Quote Originally Posted by dakski View Post
OP, two thoughts.

First, 93F hot spot is probably too hot and 75F likely too cold - Richardhind1972 - want to chime in? I don't keep dwarfs, but I thought care was very close to a BCI, which I do have. I would say 90F hot spot tops. Ideally 88-90F is the range. Mine stays about 88-89F and my BCI female (Behira) spends most of her time closer to ambient temps or a little above. My ambient temp in her cage is about 82F, the cool spot is about 78F, and her hot side is about 84-89F (the highest being on the hot spot). The cool spot, IMO, should be 77-78F at the lowest. Ideally 78-80F cool spot, 82-84 ambient (give or take a degree), with a 88-90F hot spot.

Secondly, and again, Richardhind1972, or Phillydubs (who also keeps dwarf Boas), should chime in if able, the humidity, as Richardhind1972 said, is probably a little high. HOWEVER, new keepers often get freaked out about spikes and drops in things like humidity and temperature. Obviously, really not desired with temperature, hence using thermostats (for safety as well), temp gauges, etc. However, things like humidity are much harder to keep in range as seasons and temperatures change.

For example, I keep Behira about 55-65% in the winter and raise to 75-80% for sheds. In the summer, the tank averages 65-70% humidity and I still raise slightly for sheds. However, I take these averages over a long period of time. Weeks or months. Any given day, it can be 75% in her tank in the summer, or 50% in the winter.

I generally do not allow below 50% for more than 1-2 days and get the humidity up fast when it's really dry. However, 55% - 60%, although a little low, is fine for a week (assuming she's not shedding), when it's really dry in the house.

My point is, 80% humidity won't kill your Boa for a day or two. Let things stabilize. For two weeks at 80% +, you potentially are asking for higher risk of an RI, etc., but not for a day or two. Make minor adjustments until you have it better, NOT DRASTIC ADJUSTMENTS!

Drastic changes in humidity, and especially temperature can be dangerous. Small adjustments are not. Take your time, get it dialed in, and slowly and prudently. Too often I see keepers get upset because the hot spot is 87F instead of 89F. They turn the thermostat (or worse the heating device without having a thermostat) up too high and that can kill an animal.

Remember, with humidity, small adjustments over time are fine. Don't do anything drastic, as major adjustments can stress your snake. With temperature, this is especially true; slow and steady wins the race.

Stay calm and keep us in the loop. We are here to help.
Thanks so much for the detailed response. I've lowered the hot spot to 90, and by keeping an eye on the AC I should be able to maintain around 78 which it's at now. Ambient at the warm side is right at 84, phew! So I do think my biggest problem right now is humidity; you're right, I've realized that it's much harder to control than the temps. My plan now is to get some holes drilled in the lid ASAP and hope it won't affect the temps too much (also a bit worried it won't help much at all, we'll see). If that doesn't work, I might switch the substrate out for paper towel or newspaper, or try digging out a fan I know I have somewhere. Crossing my fingers that extra ventilation will be enough!

So I guess the consensus is that constant 80+ humidity is bad, even when the environment is kept clean and dry? I honestly never imagined I'd have trouble with too high humidity, throughout my research I'd come to associate high humidity requirements with high difficulty, lol.