To much humidity?

milk man · 07-15-13, 09:00 PM

I Have been having trouble keeping my humidity up in my Cali king and Honduran milk snake's tanks. So I put plastic wrap over the screen top to keep the humidity up, but I'm paranoid that I don't have enough oxygen circulation in the cage. It is pretty much completely covered. I have also been misting every other day, which I am going to cut back on. I'm not sure the exact humidity but its much higher now. Will the high humidity mixed with low air circulation cause problems? I know about mold problems but I am using reptibark for substrate and I keep a close eye on all my wood hides.

**EL Ziggy** · 07-15-13, 10:31 PM

I didn't think kings needed lots of moisture but since I'm only a novice in the hobby I'm curious to see the advice you get. I've been rethinking my screen top lately. Best wishes.

milk man · 07-15-13, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I didn't think kings needed lots of moisture but since I'm only a novice in the hobby I'm curious to see the advice you get. I've been rethinking my screen top lately. Best wishes.

The high humidity was more for the Honduran, but I went ahead and did the same thing to the cali kings cage. My Hondo had two sheds that came off in pieces.

valid · 07-15-13, 10:58 PM

Have you tried adding a humid hide (Filled with sphagnum moss) ?
I have found that it is a lot easier, and just as effective for my Honduran.
I do keep my milk in a tub though rather than an aquarium with a screen top.

milk man · 07-15-13, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valid

Have you tried adding a humid hide (Filled with sphagnum moss) ?
I have found that it is a lot easier, and just as effective for my Honduran.
I do keep my milk in a tub though rather than an aquarium with a screen top.

I have been thinking of putting a humid hide in, but he was going through his mating season stubbornness and wouldn't move from his flat hide. He came out today for a while right before lights out so I will offer him one on his next shed.

Just a side question. Can I use sphagnum moss from Lowes? If so should I heat it in some way to get rid of any bugs? I know which ones contain fertilizers and will stay away from them. The sphagnum moss at the pet store is way over priced, and I dont see a reason to use new Zealand sphagnum in a hide.

Mutiny · 07-15-13, 11:00 PM

In my experience a wooden top is a good choice i use one for my bull snake it helps with maintain consistent Humidity and Air temps no need to worry about them not being able to breath there is plenty of air in there lol

valid · 07-15-13, 11:45 PM

I am not sure.
I didn't know that lowes carried it.

I Agree that most at petstores are over priced. I got a .33, lb. 160 g bag (a good deal larger than the petsmart small packs) on amazon for $8.00 (I believe it was on sale normally $12 -still worth it-) Perhaps look there?

formica · 07-16-13, 02:24 AM

Just put the hide in, if he's stayin in the dry hide, its coz he doesnt want the humidity, he'll find the humid hide when he needs it - make sure you check the hide reguly, if the enclosure dries out quickly, the sphag will dry out quickly aswell, worth keeping some sphag ready to swap over

I have always used pasteurized sphag from garden centres (boil a pot of water, drop the sphag in and turn off the heat, leave for an hour or until its cooled, rinse well with clean water just incase there are pesticides from the garden centre) - no need to pay for over priced 'reptile' sphag imo

milk man · 07-16-13, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

Just put the hide in, if he's stayin in the dry hide, its coz he doesnt want the humidity, he'll find the humid hide when he needs it - make sure you check the hide reguly, if the enclosure dries out quickly, the sphag will dry out quickly aswell, worth keeping some sphag ready to swap over

I have always used pasteurized sphag from garden centres (boil a pot of water, drop the sphag in and turn off the heat, leave for an hour or until its cooled, rinse well with clean water just incase there are pesticides from the garden centre) - no need to pay for over priced 'reptile' sphag imo

I just covered the top last week. It dried out very quickly before that. So he wasn't hiding because he wanted to be dry. He wasnt moving for anything not even food. He was like that for 7 weeks.

formica · 07-16-13, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milk man

I just covered the top last week. It dried out very quickly before that. So he wasn't hiding because he wanted to be dry. He wasnt moving for anything not even food. He was like that for 7 weeks.

