ball Pythons are fossorial and spend the day in humid conditions underground. The big problem with humidity comes from standing water and bacterial growth. Standing water is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow in. If you have some uncleaned fecal matter, even a microscopic amount in the cage, then the standing water will be contaminated and start to grow bacteria. For this reason, water should be changed frequently in water dishes. Substrate should be changed regularly and tanks disinfected ounce every week or two.

Do not allow water logged substrate to stay in the cage. Cleanliness will get you through periods of high humidity without a problem. Remember, as long as conditions are clean, your snake is well adapted to seasonal changes in weather. Cages do not have to be kept exactly stable. You just have to make sure you are not too far out of range on the extremes. If you have a variety of temperatures, the snake will move to optimize it's internal condition.


David

[redshepherd]

Thanks for the replies guys! I was just under the impression that ball pythons need 50~60% humidity, so I was trying to get everything perfect. Glad to know that 70% humidity is alright. And yep, buying the cleaning solution now!

Speaking of... would using this chlorhexidine be alright? Is it the same solution as in the gallon?
http://www.amazon.com/Davis-Chlorhex...=Chlorhexidine