View Full Version : Humidity issue, suggestions?
I am having an issue with humidity.
I have an UTH and bowl of water and the humidity stays right at about 60%.
Once I turn on my 45 watt light the humidity goes down to 55%
I can't take the heat lamp away because without it the temp is below 80 degrees and thats during the day.
The heat lamp seems to be drying out the enclosure.
I am not sure if she is going to shed soon but just in case I want her environment to be perfect.
An suggestions on how to keep the humidity up with the heat lamp?
Firstly, how are you measuring your temps? You should be measuring the surfaces within the enclosure, using a temp gun or digital thermometer (with probe). Unless your home is quite cool, the uth should be adequate enough. If you are using a stick-on thermometer it isn't measuring the temps your snake accesses, onlt the air temp surrounding it. That asides...
55% should be fine for your ball. I keep mine at about 50% for most of the year and they do well.
i dunno if this would work with a snake but my friend mists his iguana cage to keep the humidity up....i dunno if it would work for the amount of humidity for a ball but i guess it wouldnt hurt to try rite?
Originally posted by Linds
Firstly, how are you measuring your temps? You should be measuring the surfaces within the enclosure, using a temp gun or digital thermometer (with probe). Unless your home is quite cool, the uth should be adequate enough. If you are using a stick-on thermometer it isn't measuring the temps your snake accesses, onlt the air temp surrounding it. That asides...
55% should be fine for your ball. I keep mine at about 50% for most of the year and they do well.
I am using stick on gauges. One for temp and one for humidity. Yeah my home stays cool. I guess I should go buy a digital thermometer, huh?
jjnnbns
08-03-04, 01:32 AM
yep
Also, is it in a screen top aquarium?
Tigergenesis
08-03-04, 11:03 AM
If it's a screen top you can cover with damp towels. I highly recommend a digital w/ probes. The stickon kinds are generally crap - unreliable and don't measure belly/surface temps.
Big Mike
08-03-04, 12:03 PM
Originally posted by Karma
I am using stick on gauges. One for temp and one for humidity. Yeah my home stays cool. I guess I should go buy a digital thermometer, huh?
Where is it stuck on? If it is stuck to the side of the tank...then the bottom, where the UTH is...is probably way too hot.
You have to measure the temperature right where the snake is...right on the floor of the enclosure.
Kevin McRae
08-03-04, 01:21 PM
What is your substrate?
Bark mulch will keeep up the humidity nicely:)
Originally posted by jjnnbns
yep
Also, is it in a screen top aquarium?
I am using a Sterelite container. I have drilled holes in the lid and some on the sides.
Originally posted by Big Mike
Where is it stuck on? If it is stuck to the side of the tank...then the bottom, where the UTH is...is probably way too hot.
You have to measure the temperature right where the snake is...right on the floor of the enclosure.
They are stuck on the side near the top.
It is on the side where the UTH is but not at the bottom where the UTH is.
What are you saying is way too hot, the heater or the temp?
Originally posted by Kevin McRae
What is your substrate?
Bark mulch will keeep up the humidity nicely:)
I am using shredded aspen bedding.
Is the bark mulch safe or better than the aspen?
Big Mike
08-03-04, 02:13 PM
If your thermometer is stuck on the side near the top, the floor, where the UTH is, will be hotter than that.
So if you are trying to get a temperature of 85-90 on the thermometer...then how hot is it on the floor where the snake is?
Tigergenesis
08-03-04, 03:44 PM
You need to measure belly/surface temps - where the snake is since that's the temp they will be feeling. If your gauge is at the top then you can assume the temp on the ground (where the UTH is) is even hotter than what the gauge reads. Which means probably too hot (which can affect the humidity reading). However, since you're using the stick on kind your temps can be way off either direction. Invest in a digital w/ probes as soon as possible. You can even get them with the hygrometer attached. Bed-a-Beast is also good at holding humidity. Also, think about just adding a humid hide.
Originally posted by Tigergenesis
You need to measure belly/surface temps - where the snake is since that's the temp they will be feeling. If your gauge is at the top then you can assume the temp on the ground (where the UTH is) is even hotter than what the gauge reads. Which means probably too hot (which can affect the humidity reading). However, since you're using the stick on kind your temps can be way off either direction. Invest in a digital w/ probes as soon as possible. You can even get them with the hygrometer attached. Bed-a-Beast is also good at holding humidity. Also, think about just adding a humid hide.
What works well as a humid hide?
Kevin McRae
08-04-04, 11:47 AM
If your worried about humidity, bark mulch is better then aspen in my opinion.
Big Mike
08-04-04, 11:55 AM
I offer my snakes a humid hide when I notice they are going to shed...usually only in winter when the air is so dry.
I just take a margarine container and cut a hole in the side or top and fill the inside with wet sphagnum moss.
My snakes love it.
I find this is easier than struggling with humidity on a daily basis.
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