Humidity Questions

[balakoth]

Afternoon,

Rougly two weeks ago I purchased a CB BP about 6 months of age. Last Saturday was my first time feeding her which went excellent. She ussually comes out the same time every night to putz around and stare at me while doing computer work.

Avg Cage temps are 88 to 95 in the basking area, with about 82 min on the otherside. She is currently housed in a 20 Gallon Long viv.

I hope to keep her in this home until the need for a properly built cage can be constructed for the rest of her housing life possibly (Like many of the professionally bought reptile homes, but im a Do it yourselfer :)


I have tried placing her water bowl under the hotspot and covering the meshed top with Tin Foil to reduce some of the air flow, but have failed at raising the humidity over 40 percent.

I have resorted to misting in the morning and twice while im home at night. This of course does not keep humidity up for much of a period of time and I am not sure it even helps at all. She seems more disturbed from me misting the cage (Shock of mist all of a sudden flowing into her hide possibly) than when I left it be.

I understand cross ventilation is the optimum way to increase the humidity, but again until she grows I am not sure it would be finacially beneficial to build her several cages throughout a 1 year period of time where I am informed she will grow the most.


Any advice, comments or suggestions are welcome. This is my first snake, but I have well researched her care (besides my goof of buying a glass viv for a Ball) I have kept many numerous exotic pets and currently own 2 reef tanks, so I have no problem with extravigant upkeep of enviroments but only wish to make her happy in her new home and feel I am failing as far as enviroment variables are concerned.


Thanks in Advance

Peace,

Joe

[baller]

Well to start the basking spot should only be 90 degrees. You can try placing a larger waterbowl in the tank that is very shallow. The aluminum tinfoil should be placed right above the waterbowl like I have in my 29gal. You should also place a towl over the aquarium screen and give just enough room for your clip lamp to go.

[balakoth]

Why in your opinion should the basking spot only be 90 degrees? That bit of information conflicts with everything I have read.


Besides doing the things i have already stated I have tried doing, are there any other suggestions on increasing humidity. If not It looks like ill be building a new enclosure real soon.



Peace,

Joe

[Big Mike]

Balls actually come from a rather arid region of Africa. They do not need constantly high humidity. Although, they can be problem shedders if they don't have adequate humidity when they are about to shed. I have found that the best solution is to not worry about the humidity on a daily basis and put in a humid hide when I notice that the shed cycle is starting.

[Linds]

Where are you located? With the efforts you listed I'm surprised the humidity isn't exceeding 40%. Humid hides are good, but not sufficient in this instance. With such low ambient humidity, respiratory infections are a major concern. Have you tried placing a large shallow water dish under/over your heat source? Make sure your ball also has a regular waterdish in the cool side. Damp sphagnum moss arranged around the enclosure help as well. It holds humidity very well, for days. Foggers can also aid in raising humidity, and make for great asthetic value as well. The 95 basking spot is fine as well. Many people keep there animals at 90, but 95 is also common. Either one works, if you notice your snake isn't on his warm spot, then perhaps lower it to 92 or 90.

[Big Mike]

Also keep in mind that humidity guages can be very inaccurate. Maybe get a second guage to double check your levels.

[balakoth]

Im using a digital tri-display is 37-39, temps 90 to 94 during the day 80 to 88 at night. I live in Washington State, and it feels muggy as a .... in the room at all times ;)

[lilyskip]

What kind of top have you got on your viv? I was having similar problems with humidity, and I just put a towel over 3/4 of the screen lid on my tank and the humidity stayed between 55-59% all day (which isn't ultra-high, but is higher than the 44% that it was before).