humidity question

[ja88er]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice and options for keeping the humidity up in my ball's tub enclosure! I've read some conflicting information - that humidity should be around 80%, but also that good airflow is needed and that soaked substrate can cause problems - and I'm not sure how exactly to achieve that. Proper ventilation seems to drop the humidity too fast, and misting/spraying isn't doing the trick.

Does anyone have any tricks or methods they like for keeping humidity where it should be?

[wnateg]

I wouldn't go higher than 70% humidity, but even in the 50s is good enough. 80 would be too high.

[ja88er]

Thanks for the concern, 80% is the level I've been advised by an exotic animals vet, and currently I'm looking for options and methods to maintain that level. As it is, spraying/misting isn't maintaining even 50% with adequate ventilation.

[Turningstar]

Regular humidity in the 50-60% range is good. Bump it to 70% or so when going into shed.
You can achieve this by misting once a day (depending on substrate). Coco coir is nice because you can wet it and squeeze out the extra water and it stays moist for a while. Problems arise when bacteria is present (poop, urine) and the snake stays in damp dirty substrate. If your coco doesnt drip out water when squeezed in your hand, but does lightly stick to your skin, its good.

Sent from my LM-X220 using Tapatalk

[Turningstar]

Does your vet have a particular reason for such high humidity?

Sent from my LM-X220 using Tapatalk

[ja88er]

As I've said, misting and spraying the substrate has not maintained the correct humidity inside the enclosure; even if I were not aiming for a higher humidity, misting hasn't been able to maintain 50% humidity at minimum. I am using coco substrate, but it's losing moisture faster than spraying can replace it, and I'm not comfortable fully saturating the substrate whenever it gets too dry. I'm looking for other methods of humidifying the air inside the enclosure.

My vet recommends 80% humidity because that is what ball pythons are exposed to in their natural habitats, and the goal of exotic husbandry is to mimic those conditions as closely as possible without causing risk to the animal. I trust my vet's experience that 80% is not hazardous.

[Craiga 01453]

As I've said, misting and spraying the substrate has not maintained the correct humidity inside the enclosure; even if I were not aiming for a higher humidity, misting hasn't been able to maintain 50% humidity at minimum. I am using coco substrate, but it's losing moisture faster than spraying can replace it, and I'm not comfortable fully saturating the substrate whenever it gets too dry. I'm looking for other methods of humidifying the air inside the enclosure.

My vet recommends 80% humidity because that is what ball pythons are exposed to in their natural habitats, and the goal of exotic husbandry is to mimic those conditions as closely as possible without causing risk to the animal. I trust my vet's experience that 80% is not hazardous.

Time to find a new vet. Unfortunately, many vets don't know a lot about snakes outside of what they leaned in a textbook. More often than not, they don't keep reptiles as pets and never have. 80s is way too high for a BP. The 50s is ideal.

If you ask around I'm sure you'll get plenty of experienced keepers telling you 80 is too high.

[ja88er]

My vet does keep reptiles as pets, actually, including ball pythons, and my own research into the areas of West Africa ball pythons are native to supports my vet's advice.

Regardless, I would like an answer to my initial question - what other methods of humidity control are available? Misting/spraying has not worked to maintain even the lowest end of the humidity range recommended here, and I would like a solution to that.

[Craiga 01453]

My vet does keep reptiles as pets, actually, including ball pythons, and my own research into the areas of West Africa ball pythons are native to supports my vet's advice.

Regardless, I would like an answer to my initial question - what other methods of humidity control are available? Misting/spraying has not worked to maintain even the lowest end of the humidity range recommended here, and I would like a solution to that.

Ok, then you do your thing. Good luck.

[Eramyl]

Cover the top of your enclosure with tin foil. Three quarters will suffice.