Hard time keeping humidity and temperatures at correct temps for my female ball pytho

[BryantDeslaurier]

I went in to petco the other day to get food for my corn snake and they had a ball python that needed a home so I said I'd take care of her Iv been having a hard time getting eveything set up for her any suggestions. Her hot side is at 93.6 and cool side at 80 but cant keep humidity up at these temps here's a video of my set up thanks for help just want her to have a healthy life

[Stewart_Reptiles]

First to appropriately keep your snake you eed to ditch the gauges, they are very inaccurate and you need to get reading with a digital thermometer/hygromer, then once you have accurate readings you can work from there and see if adjustments need to be made.

[BryantDeslaurier]

That's a digital thermometer in the back have the probe placed on the warm side witch reads 93.8

[Stewart_Reptiles]

That's a digital thermometer in the back have the probe placed on the warm side witch reads 93.8

Obviously I am not talking about the warm side I am talking about the gauges on the cool side reading the temp on the cool side and the humidity.

[BryantDeslaurier]

My bad thought I could just move the probe to the cool side when I need to check that side and gauge was good for when I wasn't checking it they already sold me so much stuff I didnt need trying avoid buying anymore I also have a heating pad that they said would be all I needed at first (petco people have no idea what there talking about) should I try unplugging heating pad will that help keep humidity

[Pezz]

My bad thought I could just move the probe to the cool side when I need to check that side and gauge was good for when I wasn't checking it they already sold me so much stuff I didnt need trying avoid buying anymore I also have a heating pad that they said would be all I needed at first (petco people have no idea what there talking about) should I try unplugging heating pad will that help keep humidity

Did they sell you a thermostat as well?

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[Stewart_Reptiles]

should I try unplugging heating pad will that help keep humidity

Your main issue with humidity are heat lamp they will dry out the enclosure so to counter that you need to use a substrate such as Coco Chips type bedding which will hold humidity better, however there is a fine line and you must make sure that your substrate is not damp either.

[Moshimaru]

I currently have the same tank, water dish, and I also had the same non-digital thermometer/hydrometer set. I recently replaced the analog thermometer and hydrometer with a digital thermo-hydrometer. I am going to replace my current tank with an AP T8, but for the time, this is how I keep my guy's heat and humidity at a comfortable level for him.

I have an under tank heater and two heat lamps. I use a 75 watt lamp from Exo Terra during the day, and a 50 watt lamp from Exo Terra at night. These are each attached to a thermostat when in use, which is set in the low 90s during the day, and the high 80s at night. I place it on the warm side of his tank (his water is on the opposite side). This takes care of the temperature. (I should also mention that I keep all of my heat sources hooked up to thermostats.)

If I don't do anything for humidity, the humidity drops in his cage very quickly, even if I spray it down. I'm currently using cypress mulch, which holds humidity pretty well at first, but will not keep it high enough after it has been in there for a few days. (I'm going to eventually try coconut husk, when the cypress runs out, as I've heard it's great for humidity). I also sprinkle sphagnum moss throughout his tank (ie: near his hide, near his water dish, etc.) I put more in there when he's shedding. Lastly, I place a wet towel folded up on the cool half of his screen. When he is in shed, I wet the towel with warm water twice a day. When he's not in shed, I wet it when I see his humidity has fallen. (Don't cover more than half of the screen with the towel!) Here is the article that taught me the towel method. I switch between two towels, and trade them every few days, so that I can wash the one that has been sitting there.


I have actually only needed to use the towel when he is not in shed for the last few weeks, as it's gotten colder, and I've had to start using the heat in the house. Before that, I just sprayed down his cage and used sphagnum moss. I also covered half of the screen with a silicon baking mat (It was not this exact one, but something similar.)


All of this being said, I do realize that things will be much easier to maintain once I get a reptile specific cage from Animal Plastics with an RHP and UTH. But for now, it works okay for my guy. He has never refused a meal, and just finished shedding, which came off in one big, perfect piece, eyecaps and all. I'm still pretty new to snake husbandry myself, and am not a professional by any means. This is just based on research that I have done, and what has worked for me.


Good luck with your new ball!