Tub Problems...

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 04:31 PM

Hello, everyone. I recently switched my Ball to a Tub, from a Terrarium. Everything is working great, except for the humidity... It is staying at about 50-60% humidity which is perfect but it is also making the enclosure extremely damp/wet. Can't a Damp/wet enclosure cause skin infections and other problems as well? I switched out the wet bedding and replaced it with dry bedding, and I dried all the hides, walls, and lid of the enclosure about an hour ago, but that's besides the point. I switched to a tub to eliminate the need to mist every couple of hours. I'd much rather mist every couple hours, than change bedding every couple of hours. Anyways, Please leave suggestions as to How I'd get rid of some of that wetness/dampness or if that's fine for a Ball Python, and I shouldn't worry about it.

P.S. The reason I say "wetness/dampness" is because it's too wet to call it damp, and it's too damp to call it wet.

Lankyrob · 06-14-13, 05:04 PM

Constant wetness isnt a good thing, you want humidity in the air not wetness on the floor, havent ever used tubs tho so will let someone else advise how to help.

Amadeus · 06-14-13, 05:07 PM

I have my current BCI in a tub and if you put more holes into the lid and sides it will help more water to evaporate, be careful not to put too many though.

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

I have my current BCI in a tub and if you put more holes into the lid and sides it will help more water to evaporate, be careful not to put too many though.

Thanks

Here's the ventilation system I have.
I will go buy like.. 3 - 4 small ones (they're like the size of a quarter) and put them on the side of the tub.

Mikoh4792 · 06-14-13, 05:21 PM

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

smy_749 · 06-14-13, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

Humidity is the % of water vapor in the air. A wet enclosure is not a humid one. I have humid enclosures with no condensation or wet spots in them. Also, warmer air is easier to keep humid than cold air. (thats why you see condensation on cold glasses etc.)

Just put a water bowl, don't mist at all, and check the humidity after a bit.

Mikoh4792 · 06-14-13, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

Humidity is the % of water vapor in the air. A wet enclosure is not a humid one. I have humid enclosures with no condensation or wet spots in them. Also, warmer air is easier to keep humid than cold air. (thats why you see condensation on cold glasses etc.)

Just put a water bowl, don't mist at all, and check the humidity after a bit.

You are telling me things I already know. I have already pointed that fact out to other members here. However, speaking from experience a damp/wet tub is a humid tub. Tubs are usually short in height and the humidity inside a damp/wet tub will be drastically higher than the humidity in a damp/wet enclosure/tank. With that quarter sized hole as his only ventilation in his tub, a damp/wet environment will not keep his enclosure at 50-60%, it will be much higher.

Edit: I don't understand why you mentioned it being easier to keep humidity in warmer air than in colder air. It doesn't further your argument. Snake tubs/enclosures will be warm, therefore more humidity. You combine warm air, water bowl, damp/wet environment and you have a very humid enclosure. A little too humid for his type of snake, and most likely more humid than his analog humidity/thermometers are reading.

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

How do you know the humidity is 50-60%? I bet you it isn't with the inside of the tub being damp/wet. It's probably more like 70-90%. If you are still using those gauges to read the humidity levels than it's most likely wrong.

I have just started using rack systems and I made a thread earlier about the humidity being too high. I just kept adding rows of small holes until they started to hold 50-70% consistently instead of 70-90%. Whenever I put my hand inside the tub I could feel that the air was too wet, and there was condensation inside the walls of the hiding spots and around the water bowl. Trial and error will work for you if you keep putting holes into the tub a little at a time.

Thanks for the suggestion! I am still using those gauges

Haven't had time to pick a better one up. Do you have a link for a good one? Maybe on Amizon or Ebay?

Mikoh4792 · 06-14-13, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

Thanks for the suggestion! I am still using those gauges

Haven't had time to pick a better one up. Do you have a link for a good one? Maybe on Amizon or Ebay?

Yes I do.

Amazon.com: AcuRite 00325 Home Comfort Monitor, Black: Home & Kitchen

Many people use this, it's very popular and reliable.

You could also these stick-on fluker's digital therm/hydrometers. They are a bit pricey, and people have complained about their quality but comparing them to the readings on my acurites, they seem to be consistent and I haven't had one fail on me.

Amazon.com: Fluker's Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer: Pet Supplies

You could also look for other options to suit your needs/purposes, but I am giving you choices based on what I have used and still use with good results.

Amadeus · 06-14-13, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

Thanks

Here's the ventilation system I have.
I will go buy like.. 3 - 4 small ones (they're like the size of a quarter) and put them on the side of the tub.

NP man, and what are you using as a screen there? I'm just interested as I never thought of that =]

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

NP man, and what are you using as a screen there? I'm just interested as I never thought of that =]

It's a little sink/bath tub drain cover thing. Got it for $1 at Big Lots.

Terranaut · 06-14-13, 06:56 PM

It's a sink drain catch.
I think your just used to the old setup you had drying out in a couple hours. If it is wet a day or so it's fine. Wet for a couple weeks is not. When you mist now with a tub you don't need to drench it down. Just a light mist will do. Wait a week and let us know. Also your humidity sounds wrong to have wetness in the tub. Where is the probe located?

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

It's a sink drain catch.
I think your just used to the old setup you had drying out in a couple hours. If it is wet a day or so it's fine. Wet for a couple weeks is not. When you mist now with a tub you don't need to drench it down. Just a light mist will do. Wait a week and let us know. Also your humidity sounds wrong to have wetness in the tub. Where is the probe located?

It's located in the middle-ish of the tub. about an inch or so toward the hot side of the tub. And one quick question... If those tubs get hot, won't the produce dangerous fumes? Idk what "too hot" would be for those tubs, but the hot side of the tub is at 92 degrees. That was one reason I was kind of skeptical of tubs but I forgot to ask about that.

Mikoh4792 · 06-14-13, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

It's located in the middle-ish of the tub. about an inch or so toward the hot side of the tub. And one quick question... If those tubs get hot, won't the produce dangerous fumes? Idk what "too hot" would be for those tubs, but the hot side of the tub is at 92 degrees. That was one reason I was kind of skeptical of tubs but I forgot to ask about that.

92 degrees is fine, many people house ball pythons in tubs and 92F is an ideal hotspot for ball pythons. By probe, do you mean you are using a thermostat with the UTH?

ErikBush97 · 06-14-13, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

92 degrees is fine, many people house ball pythons in tubs and 92F is an ideal hotspot for ball pythons. By probe, do you mean you are using a thermostat with the UTH?

By probe. I use that cheap little Zilla Analog temp/humidity gauge that's in there for humidity. But I use a Zilla Digital thermostat for the hotspot.