Tub Problems...

[ErikBush97]

Hello, everyone. I recently switched my Ball to a Tub, from a Terrarium. Everything is working great, except for the humidity... It is staying at about 50-60% humidity which is perfect but it is also making the enclosure extremely damp/wet. Can't a Damp/wet enclosure cause skin infections and other problems as well? I switched out the wet bedding and replaced it with dry bedding, and I dried all the hides, walls, and lid of the enclosure about an hour ago, but that's besides the point. I switched to a tub to eliminate the need to mist every couple of hours. I'd much rather mist every couple hours, than change bedding every couple of hours. Anyways, Please leave suggestions as to How I'd get rid of some of that wetness/dampness or if that's fine for a Ball Python, and I shouldn't worry about it.

P.S. The reason I say "wetness/dampness" is because it's too wet to call it damp, and it's too damp to call it wet.

[Lankyrob]

Constant wetness isnt a good thing, you want humidity in the air not wetness on the floor, havent ever used tubs tho so will let someone else advise how to help.

[Amadeus]

I have my current BCI in a tub and if you put more holes into the lid and sides it will help more water to evaporate, be careful not to put too many though.

[ErikBush97]

I have my current BCI in a tub and if you put more holes into the lid and sides it will help more water to evaporate, be careful not to put too many though.

Thanks :) Here's the ventilation system I have.
I will go buy like.. 3 - 4 small ones (they're like the size of a quarter) and put them on the side of the tub.

[Mikoh4792]

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

[Amadeus]

Thanks :) Here's the ventilation system I have.
I will go buy like.. 3 - 4 small ones (they're like the size of a quarter) and put them on the side of the tub.

NP man, and what are you using as a screen there? I'm just interested as I never thought of that =]

[Terranaut]

It's a sink drain catch.
I think your just used to the old setup you had drying out in a couple hours. If it is wet a day or so it's fine. Wet for a couple weeks is not. When you mist now with a tub you don't need to drench it down. Just a light mist will do. Wait a week and let us know. Also your humidity sounds wrong to have wetness in the tub. Where is the probe located?

[bigsnakegirl785]

I don't mist my tubs, since I was having the same issue as you. Instead, I pour water into the bedding and mix it up. Of course, that might not work for you, it could depend on the bedding.

[smy_749]

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

Humidity is the % of water vapor in the air. A wet enclosure is not a humid one. I have humid enclosures with no condensation or wet spots in them. Also, warmer air is easier to keep humid than cold air. (thats why you see condensation on cold glasses etc.)

Just put a water bowl, don't mist at all, and check the humidity after a bit.

[Mikoh4792]

Humidity is the % of water vapor in the air. A wet enclosure is not a humid one. I have humid enclosures with no condensation or wet spots in them. Also, warmer air is easier to keep humid than cold air. (thats why you see condensation on cold glasses etc.)

Just put a water bowl, don't mist at all, and check the humidity after a bit.

You are telling me things I already know. I have already pointed that fact out to other members here. However, speaking from experience a damp/wet tub is a humid tub. Tubs are usually short in height and the humidity inside a damp/wet tub will be drastically higher than the humidity in a damp/wet enclosure/tank. With that quarter sized hole as his only ventilation in his tub, a damp/wet environment will not keep his enclosure at 50-60%, it will be much higher.

Edit: I don't understand why you mentioned it being easier to keep humidity in warmer air than in colder air. It doesn't further your argument. Snake tubs/enclosures will be warm, therefore more humidity. You combine warm air, water bowl, damp/wet environment and you have a very humid enclosure. A little too humid for his type of snake, and most likely more humid than his analog humidity/thermometers are reading.

[smy_749]

ok sorry :P my eyes hurt and I haven't been following all the responses. Time for bed.....

[ErikBush97]

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

Thanks for the suggestion! I am still using those gauges :( Haven't had time to pick a better one up. Do you have a link for a good one? Maybe on Amizon or Ebay?

[ErikBush97]

NP man, and what are you using as a screen there? I'm just interested as I never thought of that =]

It's a little sink/bath tub drain cover thing. Got it for $1 at Big Lots.

[ErikBush97]

It's a sink drain catch.
I think your just used to the old setup you had drying out in a couple hours. If it is wet a day or so it's fine. Wet for a couple weeks is not. When you mist now with a tub you don't need to drench it down. Just a light mist will do. Wait a week and let us know. Also your humidity sounds wrong to have wetness in the tub. Where is the probe located?

It's located in the middle-ish of the tub. about an inch or so toward the hot side of the tub. And one quick question... If those tubs get hot, won't the produce dangerous fumes? Idk what "too hot" would be for those tubs, but the hot side of the tub is at 92 degrees. That was one reason I was kind of skeptical of tubs but I forgot to ask about that.

[ErikBush97]

I don't mist my tubs, since I was having the same issue as you. Instead, I pour water into the bedding and mix it up. Of course, that might not work for you, it could depend on the bedding.

