Soaking alot, good, bad, normal?

[Reptilian]

I rarely see my BP soaking in his water bowl, He may when i'm not around, but does this mean anything?

When soaking occurs it usually means there is an issue with health or husbandry (mites or humidity). If your bp isn't soaking while you are there, it's a good thing.

If your snake is about to shed, go out and get a misting bottle and spray your bp lightly. It'll have a similar effect to soaking.

If your humidity is too low there are a few things you can do to fix that. Change your heat source to an undertank heater if your using a overhead light, change the substrate to eco earth or a smiliar coconut husked substrate and mist lightly, daily. Or you can cover the top 2/3rds of your cage with seran wrap or a towel after you mist to keep the water vapors in the cage longer.

Just remember don't over do it with the misting bottle you don't want to lead to any other health problems such as scale rot in the future.

[sw204me]

which brings me to my next question, if a UTH can provide 94-96 on the warm side on its own without any help. Do you even need a CHE/over head light?

[rabernet]

which brings me to my next question, if a UTH can provide 94-96 on the warm side on its own without any help. Do you even need a CHE/over head light?

If your room temps are not too cool, and your UTH is controlled by a quality thermostat (Ranco, Johnson's, Helix or Herpstat), yes.

When you take your snake out of the water dish, do you see flecks in the water that looks like pepper or poppy seeds?

[sw204me]

If your room temps are not too cool, and your UTH is controlled by a quality thermostat (Ranco, Johnson's, Helix or Herpstat), yes.

When you take your snake out of the water dish, do you see flecks in the water that looks like pepper or poppy seeds?

nah, water looks just fine. hes getting sex'd tonight, ill have him take a good look for mites though.

[Mighty Monty]

When soaking occurs it usually means there is an issue with health or husbandry (mites or humidity). If your bp isn't soaking while you are there, it's a good thing.

If your snake is about to shed, go out and get a misting bottle and spray your bp lightly. It'll have a similar effect to soaking.

If your humidity is too low there are a few things you can do to fix that. Change your heat source to an undertank heater if your using a overhead light, change the substrate to eco earth or a smiliar coconut husked substrate and mist lightly, daily. Or you can cover the top 2/3rds of your cage with seran wrap or a towel after you mist to keep the water vapors in the cage longer.

Just remember don't over do it with the misting bottle you don't want to lead to any other health problems such as scale rot in the future.

I should probably get an undertank heater, i have a 150watt bulb for a 20 gallon tank, and i use Aspen bedding, which i think just kills the humidity, i have to mist ALOT in order to keep it anywhere close to what it's suppose to be at. Can i use a red bulb during the day, and black at night? or should i not use a red bulb for the day? I've covered the top 2/3s of the cage like in one of the forums suggest, with the tinfoil and duct tape. I'm going to change the bedding.

If i change my heat source to an undertank heater? what should i use as a light source during the day?

[longviewbplover]

I should probably get an undertank heater, i have a 150watt bulb for a 20 gallon tank, and i use Aspen bedding, which i think just kills the humidity, i have to mist ALOT in order to keep it anywhere close to what it's suppose to be at. Can i use a red bulb during the day, and black at night? or should i not use a red bulb for the day? I've covered the top 2/3s of the cage like in one of the forums suggest, with the tinfoil and duct tape. I'm going to change the bedding.

If i change my heat source to an undertank heater? what should i use as a light source during the day?

It might help if you cover the cool side with plastic wrap and tape it down on teh 2/3's you have covered with tin foil. You really need a a UTH. Balls benifit better with belly heat to help when they are digesting thier food. You can use a red heat light to help aide in keeping the hot side heat between 90-95 dregrees. if the UTH isn't getting the temps where they need to be. Also make sure you have a hide on the hot side that is over the UTH with a way to measure the temps in it. My snakes after eating will go straight to the hot hide and begin the digesting process.
If you do use the red heat light, you can leave it on, but make sure you have a thermostat to help regulate the temps. As far as lighting any natural light coming into the room or the room light is really all you need. Since balls are nocturnal(spelling?) the only light needed is whats on during day light hours. They dont see the red heat light other then a heat source.
There are several DIY humidifirs out there, I have built three of them and they work great in keeping my humidity up. Total cost was about 12 bucks each to build.

[sw204me]

there a how to anywhere to build these, Im kidna curious. Once I turned my CHE off humidity wasnt a problem. So im taking back the red and white bulbs back to the store and replacing them with a blue one for at night, and only using the UTH for the hot side, as it can do plenty on its own.

[Mighty Monty]

I really do need to get an UTH, but just haven't had the cash to. I'm having no problem with the Tempatures, they are doing just great, it's just the humidity, and i REALLY think it's because of the Aspen bedding, I got the Ecoearth? i think it's called, the stuff that comes in bricks and will be putting it in tomorrow. I think someone said this will hold the humidity in much better.

I'm however still very confused, i use the red light at night, cool that works, and i use a 150w bulb during the day, If i get an under the tank heater, i put this on the warm side correct? Then what should i use for the daylight bulb? and what wattage?