Humidity help!

[snakekid6996]

Hey everybody. My columbian red tail boa has been in his 55gallon tanks for a few weeks now. The first week or two went fine, but now I'm having humidity issues. I want a constant humidity of about 70, but it usually drops and stays at about 50-60. I cover about 60% of the top with a towel, I spray the tank down daily, and I have a water dish on the warm side. I don't know what else to do. I plan on getting a plexiglass lid with holes drilled in for air flow. That worked good for my 10gallon, but until then anyone have any suggestions??

[Trollbie]

Honestly, take your own advice with the plexi lid. It solved my problem. I don't even have to mist every day anymore :)

[snakekid6996]

Yea it just might be a little bit before I can get that done and I need to get my humidity up asap. And I'm glad I could help :).

[Lankyrob]

The only way to keep humidity up is to prevent airflow, cover more of the top and it should stay higher :)

[exwizard]

Place the water dish directly over the heat source as well. Works great for my Brazilians :)

[snakekid6996]

I'm covering as much as I can and I keep the water dish under the light. I dint have a UTH.

[Brazen17]

Why do you want it so high? 50%-60% sounds just about perfect except while shedding when 70% is more in order. I keep mine between 45% and 60% and have had no problems even during shed. I've been doing this for over 5 years now with my red tail boa.

[hellosugaree]

Are you using a good hygrometer that has been recently calibrated? It is possible your humidity is higher than you think. However, using a bulb with a screen top is a quick way to dry out a tank.

[snakekid6996]

Are you using a good hygrometer that has been recently calibrated? It is possible your humidity is higher than you think. However, using a bulb with a screen top is a quick way to dry out a tank.

No im using a 5$ pet store hygrometer. I know I need a better one, but I figured it wpuld give me a general guess at the.humkdkty. I cant really aford a fancy one at the moment.

[hellosugaree]

No im using a 5$ pet store hygrometer. I know I need a better one, but I figured it wpuld give me a general guess at the.humkdkty. I cant really aford a fancy one at the moment.

I wouldn't be surprised if that thing measured 50% RH when it was actually 100%...

If you don't have the cash to buy a real hygrometer, try this method and see what your hygrometer reads. I would guess that it is way off:

Calibrate Hygrometer | Salt Test Method - CigarPass.com (http://www.cigarpass.com/index.php/salt-test-calibrate-hygrometer.html)

Make sure you leave it in the bag for long enough (at least 24 hours).

[KORBIN5895]

Buy a $10 digital at Walmart.

[hellosugaree]

Buy a $10 digital at Walmart.

Being digital doesn't guarantee accuracy... It just guarantees a fancy-looking digital readout. Even expensive and fancy hygrometers require frequent calibration. No matter what hygrometer you buy, it's a good idea to check it with a calibration pack or the salt test.

[KORBIN5895]

Yes but aren't digital able to be calibrated? Those cheap analog aren't able to be calibrated. At least the one I had wasn't.

[hellosugaree]

Yes but aren't digital able to be calibrated? Those cheap analog aren't able to be calibrated. At least the one I had wasn't.

Any good hygrometer should have a calibration feature, but being digital doesn't guarantee it's a good one. In any case, the cheap analog ones are guaranteed to be crap.

[Brazen17]

If you can buy two or three of the $10 digital ones and see how they all compare in the same environment. If possible buy at least two different brands. If all of them read within a few percent of each other chances are they are pretty accurate. Take them outside and see how they read and then look up your current humidity at the online Weather Channel. That should give you a very good idea as to their accuracy.

[snakekid6996]

I wouldn't be surprised if that thing measured 50% RH when it was actually 100%...

If you don't have the cash to buy a real hygrometer, try this method and see what your hygrometer reads. I would guess that it is way off:

Calibrate Hygrometer | Salt Test Method - CigarPass.com (http://www.cigarpass.com/index.php/salt-test-calibrate-hygrometer.html)

Make sure you leave it in the bag for long enough (at least 24 hours).

