Humidity question

[Cummins09]

Ok this might be a stupid question but i adopted a BP yesterday and it came with everything i needed besides a under tank heater which i will get one soon but i sprayed the cage and the humidity went up a little bit but then dropped to like 35% the water bowl was at one side and the heat lamp was at the other. i put a wet towel over the cage but it didnt help much so i moved the heat lamp over the water bowl and put the towel on the other side and the humidity went to 55% so ik thats right but is it bad to have the water bowel under the heat lamp?????? i have aspen bedding in there which i dont like cause it seems to dry but the lady at the pet store said he dont like the cypress mulch and if i changed him to it then i could run in to problems like him not eating and stressing him out and other problems. Im new to this so if anyone can help i would really appreciate it.

[Yodawagon]

Using a overhead heat source will make maintaining hummidity hard In a aquarium. I assume you're using a aquarium with a screen top? I would get a under tank heat pad and a quality thermostat. Get rid of the heat lamp, ball pythons are nocturnal, so they don't need supplemental light. Also, what are you measuring hummidity and temperature with? Don't use a dial thermometer, get a digital.

[Cummins09]

I planed on getting an undertank heater. and yes im using a aquarium with a screen top. and im using a dial thermometer for right now im getting all digital gauges soon. Does it hurt for it to be over the water bowel for right now? till i can get everything. i half to order a thermostat cause none of the stores around me sell them so i dont want to put a UTH on till i get that.

[LittleTreeGuy]

as long as the water isn't too hot to drink, it should be fine. I think if the water isn't over 88 degrees or so, it's probably fine. You can also add a few more water bowls, or place a wet sponge or two in the tank. that can help.

[About13monkeys]

When I have had to use a tank in a pinch, I turn it on its side so the top is now in front. Use an under tank heater or flex watt and sphagnum moss as substrate. The moss keeps moisture very well, you can pick some up at Home Depot just rinse extremely well and microwave it for 10 minutes. If you plan on using a tank long term, you can get some plexiglass, drill holes in it for air and make them sliding doors or just add a lock. If you can't do that right away, cover the sides, top and back plus part of the screen with foam board to add insulation and keep temp and humidity within ranges. I have seen some really cool looking aquariums setups done like this!!

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When I have had to use a tank in a pinch, I turn it on its side so the top is now in front. Use an under tank heater or flex watt and sphagnum moss as substrate. The moss keeps moisture very well, you can pick some up at Home Depot just rinse extremely well and microwave it for 10 minutes. If you plan on using a tank long term, you can get some plexiglass, drill holes in it for air and make them sliding doors or just add a lock. If you can't do that right away, cover the sides, top and back plus part of the screen with foam board to add insulation and keep temp and humidity within ranges. I have seen some really cool looking aquariums setups done like this!!

[Scottywelsh]

Hey. For glass vivs with screen tops sphagnum moss is a god send but ,in my opinion, is really not good as substrate !! It is far too wet for a ball python and can cause scale rot. When I used a screen top viv with a ceramic bulb I would put sphagnum moss all around the viv but used bark chips as a substrate. . Bark chips holds humidity really well and is not wet enough to cause scale rot. . I never used a towel over the top because of the ceramic gets pretty hot so didn't want to risk it. I just used tin foil and it worked really well for me . . . . Using this I never had a bad shed
Very difficult to keep heat in them so an UTH will probably not be able to do it on its own so you probably will have to keep the lamp as well just please make sure everything is on a thermostat or you will definitely burn your snake.
I also had a water bowl under the ceramic heat lamp and on on the cold side so she had a choice. . Just remember the temps of the water. If It got to the 100f mark I'd move it.
Good Luck

[Scottywelsh]

Oh yes and pretty much all hygrometers are off quite a bit so get a digital one and use the "salt test" to check humidity reading. I have 3 exo terra ones and there very different. On is 2% off one is a out 12% off and the other 20 - 25% off so it's good to do the test on all of them just so you know where you are

[About13monkeys]

I have never heard of the "salt test", can you explain?

Also, I believe it depends on where you live, how often you replace the moss and how often you check on the moisture level of the moss. I have not used the moss here in Missouri during the summer yet because I just switched to it last December. Our home is pretty dry, so if they dump their water I just change it out. No scale rot or any problems so far but I also keep my humidity a tad higher than most at around 70 and everyone is checked on several times a day. Sheds are perfect and they all love to burrow under it, very cute to open a tub and see a little head pop up!
I do believe I may have to do a mix of coconut and moss during the humid months but will wait and see.

[Eric Alan]

I have never heard of the "salt test", can you explain?

https://youtu.be/amSMJ2pUIdE

[Cummins09]

Thanks for all the info the water hasn't gotten hot and I got all digital thermometer and hygrometer. My temps are good but my humidity is back to fighting me. I'm going to try the moss and see if that helps I have some plexi glass over it to help.