I'm using Paper Towels :/

[ErikBush97]

You are telling me things I already know. I have already pointed that fact out to other members here. However, speaking from experience a damp/wet tub is a humid tub. Tubs are usually short in height and the humidity inside a damp/wet tub will be drastically higher than the humidity in a damp/wet enclosure/tank. With that quarter sized hole as his only ventilation in his tub, a damp/wet environment will not keep his enclosure at 50-60%, it will be much higher.

Edit: I don't understand why you mentioned it being easier to keep humidity in warmer air than in colder air. It doesn't further your argument. Snake tubs/enclosures will be warm, therefore more humidity. You combine warm air, water bowl, damp/wet environment and you have a very humid enclosure. A little too humid for his type of snake, and most likely more humid than his analog humidity/thermometers are reading.

The one I have now is WAY bigger than a quarter. I was saying I could buy smaller vents and line them up on the side of the tub.

[Mikoh4792]

Thanks for the suggestion! I am still using those gauges :( Haven't had time to pick a better one up. Do you have a link for a good one? Maybe on Amizon or Ebay?

Yes I do.

Amazon.com: AcuRite 00325 Home Comfort Monitor, Black: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325-Comfort-Monitor-Black/dp/B004K8RF10/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371264840&sr=8-1&keywords=accurite)

Many people use this, it's very popular and reliable.

You could also these stick-on fluker's digital therm/hydrometers. They are a bit pricey, and people have complained about their quality but comparing them to the readings on my acurites, they seem to be consistent and I haven't had one fail on me.

Amazon.com: Fluker's Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer: Pet Supplies (http://www.amazon.com/Flukers-34134-Digital-Thermometer-Hygrometer/dp/B0009YJWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371264887&sr=8-1&keywords=fluker%27s+thermometer)

You could also look for other options to suit your needs/purposes, but I am giving you choices based on what I have used and still use with good results.

[ErikBush97]

Yes I do.

Amazon.com: AcuRite 00325 Home Comfort Monitor, Black: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325-Comfort-Monitor-Black/dp/B004K8RF10/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371264840&sr=8-1&keywords=accurite)

Many people use this, it's very popular and reliable.

You could also these stick-on fluker's digital therm/hydrometers. They are a bit pricey, and people have complained about their quality but comparing them to the readings on my acurites, they seem to be consistent and I haven't had one fail on me.

Amazon.com: Fluker's Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer: Pet Supplies (http://www.amazon.com/Flukers-34134-Digital-Thermometer-Hygrometer/dp/B0009YJWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371264887&sr=8-1&keywords=fluker%27s+thermometer)

You could also look for other options to suit your needs/purposes, but I am giving you choices based on what I have used and still use with good results.

Thanks, man! :)

[Mikoh4792]

It's located in the middle-ish of the tub. about an inch or so toward the hot side of the tub. And one quick question... If those tubs get hot, won't the produce dangerous fumes? Idk what "too hot" would be for those tubs, but the hot side of the tub is at 92 degrees. That was one reason I was kind of skeptical of tubs but I forgot to ask about that.

92 degrees is fine, many people house ball pythons in tubs and 92F is an ideal hotspot for ball pythons. By probe, do you mean you are using a thermostat with the UTH?

[ErikBush97]

I do not have a way to measure the mesh vent, but here's a photo of it with a quarter on top of it, for a bit of perspective.
Don't mind the sloppy "glue job" I did. I didn't know that stuff expands.

[Mikoh4792]

I do not have a way to measure the mesh vent, but here's a photo of it with a quarter on top of it, for a bit of perspective.

looks good. Does your house get cold in the winter? If you put multiple vents like that on the sides of the tub, it may be hard to control ambient air temperatures inside during colder days.

[ErikBush97]

looks good. Does your house get cold in the winter? If you put multiple vents like that on the sides of the tub, it may be hard to control ambient air temperatures inside during colder days.

Yes. It does get cold, but I love to be warm so I usually keep the heat up in the 80's. In my room anyways (where my snakes are). So, I think I'll be okay for the most part.

[ErikBush97]

92 degrees is fine, many people house ball pythons in tubs and 92F is an ideal hotspot for ball pythons. By probe, do you mean you are using a thermostat with the UTH?

By probe. I use that cheap little Zilla Analog temp/humidity gauge that's in there for humidity. But I use a Zilla Digital thermostat for the hotspot.

[ErikBush97]

Thanks, man! :)

Just ordered an AcuRite Temp/Humidity Gauge :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm using Paper Towels :/

Yeah, then it wouldn't exactly work. XD I'd just go with suggestions from other people, because I haven't used paper towels in my tubs. :)

[rocknhorse76]

Just ordered an AcuRite Temp/Humidity Gauge :)

In the future, just go pick up the exact same gauge at Walmart for the same price. I just picked up 2 of them last week in Las Vegas, and saw the same ones in my hometown in WA State the other day.

[Mikoh4792]

In the future, just go pick up the exact same gauge at Walmart for the same price. I just picked up 2 of them last week in Las Vegas, and saw the same ones in my hometown in WA State the other day.

