Humidity (*grumble*)

Spirit · 01-31-05, 10:42 PM

Tips on how to keep it up in a glass aquarium with a screen lid would be nice. LOL

I'm using aspen (soon to be changing it to something else... suggestions are appreciated), I have two water bowls, one large one over the UTH, and a smaller one on the cool side (with a 40 watt bulb over top to keep the temps from dropping below 70). My snake has LOTS of hides (and uses them all), and I cover the lid (all but the daylight - aquarium light, doesn't give off heat) and red light (low wattage, very little heat) with cardboard, and a glass sheet over top of that (for weight)... But I can't seem to keep the humidity up...

Any suggestions? The first I guess would be to switch substrates... But what to?

beanersmysav · 01-31-05, 11:20 PM

Place plywood over 3/4 of the enclosure, a water dish places just right near the heating device... best bet a clear rubber maid

HumphreyBoagart · 01-31-05, 11:24 PM

It is nearly impossible to keep the humidity up in a screen-topped aquarium. The best way to keep humidity up is in a rubbermaid. I find a good sized water bowl in a rubbermaid keeps the humidity just right. By covering the screen top you won't allow any ventilation and that's not a good thing. The rubbermaid's aren't as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as an aquarium but you should do what is best for the snake, not what's best for you. I used to be an aquarium person myself and ran into all the same problems as you, but everyone on here convinced me that rubbermaid's are the way to go, and now that I've switched over to them I realize that they weren't just talking out their @$$. The snakes strive much better in them, and heat/humidity and care in general is much better in rubbermaids. This is just my opinions based on my experience and I realize that not everyone will agree, but that's what these forums are for. Different opinions. Good Luck with snakey!
Hump.

Spirit · 01-31-05, 11:29 PM

I know, glass sucks...

What if I lined the inside of the tank with that glad press and seal stuff? lol

Hmmmmm... *thinking*

dave68 · 01-31-05, 11:34 PM

Temps and Humidity are both much easier to keep up in a smaller enclosure. If your stuck on glass switch to a ten gallon max. Five gallon even better for a few more months. Otherwise your likely heading down the road to ball python frustration syndrome! And yes, rubbermaids are the ultimate in easing all your ball troubles. With this many members do you think we would all be feeding you a line of B.S. I think not.

Dave

dave68 · 01-31-05, 11:36 PM

The appropriate sized rubbermaid will cost you about as much as that press and seal stuff, and will actually help with your problems!

Dave

Spirit · 01-31-05, 11:40 PM

Yes yes, I know.

Slannesh · 02-01-05, 12:08 AM

You could try adding a humid hide as well. I had some success with a shoebox sized rubbermaid half filled with damp sphagnum moss when I was using an aquarium.

What's the relative humidity in your house like? Keeping humidity up is always a problem in the winter where I am (Edmonton) because the relative humidity in my house is about 10%

Another thing you can do is put a slightly damp towel over half or so of the top, still allows for some airflow but keeps more humidity in. DO NOT put it under lights of any sort.

Spirit · 02-01-05, 12:19 AM

Oh I forgot to mention I DO have a hide box (that I've never seen him use), but I will make a larger one for sure. As for the damp towel, I never thought of that! Great idea... thanks!

HumphreyBoagart · 02-01-05, 12:45 AM

In the very first post you said he has "LOTS of hides (and uses them all)", now you say "he does have a hide box (that I've never seen him use.)"

Not trying to sound rude, but which one is it? Does he use them or not?

Spirit · 02-01-05, 12:57 AM

A HUMID hide... Sorry. My bad. I've never seen him use the HUMID hide (it's clear). He uses all the others though (3 hides + the cardboard tubes + the plants).

Butgood job on the antagonistic downtalk. LOL

HumphreyBoagart · 02-01-05, 01:25 AM

If I was trying to be antagonistic, do you really think I would have put "not trying to sound rude"?
I would have just said "which one is it? Does he use them or not?"
Sorry if it sounded antagonistic, maybe if you weren't so contradicting in what you said, I would have understood.

But like you said, Your Bad.

edit- This is the thanks I get for trying to help!?! I guess what they say about no good deed goes unpunished is true. Sorry for trying to help you, trust me I won't do it again.

YoungBuck · 02-01-05, 02:33 AM

My heat temps and humidity levels in both my tanks are fine...what I did was cover 3/4 of the screen top with 2 layers of newspaper...I mist my snakes twice a day...once in the morning and once in the evening...I also spray the newspaper with water as well and it seems to keep the humidity in really well...dunno...hope that may help as a quick fix until you find something else.

Spirit · 02-01-05, 02:42 AM

Youngbuck: Thanks, man. I'm using a thin layer of aspen over paper towels, so what I might do is just mist daily and change it often until I run out of aspen, then buy some forest bed (does anyone use this?). I use it with my cornsnake and he just LOVES it, but he tunnels and I don't expect that from the python... BUT it's bacteria and mold resistant so misting would work great.

For the aspen though, if I'm misting it twice a day, would 3 days be okay before replacing it with new stuff? Maybe?

Basically all I'm trying to figure out now, is how to seal off the lid (the water bowls and humid hide REALLY should be enough). I'll figure something out, but if anyone has any suggestions, it's greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, everyone.

Quote:

Originally posted by HumphreyBoagart
If I was trying to be antagonistic, do you really think I would have put "not trying to sound rude"?
I would have just said "which one is it? Does he use them or not?"
Sorry if it sounded antagonistic, maybe if you weren't so contradicting in what you said, I would have understood.

But like you said, Your Bad.

edit- This is the thanks I get for trying to help!?! I guess what they say about no good deed goes unpunished is true. Sorry for trying to help you, trust me I won't do it again.

Woooaaah, bitter much? I thought the winking smilie made it obvious that I was just playing around... Get some sleep or something, dude. Relax. In through the nose, out through the mouth. lol

(<--- I'm winking, incase you miss it again)

HumphreyBoagart · 02-01-05, 02:58 AM

Like I said, sorry for trying to HELP you, I won't do it again.