Shed and humidity questions

[prettyviolet]

Hi again. Thanks for all your help with my earlier pooping question! My new question is should I worry about going on vacation for 5 days and leaving Violet in the begining of a shed? We have only had her about 6 weeks and this is the first shed for her with us. I guess I'm assuming that's what it is because she has the eye caps, is looking a little foggy and has not come out of her hide for 3 days. Is this all normal? I've read the temps should be 55-60% and I don't know how to maintain that while we're gone. I mist her tank and have wet towels on the top and it is fine but if I stop the humidity goes to about 45%. I do have a large bowl of fresh water on the warm side under a ceramic light to help the humidity but that alone does not do it. Thanks for any advice in advance

[daniel1983]

I would put a humid hide in the enclosure. Humid hides are alot less work and offer the snake a range of humidity conditions instead of forcing it into one specific condition.

Get a plastic container, cut a hole in the top, and fill it with damp (not wet) papertowels or moss. It will usually go 3-4 days until you need to mist the hide again.

I have never had a bad shed when a humid hide is provided.

[Spaniard]

If you can't keep the humidity up while your gone then there is nothing you can really do except hope for the best when you come back. Is there anyone that can mist the cage for you while you're gone?

If not I wouldn't worry to much, a stuck shed is easily fixed with a soak in warm water and a damp towel.

[prettyviolet]

Thanks for the info! I will try the humid hide since I don't have anyone that can mist our tank.

[the_Ryno]

I would put a humid hide in the enclosure. Humid hides are alot less work and offer the snake a range of humidity conditions instead of forcing it into one specific condition.

Get a plastic container, cut a hole in the top, and fill it with damp (not wet) papertowels or moss. It will usually go 3-4 days until you need to mist the hide again.

I have never had a bad shed when a humid hide is provided.

If I have a Humid hide, would to be ok to keep the ambient humidity around 50%?

[daniel1983]

You have a warm spot and cool spot inside your enclosure creating a temperature range. Why not do the same with humidity range? The humid hide is one way to offer a range of humidities. Having the entire enclosure at 50%-60% humidity without a humid retreat is the same as having the entire enclosure at 85F without a hot spot....humidity ranges are great for the reptile.

An enclosure humidity of 50% that has a humid hide of 90% humidity provides a pretty wide range and should be fine for most pythons.

[ThuSandman]

A HUMID-HIDE!!!!! I bet THAT will help my humidity issue!!! You guys are great!

[starmom]

Just make sure the ambient humidity is still in the acceptable range.