do you know the humidity requirements for that species? have you got a digital hygrometer? sounds like you are guessing from your first post - this is very dangerous, low humidity can be fatal for species which need high humidity, you need to get a digital hygrometer and stop guessing, and put a humid hide in there aswell

until you give your snake the option of dry and humid hides, you have no way to know why he's staying in one place, wether its because he wants to be dry, or doesnt have any other option, or because something else is going on

how long have you had him? how long have you had the sealed top? has he started eating again since you increased the humidity?

what are your enclosure temps?

milk man · 07-16-13, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

do you know the humidity requirements for that species? have you got a digital hygrometer? sounds like you are guessing from your first post - this is very dangerous, low humidity can be fatal for species which need high humidity, you need to get a digital hygrometer and stop guessing, and put a humid hide in there aswell

until you give your snake the option of dry and humid hides, you have no way to know why he's staying in one place, wether its because he wants to be dry, or doesnt have any other option, or because something else is going on

how long have you had him? how long have you had the sealed top? has he started eating again since you increased the humidity?

what are your enclosure temps?

I have read all I can about the types of snakes I have and I know the humidity requirements for them, but I admit I am a novice and dont know everything. That is why I am asking for advice. My ambient humidity here in Houston rarely falls below 50% so I thought it was fine. He was in shed when I bought him so that's why I thought the first shed went bad. I then started misting every other day but it didnt help. That is why I covered the top.

I do not have a hygrometer yet, but as I said it rarely falls below 50% humidity here. With a 135 gallon aquarium in my house its pretty stable at 60%.

As for knowing why he is hiding. He was brought out of brumation not long before I bought him. So I believe he was just in a mating cycle. He started eating 4 weeks ago.

I got him on 3/16/10. I covered the screen about a week ago. Wednesday is feeding day so he hasn't had a chance to feed with the higher humidity.

The hot side is at 87*F and the cool side is at 73-74*F. I use a UTH with a VE-200 thermostat for heat.

ErikBush97 · 07-16-13, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milk man

I have read all I can about the types of snakes I have and I know the humidity requirements for them, but I admit I am a novice and dont know everything. That is why I am asking for advice. My ambient humidity here in Houston rarely falls below 50% so I thought it was fine. He was in shed when I bought him so that's why I thought the first shed went bad. I then started misting every other day but it didnt help. That is why I covered the top.

I do not have a hygrometer yet, but as I said it rarely falls below 50% humidity here. With a 135 gallon aquarium in my house its pretty stable at 60%.

As for knowing why he is hiding. He was brought out of brumation not long before I bought him. So I believe he was just in a mating cycle. He started eating 4 weeks ago.

I got him on 3/16/10. I covered the screen about a week ago. Wednesday is feeding day so he hasn't had a chance to feed with the higher humidity.

The hot side is at 87*F and the cool side is at 73-74*F. I use a UTH with a VE-200 thermostat for heat.

You have a 135 gal for a Cali King snake?? How big is he.. I don't even think an over grown adult would need a 135 gal (depending on the dimensions)

Concept9 · 07-16-13, 07:49 AM

First off, please get a Hygrometer. Your King only needs to around 40-50%. Prolonged time over 70% will cause RIs.

I pic or two of your setup will help.

milk man · 07-16-13, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBK Boy

First off, please get a Hygrometer. Your King only needs to around 40-50%. Prolonged time over 70% will cause RIs.

I pic or two of your setup will help.

I will be getting a hygrometer soon. The ambient humidity in my house is around 60%. I was under the impression that that was fine. I would have to run a dehumidifier to get it lower than 60%.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

Guys, I think he meant he has a 135 gallon aquarium with water and fish in it...thats why the ambient humidity in his house is always OK.

Correct!

ErikBush97 · 07-17-13, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milk man

I will be getting a hygrometer soon. The ambient humidity in my house is around 60%. I was under the impression that that was fine. I would have to run a dehumidifier to get it lower than 60%.

Correct!

Oh. Sorry about that. lol