Do you all mist your carpet enclosures?

[EL-Ziggy]

I've noticed my humidity dipping into the low 30%s at times. Normally it's in the 40-60% range. Should I mist the enclosures every once in awhile?

[wendhend]

I don't mist my carpets at all, and they always have perfect sheds. I give them large water bowls, heat with under tank heaters rather than heat lamps and cover their enclosure screen tops with fake leather the size of the screen area, which seems to keep their humidity about 60%.

[EL-Ziggy]

@ Wend- I'm using UTH's which give me a great hot spot of about 88F. My ambient temps would be in the mid-high 70's during the day and the low 70s at night without the heat bulbs. I was under the impression that carpets do best with ambient temps of about 82 so I as using the heat bulbs to boost those ambient temps. Can I kill the heat bulbs and stick with the UTH only? I'm definitely switching to RHPs when I move them into their individual adult enclosures next year but I have to make this one work for now.

[Prognathodon]

I mist lightly when they're in shed, and haven't yet had problems. But this is the first winter with them, so that could change.


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[Reinz]

I don't mist any of my enclosures. Though I used to. I found a much more simple, long-acting method. Plus no shedding problems.

I use thin layers of coconut and cypress (on top). That way if they need a boost, I just poor water directly on top. This doesn't leave a soggy mess like Aspen.

I just boost every week or three depending on need and sheds.


Esmarelda, Jungle Carpet


Looking at the lower right corner, you can see the coconut blow the cypress.

[xcjumper]

Reina-does it work better layering the coconut husk on the bottom and then cypress on top? I've been mixing the two together. My problem is not necessarily the humidity but I have to use a bulb to keep the temps up in the cage otherwise they are high 60's without it. (I'm talking about winter time)

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stupid auto correct *Reinz

[Reinz]

Reina-does it work better layering the coconut husk on the bottom and then cypress on top? I've been mixing the two together. My problem is not necessarily the humidity but I have to use a bulb to keep the temps up in the cage otherwise they are high 60's without it. (I'm talking about winter time)

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stupid auto correct *Reinz

I reckon my post didn't read quite right. I do put the cypress on top.

I don't know if it is better than mixing. I've never mixed them before.

It sounds like it should work as well.

I always water more heavily below the heat source since that area will gas off more quickly. I believe that area is more of a humidity generation source as well as being quicker generating as well.

[Gio]

Zig,

I saw your post on another forum as well. I think you should can the heat lamps, cover the top where the cutouts are on the outside, and install RHPs for your ambient temps. You could easily mount them over the holes on the inside and depending on the size, they would cover it all up. Just make sure to lay down some decent reflective insulation on the outside cover to avoid heat loss.

RHPs seem to be the heat source of choice by the folks that participated in THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON.

They do a wonderful job with hot spots and ambient temps.

If you use perches of any type or plan to, you will have multi-level temps zones and well as various zones on the cage floor.


You can see the mount up here. I think this panel would cover any light cutout.




I do mist, but not a lot. This cage has cypress sub, and a large water bowel on the right. The rubber, rock background seems to help retain moisture as well. Of my 3 cages, this one needs the least amount of misting.

[EL-Ziggy]

Thanks Gio. I'm definitely switching to RHP's when these two outgrow this divided T8. The carpets are both going into 4x2x2s. I'll have the RHP's installed when I order the new enclosures. I agree they're a more efficient heat source. I realize now that the heat bulbs really weren't the problem. I'm in the Southeast where it's normally pretty humid. We had some dry air and colder temps that dropped the humidity down into the 30s. That's what got me concerned. I added a moist hide, which the jungle never used, and lightly misted his enclosure twice. He had another perfect shed yesterday. Today the humidity in the carpets enclosure with the heat bulbs was 42%. It was 44-46% in the other three enclosures that have uth's only.

[Gio]

Thanks Gio. I'm definitely switching to RHP's when these two outgrow this divided T8. The carpets are both going into 4x2x2s. I'll have the RHP's installed when I order the new enclosures. I agree they're a more efficient heat source. I realize now that the heat bulbs really weren't the problem. I'm in the Southeast where it's normally pretty humid. We had some dry air and colder temps that dropped the humidity down into the 30s. That's what got me concerned. I added a moist hide, which the jungle never used, and lightly misted his enclosure twice. He had another perfect shed yesterday. Today the humidity in the carpets enclosure with the heat bulbs was 42%. It was 44-46% in the other three enclosures that have uth's only.

Perfect size! Nick Mutton uses that size, and he and Ed from Pro-Line are good buds.

Sounds like you have it all figured out. I'm looking forward to seeing your setup.

This is a panned out shot of my carpet python cage.