Keeping Tanks Humid

[MajickSprings]

I'm having a bit of a problem keeping humidity in my snake enclosures. Butter (baby red tail boa) is currently in a 20 gallon long aquarium, Hannah (adult ball python) is currently in a 55 gallon aquarium, and Peanut (adult red tail boa) is currently in the home made enclosure that came with him. This morning the humidity in Peanuts enclosure was at 55% and when I just went and looked again it's at 30%?!?!?! The lids on the 2 aquariums are currently screen (until I can figure out what to get instead) and so I know they aren't keeping humidity very well at all. What can I do??

[daver676]

Put a damp towel over top of part of the screen until you get the humidity back to where you want it. Check the towel every other day to make sure it's still damp. Also, cover the top of the towel with tinfoil to keep the moisture from travelling up. Replace the towel every week with a clean one since bacteria may find a home in it.

[Invictus]

Are your snakes in shed? If not, quit worrying about it. My boas are kept at less than 20% humidity because of the climate here, and they all do quite well. I only worry about raising humidity during shed time.

Colombian BCIs are from highly variable climates - Colombia and its surrounding countries are not all rainforest you know - some areas of Colombia are bone dry. Colombian BCI do just fine in these conditions too.

However, if for whatever reason you do need to up the humidity, the first thing you need to do is block off the screen - at least 3/4 of it. A moist towel can work, just spray the towel every day to replenish its moisture. Also, try putting a thin water dish (not the thick stone ones if that's what you're using... a nice thin tupperware works best for this) directly over or directly under a heat source. If you restrict air flow, and cause evaporation, you create humidity. If you do this though, don't block off as much of the screen top or you'll end up with 80-100% in no time.

[MajickSprings]

Thanks guys. The baby boa is indeed in shed right now and is the one that I'm the most worried about at the moment. The ball python looks like she's going to start going into shed soon as well.

[jim mcallister]

I agree 100%. I raise humidity only for shedding time as our wonderful canadian climate can be difficult to keep humidity up consistently..

[Auskan]

I use a humidi-mat. These are wonderful little things for only a few dollars. It is a pouch filled with a gel-type substance that absorbs water when you soak it for about 12 hours. Then you put it in the tank and it slowly releases the water for 1-2 weeks, keeping up a good level of humidity in the tank. My bp is now kept in the "tropical" range on a hygrometer all the time and has never been happier.

[Derrick]

that mat thing sounds niffty, cheap too.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=8&pCatId=9737

[Invictus]

I've never heard of that, but I will be looking into it now! Neat idea.

[Big Mike]

Here is what I do...and it works for me. When my snakes are going to shed, I put in a humid hide. It's just a Tupperware or any old container with a small hole for the snake. Inside I put wet sphagnum moss. The snakes go in there and come out in a few days...all shiny and new.

Also remember that too humid a climate, especially in an enclosed area, is a much bigger problem than a little to dry. And as noted, not all boids come from tropical rain forests areas.

Another thing that I have heard is that hydrometers are largely inaccurate. So trying to fine tune your humidity with a lousy meter is pointless. Give your snake the option and let it decide when it needs more humidity.

[Bighead]

The Humidi Mats are a good idea, but be careful with them. They can harbor bacteria and other junk just like leaving a stale bowl of water in there can, especially if you just keep reusing the same one. This is just an assumption, but I would use caution.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

I just put some saran wrap(clear plastic wrap) over the top of the screen leaving about a 1/4 exposed. I find it great for the humidity keeping at 80% in one of my scorpions cage.

[MajickSprings]

Thank you everyone for the awesome suggestions. For my little one that is currently in shed (eyes all "cloudy" etc) I have put a damp towel over the top of the cover with tin foil over the top of that to keep the moisture in. I'm finding that 2 of my snakes (the adult boa and the BP) will soak in their bowls/tubs for about 3 days and then the skin comes off nicely. So I guess since they haven't had any problem shedding their skins that I shouldn't be too worried. This is the first shed I'm going through with the baby so I guess I'm just an over-worried snake mom ;)