Sudden humidity problems?

[LespaceSerpent]

So I am in a mess right now.

My BP is currently in a 10 gallon glass terraroum. I use critter crumble coconut bedding, have a large water dish over the uth, a couple hides, and a wooden branch with some fake vines for extra cover. I've got a 60w CHE and the top is layered with duct tape (with open areas for ventilation of course) to keep in heat and humidity. Ever since I got it set up properly I've never had any humidity issues

I went on vacation and the day before I left my BP decided it was time to shed. I had a friend willing to come and mist him while I was gone and he was doing well. But a couple days before I came back his lamp shorted out. The bulbs fine and I had my friend move the cage a bit to try and give him heat until I could come back. I get home, put his cage back in my room, and get a new lamp so that everything is set up the way it was before I left with the exception of I added another hide to give him something new to mess with.

But now all of a sudden I can't keep to humidity above about 40%. I put in a humid hide until I can fix this but I have no idea whe it's suddenly not keeping in moisture

[Andy_G]

Has the bedding dried out?

[LespaceSerpent]

It's as wet as its ever been I just mist it some

[poison123]

CHE get very hot even for a low watt. It is likely drying out the air. Id suggest a lower wattege bulb and raise the basking spot closeer to the bulb. As well as keep the screen covered.

[poison123]

What are you using to read the humidity level with?

[LespaceSerpent]

The screen is covered with a layer of duct tape as I said. And the che is a bit away from the glass so it doesn't get too hot. I have a vivarium electronics thermo/hygrometer

[phassin]

Hmmmm could it have something to do with the ambient humidity in the room. Maybe if your AC is running more due to higher temps then the humidity would drop. Just a thought.

[Albert Clark]

You need to head over to Petland and purchase a "versa top" for a ten gallon tank. Humidity and ambient temperatures solved permanently. Do you use a thermostat to regulate the heat off the uth? Versa tops are sold at Petco and Petsmart as well.

[LespaceSerpent]

That might actually be it. I hadn't thought about that. On the upside even with the humidity struggles one side of his retained eye caps have come off so hopefully he can loosen the other side as well

[LespaceSerpent]

Albert I had heard about those and I'll check them out. I have the uth set about 85 with the probe under the water dish so it doesn't get too warm but then the water will evaporate. Thank you everyone for the help.

[Albert Clark]

Ok. Be careful with the probe under the water dish. The condensation and water may send the wrong info to the thermostat thus causing the temperatures to rise.

[LespaceSerpent]

I got a versa lid and now the humidity is consistent at least, but it's consistently 45%. Any more tips?

Also how do you keep your lids secured? I have something on top of it right now because I worry hell get out

[Albert Clark]

Your screen top should fit over the versa top. So use your clips to secure the screen top. The plastic piece that slides onto the versa top needs to have several holes put into it to facilitate ventilation. That can be done with a soldering iron. I used to use tanks years ago and all of my tanks had versa tops with the screen top placed directly over the versa top. My humidity was always in the high 60's to low 80's. You will have to tweak the humidity percentage and adjust your ventilation holes accordingly. Maybe consider adding some 100% cypress mulch to the enclosure.

[phassin]

I just transitioned to cypress and realized quickly that it may help control humidity, but it certainly doesn't absorb snake crap stench! I think I'm gonna try a 75/25 blend cypress/aspen.

[LespaceSerpent]

So the versa top isn't helping in fact I think it might be worse :/ I mght just go buy a tub and switch to that honestly. Any tips someone wants to give would be helpful

[phassin]

Realistically most ball pythons out there are in aquariums and the humidity isn't regulated. They can be alright in low humidity and if it's really an issue where you can't keep it up, you can spray in the hides to keep the humidity up in there at least.

[LespaceSerpent]

But if theyre supposed to be around 50-60% the it can't be healthy for them to be at only like 20%

I dont want him to get sick I heard low humidity can cause dehydration and RIs

[phassin]

Low 20s is pretty low.... If you're really worried then getting a different enclosure is your best bet. I'm actually in the process of building some enclosures partially so that I can control humidity better.

That being said if you don't want to/can't get another cage, there are ways I've read to keep humidity up in the hides. You can put damp moss on the hides and that will keep a more humid for a day or two. Spraying your BP helps too.

[LespaceSerpent]

thanks. Sorry if I sounded snippy or anything

I think I'm going to go to walmart and check out some of those locking tubs for him. I do have some moss in his hide for now

[phassin]

Sorry I said on the hide I meant in* the hides.

You're fine man I know you're stressin over your snake. I am the same way lol. Let us know if you get a new enclosure and how it goes.

[Albert Clark]

So the versa top isn't helping in fact I think it might be worse :/ I mght just go buy a tub and switch to that honestly. Any tips someone wants to give would be helpful
This is absolutely unbelievable!! A versa top in no way will lower your humidity. A fitted glass top that is made to cover your entire terrarium cannot lower humidity percentages. I am not there to witness the actual reading but i have tons of experience with versa tops and it just doesn't make sense. :shocked: :suspicious: As a matter of fact , i just recommended versa tops to a acquaintance. She went out and purchased two of them for her two enclosures, I personally set them up and in 1 hour the humidity was at 80% in her 29 gallon and 70% in the 20 gallon respectively. This was about 1 month ago. Her humidity gets so high sometimes that condensation forms on the inner glass.

[LespaceSerpent]

Maybe I should test my hygrometer cause I'm getting readings of 10% with my versa too

[Albert Clark]

Maybe I should test my hygrometer cause I'm getting readings of 10% with my versa too
Yeah, just double check the percentages with a more accurate hygrometer. Maybe even triple check it. Couldn't hurt. :D That hygrometer is wrong.

[LespaceSerpent]

So I did a salt test wit it and it stayed at 10% all night looks like I'm going to the pet store tomorrow xD