You get free two day shipping from amazon. But I guess it's faster if you are near a wal-mart. The closest one where I live is an hour and 30 minutes away by car. I'd rather save the gas and get it in two days.

[rocknhorse76]

Just throwing out the option to those who have one nearby, that's all.

[Mikoh4792]

Just throwing out the option to those who have one nearby, that's all.

I know I was agreeing with you that it's easier to just go and buy one yourself. I was just saying some people including myself live far away from places like wal-mart.

[ErikBush97]

I know I was agreeing with you that it's easier to just go and buy one yourself. I was just saying some people including myself live far away from places like wal-mart.

My Walmart is about the same distance :/ And I don't have a car either... Mine should be here soon, though :)

[ErikBush97]

Good thing I bought that!!! My humidity gauge is officially done for. (says 0% and the temperature is at the lowest amount, Which means they are obviously broken).

[smy_749]

You get free two day shipping from amazon. But I guess it's faster if you are near a wal-mart. The closest one where I live is an hour and 30 minutes away by car. I'd rather save the gas and get it in two days.

You need prime for 2 day shipping, which is 40 $ a year with a student email and 80 without. ...Theres a few ways to get 6 months free, but prime is not 'free'.

[Terranaut]

Good equipment and supplies make life way easier.

[Mikoh4792]

You need prime for 2 day shipping, which is 40 $ a year with a student email and 80 without. ...Theres a few ways to get 6 months free, but prime is not 'free'.

I never said prime was free, I said you get free two day shipping. It's a pretty good deal when you are buying items with a big shipping fee. Paying 40 or 80$ can save you money when you are ordering things with a shipping fee of 100$ and up. Not only that, things with a shipping fee of less than 100$ add up. So lets say you order 20 times from amazon and each of those orders have a 20$ shipping fee. With free two day shipping you don't have to pay 400$. You wouldn't pay 40 or 80$ for the year?

[smy_749]

You get free two day shipping from amazon. But I guess it's faster if you are near a wal-mart. The closest one where I live is an hour and 30 minutes away by car. I'd rather save the gas and get it in two days.


Actually you didn't say anything about prime in the first place. And you said amazon gives free 2 day shipping, period. Which isn't true. And if you have to pay 40 or 80 dollars, then you aren't getting free shipping. You are getting shipping for 40 or 80 dollars a year. I can do the math and I have prime, but its not free when you have to pay for it.

[Mikoh4792]

Actually you didn't say anything about prime in the first place. And you said amazon gives free 2 day shipping, period. Which isn't true. And if you have to pay 40 or 80 dollars, then you aren't getting free shipping. You are getting shipping for 40 or 80 dollars a year. I can do the math and I have prime, but its not free when you have to pay for it.

I didn't say Amazon gave free shipping without prime either. And it is true amazon gives free 2 day shipping, you just need prime. If you are paying 40 to 80$ a year to rid you of all shipping costs on 2 day shipping, it basically is free since you can save A LOT more money that way. If you can do the math, you wouldn't have a hard time understanding. You pay for prime, and get free 2 day shipping. Again, I never said prime was free, I said two day shipping was. Nothing hard to understand about that.

[smy_749]

I wrote a long response to the amazon prime thing, and how stupid it sounds when you say you have to pay for a membership whose MAIN purpose is no shipping costs, and call it free shipping.

When I got to the end of my long response, I realized we are argueing about amazon prime on a reptile forum and deleted it because I felt like an idiot.

I understand prime saves money , which is why I have prime.....

[Mikoh4792]

I wrote a long response to the amazon prime thing, and how stupid it sounds when you say you have to pay for a membership whose MAIN purpose is no shipping costs, and call it free shipping.

When I got to the end of my long response, I realized we are argueing about amazon prime on a reptile forum and deleted it because I felt like an idiot.

I understand prime saves money , which is why I have prime.....

It's okay. The issue was still relevant since we are talking about reptile equipment and the best way to get it.

[Amadeus]

I didn't feel like reading this whole thing but you guys can test analog hygrometers accuracy pretty easily.

-fill a water bottle cap with salt and add enough water to make it pasty
-put the cap with the salty paste in a sealed container with your hygrometer
-wait 24 hours and if it reads 75% it is fairly accurate.

[Amadeus]

Not sure if that even helped but whatever know you know =]

[Mikoh4792]

Not sure if that even helped but whatever know you know =]

That's interesting, where did you learn that?

[ErikBush97]

Not sure if that even helped but whatever know you know =]

That's very interesting! Does that work with digitals, too?

[Amadeus]

That's very interesting! Does that work with digitals, too?

I have no idea. sorry

[Amadeus]

That's interesting, where did you learn that?

I learned it on another reptile forum and I used this method quite a few times.

A google search should result in some info for you guys =]

[ErikBush97]

I learned it on another reptile forum and I used this method quite a few times.

A google search should result in some info for you guys =]

That's awesome :) Thanks for sharing!