Humidity, help

[stlphotogal]

We've had our ball guy for about 9 months and he was off feed for the first four months we got him, he ate well throughout the summer and fall but hasn't fed in 6 weeks. We have him in a 40gal tank with mesh lid, ZooMed UTH on warm side and nothing on cool side, in between are his water bowl and a wooden climber. We use a red 100 watt bulb to heat his tank 24/7. He has hides on both sides and hot temps run about 90 and cool about 75. Humidity, despite being in Missouri where it's ridiculously humid most of the year, is a problem - we are running about 40% right now. I suspect that it's because we are running heat in the house. I know the mesh top is allowing the mist I spray on the tank to evaporate and I even broke down and bought some sphagnum moss which I wetted and put under the heat lamp, it raised the humidity about 5% but nothing significant. My two major concerns are his being off feed and the potential for a horrid shed (he's not red on the belly or anything so I think we are okay for now but don't want to run into a bad situation). Any advice on how to raise the humidity for our guy? thanks.

[Ch^4]

On the feeding front, I wouldn't be too concerned with him going 6 weeks without food. Male BPs often brumate during the winter months; my male went nearly 8 months without food and is as healthy as can be. Make sure he doesn't lose too much weight and he should be okay.

As far as humidity goes, mesh-top aquariums are terrible at maintaining humidity. If you want to keep the same setup, you could cover half the lid with a damp t-shirt (make sure it doesn't get too close to the heat source!!).

I strongly suggest providing him with a humid hide; this can be as simple as a tupperware large enough for him to fit his whole body in, with a hole cut in the lid for access. Line the bottom of the tupperware with about 2-4 inches of damp--not wet--sphagnum moss (I soak the sphagnum and then squeeze out excess water). He will love this!

On a side note, you mentioned that the cool end was around 75 degrees; this is a little too cold for him, which may affect his desire to feed. I'd try to bump it up to around 80 degrees. A semi-cure all solution would be to cover half the lid with either a t-shirt or aluminum foil, and add the humid hide. The humid hide will allow him to seek a comfortable hiding spot and will give him the increased humidity he wants. The t-shirt or foil on half of the lid will reduce the amount of heat escaping (and humidity), and will help to raise ambient temperatures. This may solve his feeding conundrum.

A more expensive route is a fogging or misting system, but the aforementioned method should suffice. I have a fogging system for some of my snakes that is simply a human-grade ultrasonic humidifier on a timer.

I hope that helps! Good luck and keep us posted!

[Marica]

I'm not a BP owner, so others will probably have more/better info than myself. If it's warm enough in your house you could probably do without the light, as it can reduce humidity. You could cover part of the lid with a piece of plexi. Or, when my snakes are in shed I sometimes keep a slightly damp towel covering part of their lids if it's excessively dry in the house. Also, in our small snake room we also have a room humidifier. Is your moss out in the open? If so, you could purchase a reptile hide or make one out of a plastic container to put it in. You could also move the moss hide away from the light so that it doesn't dry out and gives your BP the option of actually using the moist hide if he wants.

[Lankyrob]

We put the sphagnum moss inside a hide, it stops it drying out so quick and provides a humidity "hot spot" in the vivs.

[stlphotogal]

Do you spread out the moss inside the plastic container? I got one last night and have the moss but my husband just put a big ball of it in there, lol. It didn't look quite right to me.

[Marica]

After soaking the moss and squeezing out excess, like Ch^4 described above, I usually separate the moss so it's nice and loose, then fill the hide about halfway. While your snake is coiled up in the hide he'll probably bunch it up, so check on it every other day and if he's not in it give the moss a fluff and a spritz if it's dried.

[Lankyrob]

I tend to fill the hide with moss and just spray it every few days as it does get compacted by the snakes.

[clmclark]

I've only had my BP a couple weeks now and her Humidity box is her favorite hide. I was afraid it was too cold for her on the cooler side so it's in the middle now. Sometimes she just lays on top but most of the time she burrows underneath the moss. It's super cute when she just pokes her head out of the little hole on top!

[mykee]

"Male BPs often brumate during the winter months"
Ball pythons don't brumate.

[SPARTAN 77]

We've had our ball guy for about 9 months and he was off feed for the first four months we got him, he ate well throughout the summer and fall but hasn't fed in 6 weeks. We have him in a 40gal tank with mesh lid, ZooMed UTH on warm side and nothing on cool side, in between are his water bowl and a wooden climber. We use a red 100 watt bulb to heat his tank 24/7. He has hides on both sides and hot temps run about 90 and cool about 75. Humidity, despite being in Missouri where it's ridiculously humid most of the year, is a problem - we are running about 40% right now. I suspect that it's because we are running heat in the house. I know the mesh top is allowing the mist I spray on the tank to evaporate and I even broke down and bought some sphagnum moss which I wetted and put under the heat lamp, it raised the humidity about 5% but nothing significant. My two major concerns are his being off feed and the potential for a horrid shed (he's not red on the belly or anything so I think we are okay for now but don't want to run into a bad situation). Any advice on how to raise the humidity for our guy? thanks.

i may be wrong but i don't think the difference in humidity has anything to do with him not feeding, they often go on for a while without eating. if i'm wrong please tell me.

[Shmoges]

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/Shmoges/IMG_0733.jpg
40g long tank. moist hide on left water dish under. Exersize wood in middle and hide with UTH heater on right celephane covering 3/4 of top and mist 2 times a day and you will have lots a humidity

[mykee]

ONE tiny little hide in a 40 long?

[TeaNinja]

ONE tiny little hide in a 40 long?

i had that thought too. i guess there are 2 hides, but one is clear and i can imagine a bp not enjoying a clear hide as much as a solid one.

here's mine. i like to use the petco small animal boxes for the hot hide because it has air holes in it and i feel like it'll let the heat in better, he loves the hot hide.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/tankswap012.jpg

[Lankyrob]

Not intending this sas criticism, just stating my viewpoint. I think it is nice for BPs as they tend to be more nervous hidey snakes to be able to transfer from hot to cold end without being out in the wide open spaces.

I do agree tho that a see through box doesnt constitute a "hide".