Is 50 - 60% humidity really optimum for a Burm or Retic?

[Valyrian]

I've read many times that 50 - 60% is the optimum humidity outside of shed.

I've tried a few substrates with my Burm but Eco Earth is the absolute best in all regards. It holds humidity, it absorbs waste and smells, it's easily passed through the digestion tract if ingested and it looks great. But more than anything, my Burm loves to poop on it ha ha

I generally keep her at 50 - 60% humidity with a spike of around 70% when I spray her twice a day (I increase that to around 80% during shed). But she only seems to poop when the Eco Earth is fresh and north of 90% humidity for the first couple of days until it dries out a little.

I bathe her 3 days after each weekly feed but she only produces urates and she hates to be in the water regardless of the temperature. So I have to sort of play with her in there so she stays in the water.

So what are your thoughts? Is 50 - 60% humidity enough or should it be maintained higher? How high is too much humidity to be safe?

Added a pic just because I love this girl

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[Sauzo]

I keep all my boas and retic around 75-85% humidity. It keeps their skins nice and silky smooth especially Caesar who when he is kept drier, his skin tends to get kind of rough feeling if that makes sense.

I never mist my cages anymore since i put in live plants and cypress.

As for safe levels, i think anything that doesnt have condensation pouring down the sides or dripping off the roof of the cage is good. You also dont want the substrate constantly wet. A lot of people associate wetness with humidity which is right in a sense but us as snake keepers are looking for high relative humidity but with a drier substrate. That is why i use large water bowls and live potted plants. Keeps the snakes floor fairly dry so they dont develop scale rot or promoting a breeding ground for bacteria.

[Team Slytherin]

She’s looking great and growing fast! This is an interesting question. I will preface by saying that I do not keep this species. However, based on its natural distribution, I would assume a Burm would thrive in a higher humidity environment. Of course, we know they are a hardy species and highly adaptable, but I looked up weather forecasts in many of the places in their natural range and it seems humidity in the 70’s would be perfectly appropriate.

I think “50-60%” is probably an average that was agreed upon based on the fact that they can be found in a variety of habitats (grasslands, rainforest, etc). But for a species that hails from Southeast Asia and outlying islands, my instinct would be to replicate humidity levels naturally found in those regions. Again, I don’t keep burns, so if someone chimes in with contradictory advice, that in no way hurts my feelings.

Also, is there a specific reason for the baths?

[Valyrian]

She’s looking great and growing fast! This is an interesting question. I will preface by saying that I do not keep this species. However, based on its natural distribution, I would assume a Burm would thrive in a higher humidity environment. Of course, we know they are a hardy species and highly adaptable, but I looked up weather forecasts in many of the places in their natural range and it seems humidity in the 70’s would be perfectly appropriate.

I think “50-60%” is probably an average that was agreed upon based on the fact that they can be found in a variety of habitats (grasslands, rainforest, etc). But for a species that hails from Southeast Asia and outlying islands, my instinct would be to replicate humidity levels naturally found in those regions. Again, I don’t keep burns, so if someone chimes in with contradictory advice, that in no way hurts my feelings.

Also, is there a specific reason for the baths?

Thanks ☺ it's a tough one because I googled humidity all over their natural range one day and had results ranging from 40% up to 70%. I'm gonna add a live plant like Sauzo does and aim for 70% and see how she goes. I'm just worried about RIs etc.

To be honest I only bathe her because I've seen loads of other Burm keepers doing it for hydration. I'm new to this species so I'm trusting what the majority are doing.

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[Team Slytherin]

I found that, too, so I bet it is frustrating! But yeah, what Sauzo said about 75-85% sounds about right to me. As long as there is good ventilation and the ground doesn’t stay wet, you should be solid. I added a couple orchids to my scrubs cage and it seems to help with the humidity quite a bit. She looks killer!

[Alter-Echo]

Typically, RI's won't occur in tropical species as long as temps stay in the optimal range. I keep my water python in humidity well above 75% with no issue and her temps range from 90- 78f

[Valyrian]

I found that, too, so I bet it is frustrating! But yeah, what Sauzo said about 75-85% sounds about right to me. As long as there is good ventilation and the ground doesn’t stay wet, you should be solid. I added a couple orchids to my scrubs cage and it seems to help with the humidity quite a bit. She looks killer!

These snakes are great, you should get one if you have the space. She's always been really chilled from the first day I got her. Been hook training her too so i can gently hold her head to inspect her and she doesn't mind at all. She does hiss a little when I pick her up but has never struck or musked. When rats are around that's another story though lol.

Do the orchids need UV light?

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[Valyrian]

Typically, RI's won't occur in tropical species as long as temps stay in the optimal range. I keep my water python in humidity well above 75% with no issue and her temps range from 90- 78f

That's good the hear. Do any of you use eco earth? I found the whole room would smell of poop/urates before I started using it.

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[Sauzo]

Ri's arent going to just randomly pop up. If you keep the cage too wet and too cold or too hot and too dry, then you then snake can get it. Bacteria are all around us and for the most part, our immune systems can fight them off or keep them in check. It's when the immune system gets weakened by low humidity which can cause the lung to crack which allows bacteria to enter or if the snake is kept too cold and too wet which allows bacteria to get a hold. So like Alter said, i really wouldnt be too worried about a species that is meant/used to higher humidity getting an RI as long as your husbandry is correct.

As for bathing to keep the snake hydrated, snakes skin arent like amphibians. They dont absorb or expel water through it. They can absorb water through their vent though and from drinking. As long as you keep the humidity correct and offer clean water to drink at all times, you shouldnt need to bathe your snake unless it body paints with poop or piss lol.

I personally hate Eco Earth. Way too fine of grind and it doesnt seem to hold humidity very well. Being such small little particles, it seems to release the water too fast. It's kind of the reason i am actually not a huge fan of the Reptile Prime after using it. I prefer chunkier stuff like ReptiChips and now cypress. The stuff holds a lot of water and since the pieces are pretty big, it seems to release it a lot slower or just has more mass to absorb water so holds more. But anyways, I really like cypress. Never used it before but now. I'm pretty much sold on the stuff. Like i said, cypress, ReptiChips and aspen are my big 3.

[Team Slytherin]

These snakes are great, you should get one if you have the space. She's always been really chilled from the first day I got her. Been hook training her too so i can gently hold her head to inspect her and she doesn't mind at all. She does hiss a little when I pick her up but has never struck or musked. When rats are around that's another story though lol.

Do the orchids need UV light?

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They are a beautiful species! I’m embarrassed to say I kept one briefly when I was 13...long before internet care sheets or I was an actual responsible human being🙄 I’d like to revisit the species someday, but for now, burms and Los Angeles apartments are not the best mix😂 I would want to be sure I could provide adequate space for it to have a happy life. Someday!

As for the orchids, I’m honestly not sure. There is a basking light in the enclosure and it receives natural light from a window, so it seems to be ok so far. It’s gotta have some UV light to synthesize food, but orchids do best with indirect sun anyway.