So when I do the salt test however far off it is from 75% I just add or subtract from what it's reading in the tank??

[Brazen17]

Why do you want to have a 75% humidity level or did I miss something?

[Raan]

I made my lid out of plywood, and cut a hole with a jigsaw just big enough for the lamp to sit in, and put a gaurd of aluminum netting/ mesh, and it doesnt heat up no matter how long the light shines on it. I do have to spray it once every day and a half though.

also I found these one another thread on the forum and I picked up something similar at home depot and use them in my tank

Amazon.com: Ambient Weather WS-0101 Wireless Thermo-Hygrometer with Indoor Temperature and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-0101-Thermo-Hygrometer-Temperature/dp/B003OT33HQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1333247070&sr=1-1-catcorr&tag=vglnk-c566-20)

[snakekid6996]

I made my lid out of plywood, and cut a hole with a jigsaw just big enough for the lamp to sit in, and put a gaurd of aluminum netting/ mesh, and it doesnt heat up no matter how long the light shines on it. I do have to spray it once every day and a half though.

also I found these one another thread on the forum and I picked up something similar at home depot and use them in my tank

Amazon.com: Ambient Weather WS-0101 Wireless Thermo-Hygrometer with Indoor Temperature and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-0101-Thermo-Hygrometer-Temperature/dp/B003OT33HQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1333247070&sr=1-1-catcorr&tag=vglnk-c566-20)
My grandpa has some plexiglass he's going to cut out to fit the top of the tank. I'm going to drill a couple holes in it and hang the lights above it. I just need a way to keep it up until then.

[snakekid6996]

I wouldn't be surprised if that thing measured 50% RH when it was actually 100%...

If you don't have the cash to buy a real hygrometer, try this method and see what your hygrometer reads. I would guess that it is way off:

Calibrate Hygrometer | Salt Test Method - CigarPass.com (http://www.cigarpass.com/index.php/salt-test-calibrate-hygrometer.html)

Make sure you leave it in the bag for long enough (at least 24 hours).

Mmkay so I did this and my hygrometer is dead on. So, I know its not that. My humidity is just to low.

[Snakesitter]

Snakekid, I keep over 30 Brazilian Rainbows, a rather humidity-sensitive species, and I've found the number one item is to limit ventillation with the outside world. You sound like you are on the right rack with plexi, but remember to drill only a few holes to start -- it is much easier to add than take away. In the meantime, try plastic wrap or a trash bag, which will trap damp air better than a towel.

Once you have the plexi in place, you can boost internal levels by increasing the size of your water bowl (more surface area equals more evaporation), using a humidity-retaining substrate (so that any misting by you or spills made by your snake are caught and then slowly released back into the air), and if still not working adding a moist hide (a regular hide packed with sphagnum moss).

Good luck!

[Edmond Y]

Don't be too anal about the humidity level, sometimes dryer or sometimes a little wet, just like the wild is fine.

Edmond

[Charlie64]

^^^ Agreed, I keep a few high humidity species as well, Varying humidity does create a more realistic environment. Anyway, as Snakesitter was referring to, a moisture retaining substrate, I've found that Cypress Mulch works very well for boosting humidity levels, plus it's non-toxic to snakes. Cypress mulch combined with a dripper, or daily misting should yield your desired results. If you go that route make sure you get Cypress Mulch and not Cypress Blend, as it has other types of wood which may be toxic blended into it. To top it off Cypress mulch runs 2 dollars for a 40lb bag at most hardware stores.
Good luck with your boa!

[Kratos]

I did the same for my BRB with the plexi glass top and my humidity is now at a constant 80%-95% sometimes it get to 100% which I dont know if its bad for the snake or not? Also make sure you leave a cut out area where the heat from your heat lamp will pass threw. If not the heat wont get in and the plexi will start to bend and melt. Also I started using coconut peal substrate and ever since I added it the humidity stays high never under 70% just mist the damp side a bit and leave the hot side dry or mist if you like.