Wet substrate help

[bpgal9315]

Hey guys. So I am a first time reptile owner. I own a normal female bp. I have done endless research to know how to care for her, but I am currently having a problem. When I got her she wasn't in proper conditions. She came in a mesh top 36 gal fish tank, with only a huge wooden hide a water bowl and a day light. I got her a cave hide some other decorations, a night lamp and most recently a reptifogger. I want to get her a uth also. Anyways. I've been running the fogger a few days to keep her humidity at 60. Before during day without it, it was 20-30 and at night 40. But what I am finding is the fogger has made almost her entire bedding wet and cold. Which I know is capable of giving her scale rot, bacteria, and is just too cold for her. I run it all day on the lowest setting, and I constantly check to ensure temperatures stay perfect as well as humidity %. I am going to turn her cave around so humidity doesnt slip in and wet under there also. Any ideas on fixes I want everything to be perfect for her. But Im scared I may just have to put her in a tub with a uth... because if I cant keep temperatures and humidity correct with wet bedding.... gah . Help! I attached a photo of her and her tank


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[beeze]

I'd recommend most definitely getting a UTH, number one. Number two, I'd ditch the fogger and use this instead: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tank+treatment
I used this tutorial and it immensely helped with controlling humidity! What kind of substrate are you using? I recommend using coconut fiber substrate, since it holds humidity well. I use both of these in my BPs 29 gallon tank, along with a UTH on a thermostat and a heat lamp on a timer. His ambient temps stay around 82, hot side around 90, and cool side around 80. Depending on how humid it is here, his humidity stays around 40-60 with the tank screen treatment and coconut substrate. Hope this helps!

[M.P.C]

You can not use the fogger cover mojority of the mesh top with foil and just mist when you see the humidity dropping below where you want it.. i keep hearing about people having this same problem with using foggers. Also how are you measuring humidity and temps?

[bpgal9315]

Thank you for the quick replies. I have tried misting. And covering half of the tank with warm clothes and tinfoil and the humidity never rose above 40%. This is why I bought the fogger originally. And I have a temp gauge and humidity one also. Just the little ones that look like clocks with the hands. Not digital. I have an a/c running in my room so although its humid outside my bedroom is very cold and dry. I have no problems with her temps just humidity

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[bpgal9315]

Also her temps i like at 90-95 on hot side for day and 80-85 at night and no more than 10 degree drop for cool side. I switch her bulbs manually as I have only one dome, so I have her on 12 hour intervals. Also she has aspen bedding.

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[DVirginiana]

And I have a temp gauge and humidity one also. Just the little ones that look like clocks with the hands. Not digital.

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There's your problem. Those are pretty much useless and give out wildly incorrect readings. The hygrometer and thermometer too. You're going to want digital ones. I would personally only use a reptifogger for something tropical like certain frog species that needs it to stay really wet, otherwise you're going to end up with exactly the problems you're describing.

[bpgal9315]

Yeah I never read about the wetness problem before so I thought it would be great. And good idea I will order digital readers and see where I am at with everything thanks guys. Also I've been told that bark and stuff isn't the best bedding because it is rough. And that aspen is best. But is there any safe others that hold humidity and woukd be good for her? If I still have troubles in the end with humidity etc then I am just going to use a tub for her i have a nice sized one.

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[DVirginiana]

Yeah I never read about the wetness problem before so I thought it would be great. And good idea I will order digital readers and see where I am at with everything thanks guys. Also I've been told that bark and stuff isn't the best bedding because it is rough. And that aspen is best. But is there any safe others that hold humidity and woukd be good for her? If I still have troubles in the end with humidity etc then I am just going to use a tub for her i have a nice sized one.

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I use cypress mulch and it holds the humidity really well. Other people use orchid bark, and sometimes eco earth. IMO aspen doesn't do a great job at holding humidity. Another option is to fill a hide with wet sphagnum moss. That stuff really retains moisture and will boost humidity.

[bpgal9315]

Wouldn't cypress mulch be just as bad as wet substrate lol. I know bps aren't supposed to be super wet. I've read best about aspen than any others. But definitely a downfall it doesnt hold humidity. Tomorrow I am going to go out and get a digital reader see where my stats really are. And i put a towel over half her tank to try to hold in the humidity. I ran the fogger a few times today for only a few minutes to act as a mist. Still need a uth which will prolly help also. And ill keep an eye on her next shed. She must be pretty happy considering her personality and the way she eats. But if in the end her sheds not that great I may just tub her. Anyone feel free to send pictures of your set ups and how you run things. Im new to this

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[Penultimate]

Wouldn't cypress mulch be just as bad as wet substrate lol. I know bps aren't supposed to be super wet. I've read best about aspen than any others. But definitely a downfall it doesnt hold humidity. Tomorrow I am going to go out and get a digital reader see where my stats really are. And i put a towel over half her tank to try to hold in the humidity. I ran the fogger a few times today for only a few minutes to act as a mist. Still need a uth which will prolly help also. And ill keep an eye on her next shed. She must be pretty happy considering her personality and the way she eats. But if in the end her sheds not that great I may just tub her. Anyone feel free to send pictures of your set ups and how you run things. Im new to this

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Not at all. Cypress mulch is wonderful for keeping humidity up but staying dry itself. I use it for one of my ball pythons and my Brazilian rainbow boa. The humidity can easily be raised with it, but it's hardly damp to the touch.