humidity in a top opening glass tank

[escm]

I have a mesh screen top opening tank. Also its winter and my apartment gets REALLY dry this time of year. When I mist the humdity levels rise to about 85% and within 3 hours are back to around 30%. Even if I mist twice a day...

You guys got any ideas on holding in some humidity? I was thinking about putting a piece of plexi-glass with holes in the top over part of screen mesh but I have to leave a decent sized opening to let the heat from my lamps in...any suggestions?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ask The Omen and stormyva. They're experts on screened lids.

[Big Mike]

Try getting a humidifier for your apartment. You can raise the humidity so that when you mist the tank it won't dry out so fast...if might also be helpful for you...if you don't like it that dry...I know I don't.

[Linds]

That's why tanks are terrible for anything other than fish or desert species, unless the ambient in your humidity is adequate for the species that you are keeping in it. If you put plexi over the top you would be further decreasing the airflow in the enclosure. Not only is stagnant air not a healthy living environment for any animal, but it also is a breeding ground for mold :eek: I would recommend getting a fogger. Make sure it is fully adjustable so that you can control how much humidity you are adding to your enclosure. This way you can keep the top completely unobstructed, yet still be adding a constant amount of humidity to your enclosure. Hope this helps :)

[ls1grrrl]

Not sure what kind of animal escm is housing, but...

Just for the record, BRBs can handle low air circulation well. (This from loads of research on my own as well as from Jeff Clark's extensive experience.) The one aquarium w/ screen lid that we house our juvenile BRB in is covered w/ plexi except for the hole cut for the CHE. (However, see my note below about air pumps - we have one hooked up to this aquarium.)


Otherwise, I agree with Linds. For animals we have in enclosures with low circulation, we have hooked up air pumps from fish tanks to keep air constantly circulating. We figure out how many gallons the particular enclosure would hold, then get an air pump rated for that size fish tank. This keeps the air constantly exchanged on an hourly basis. Paranoid? Maybe but I feel better and thats all that matters - $20 for a pump is worth my own peace of mind ;)

[escm]

It is housing a ball python.

I think if I get a humidifier for my apt and use the air pump (two very good ideas thanks!) I should be ok. The ball doesn't require a lot of humidity to begin with...Id be happy with an average 50% + daily manual mistings.

[Lisa]

Using a substrate like cypress mulch helps alot too.

[stormyva]

A few things that have worked for me:

1. A humid hide box:
Fill the bottom (saucer) from a clay flower pot with sphagum moss and moisten it. Then out the upside down flower pot with a cut out in it on top of the saucer. Place the whole setup on the hot side of the tank. My Ball Python loves this... it allows him to go in when he wants extra humidity.

2. Cypress Mulch Substrate:
You can buy it in a huge bag from Home Depot for something like $5. Spray it with Provent-a-mite, Sawyers Tick Spray, or Black Knight before using it. It looks great and seems to hold the moisture better than repti-bark.

3. Large water bowl:
Place it directly under the heat lamp. The water evaporating from the bowl helps boost he humidity. I found that the ceramic dog bowls work best.

4. A towel or plexi-glass on the top:
I keep a folded towel covering half of the screen top. I have not needed to do it but some people have even gone as far as dampening the towel to boost the humidity even more.

I have used one or more forms of the things above and manage to keep the humidity at the right levels with only one spraying in the AM on the cages. The humidifier that you are getting will help you. (Make sure you keep the humidifier clean! They have been known to be a breeding ground for bacteria and molds!!! Don't want to see you or your pets getting sick!)

[JasonBrennan]

While I have never actually tried this, I have heard of quite a few people doing this. They will run an airline from a small air pump (for aquariums) with one of those airation blocks on the end of it (creates bubbles), and put that into the water bowl. Need a pretty big bowl, I guess, but lot's of people say this helps with the humidity (along with covering 2/3 of the top with aluminum foil or cling wrap...this also helps with keeping temps steady.)

Like I said, never used this method personally, just thougt I would throw it out there for you to consider.

Jason Brennan

[ross2k]

Towel draped over the top is in the right direction. What worked wonderfully for me when I still used glass aquariums was getting a wash cloth wet, and squeezing the water out for the most part and then draping it over to cover from excess air flow. You might want to use something larger than a wash cloth.