Problems right before vacation

[Crazydude]

Hi,

Its my first post, after lurking for awhile, Sorry for the long post.

Anyway, Im just hoping someone can give some suggestions, im leaving tomarrow morning and will be back friday night.

ive searched the forum a bunch of times and havent found anything directly relating to my situation.

Ok to the point, my problem is, my house is normally 15-20% humidity, And my cage requires misting or something similar to keep it in the 40-50 range, and will quickly drop to 25% if given the chance.

What i have doesnt seem to be working heres the set-up.
-20L glass tank, sliding lid, locked in
-2 UTH's one larger one about 1/3 of the tank, on the hot side, ranges from 87-92, other is on the wall, and is about 85, but just keeps the ambient above 72.
-Repti-Temp 500R thermostat
-2 caves
-astroturf
-humid hide
-little container with wet moss that lets out humidity.
-7.5 out of 9.5" of the top is covered with plexi-glas. (whole length, ventilation in long strips on the front and back).
-large water bowl, a small portion near the warm side.

Anyway, is there anything i can do short of having someone come in and check it to keep it exceptable for 5 days?

I had plastic wrap, and it almost seemed to work better, should i go back to that?

as far as eating, he ate last night a 25g weanling-adult mouse, and pooped 2 days ago. (hes 150g, 4 months). Hasn't shed in the almost 3 weeks ive had him but eyes are not really blue nor is he pale.

Also anything else to do before going away?

Thanks a ton

Here is a dim lighted picture of my snake from about 2 weeks ago:

[GirDance]

I would move to the saran wrap, put the water bowl entirely on the hot side, and bump up the temps a bit on the cool side as well.

Also, try to see if a friend can check in once a day and mist or something for you

[ChrisBowsman]

Maybe use cypress bedding (it holds moisture better).

[Crazydude]

thanks,

I took off the plexi, and put the plastic wrap back, and taped all sides down making it like a little tent for humidity. I misted the plastic wrap, and since putting it on, has risen from 40 to now 70%, and still climbing some, ill see how it steadys out, and see if i want to try something else.

I also did move the second smaller UTH to the bottem of the cool side, so its on top of the humid hide, and dry cool hide. Ill check the temps in a minute, i just dont want it to much over 80*F. And i slid the water bowl as far over as i could, its quite large, so only a portion fits because of the cave also has to fit.

Anyway, Ill keep checking, and hopefully, if it stays steady into tomarrow morning, I can mist the tank down good, fill the water bowl all the way, and make sure the humid hide is humid enough, then i guess hope it works.

I cant really have someone come over, my dad doesnt want anyone to come over, because of the alarm, I could if he would let me, i have tons of neighborhood people that i trust that have herps, that could. Thats sort of why i had to ask here, I originally thought plexi would work better thats why i recently switched, i guess not, and i probably should have left what worked instead of tinkering before leaving.

Also, see in the picture, there is some spots that look like white, or opaque, and like it needs to shed? Are those left over shed spots?

Thanks again, Man this forum is responsive,

[eckoxblayze]

Hey, I also have a 20 long for one of my balls. What I did was get 2 UTH's and the ReptiTemp just like you have. I got rid of my heat lamp and covered the entire screen with aluminum foil with the shiny side facing down. Poke a few holes in it, and if you have a large water bowl it should EASILY keep your humidity up. I used coco bark for bedding which keeps moisture pretty well. It's also good because when I do spray it during shedding, the humidity will stay where I want it until I open the top and let some out. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[ChrisBowsman]

Try a wet sponge in a tupperware container. If left for a long time, it would turn into a bacteria breeding ground, but you'd probably be ok for a week or so. Microwaving sponges will keep them sterile, though.

[Crazydude]

I definitally will eventually switch substrates, im starting to learn reptile carpet isnt the best for a ball python when it comes to a few things.

How much ventilation is needed? because i dont want to sufficate him,. right now 75% is covered. and the humidity is now risen to 72%.

what are peoples thoughts about a part of a cage haveing sphangus moss loose? or more of just < 1/3 of the cage just have a big pile of moss?

as for the spunge, i guess my container with moss is what that is, ill also look into that.

Thanks a ton everyone for all the different things to try, Ill keep checking, if it starts to fall a good amount and doesnt steady out, ill try something else.

[JenH]

When one of mine goes blue, I'll pack a large handful of damp moss in a corner on the warm side. That works real well for me and sometimes they move it around so they can lie in it. I don't know if I would use it as the only substrate. But I have seen folks give girls a tub of damp moss to lay eggs in.

[GirDance]

Yes, the spots on the back look a bit like some stuck shed. If it will stay at 72 for now that should be fine for you, usually 70 is optimal during shed time, for the few days you will be gone it will most likely lower again slowely, so having it on the higher end of the acceptible range for now wont' hurt. Plus, even if it stays just above 70 so long as its warm enough you should be good until Friday as well.

Good luck!

[Crazydude]

No, thats exactly what i mean, The cave leaves 2 corners that are empty, so i could pack those with moss (i have a big bag), 1/3-1/4 would be moss, the rest would still be reptile carpet, just a section past the warm side cave would have the moss.

the humidity is right now steady at 71%, no changes except up to 72 and back down a few times. I really think the cool side heat pad, and the plastic wrap did it. If not though, i would use the moss.

I guess ill definitally invest in a nice RBI cage, or similar in the near future, something better at holding humidity other then a tub.

Thanks everyone, Im just going to watch it today, check it throughout the day, if it doesnt drop below 65ish by tonight, then i think i can feel safe that giving it a good misting before i go it will be fine.