humitity????

paul · 11-07-02, 11:49 AM

I have a question I hope someone can answer for me. I have a bp and I was wondering what the humitity should be in the tank. I have mine at 30-40% is that good and if not what should I do?
Also should I maybe put a sponge in to keep it moist. Thank you in advance.

Big Mike · 11-07-02, 12:08 PM

This is from Melissa Kaplan...

"Humidity and Ball Pythons
Ball pythons are native to very warm, but not hot, dry areas in Africa. Many people make the mistake of trying to keep them in a too humid overall environment, using damp sphagnum moss or misting them frequently throughout the day. The problem with this is that keeping the overall environment damp leads to conditions such as blister disease where in the skin, usually of the belly, becomes covered with blisters, leading to bacterial infections of the skin, which in turn leads to overall health problems.

In fact, all a ball python needs is an area within its dry enclosure to which to retreat when it requires higher humidity. One way to accomplish this is to provide a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in when it wants. Depending on the ambient room (and thus enclosure) humidity, this may be enough, or may be enough during part of the year. Another good, safe option for a ball python is a humidity retreat box."

30-40% sounds a little low to me, unless you have a humid hide. I think most poeple keep their houses higher than that (on average). Where are you? What are you using as an enclosure? Substrate? Heat source?

It's important that the humidity be higher before and durring it's shed period but other than than they sould be OK with 40-60%.

Do some reasarch to find some good care sheets and that should help you with an good humidity level. Once we know more about your enclosure, we can give some tips.

paul · 11-07-02, 12:23 PM

Thank you Melissa.

We live in a basement apt. For the substrate we use cocunut bark. are temp are good on the cold and warm side. we have an undertank heater with lamp on top of tank (45 gallon tank) big water dish.(8 or 10 inch round ) our basement may be a little on the dry side because we have a gas fireplace.

Thank you for your reply.

Tim_Cranwill · 11-07-02, 12:37 PM

What are you using as a lid for the enclosure? If it is a full screen top, you'll lose a lot of humidity that way...

It wouldn't hurt to include a humid hide box... What I do is take a container that the snake will fit in and cut a round access hole in the lid. Then I put a good fist full of paper towels in and soak them in water until they have almost absorbed all they can. Then, put the lid on and keep the box on the heat source. Now the snake can get as much humidity as it wants and the water won't evaporate too fast.

You could also use a hand towel, sphagnum (sp?) moss or any other moisture holding medium.

There may be better methods out there, but this is what I've come up with and it works for me.

paul · 11-07-02, 12:42 PM

yes I do have an open screen top, also what is the purpose of the water dish if the snake can go into the container and the water dish. Please let me know as I am a first time owner and need all the tips I can get.
thanks

Tim_Cranwill · 11-07-02, 12:45 PM

I'm not too sure. Maybe so they don't soak in their water and deficate in it...

Tim_Cranwill · 11-07-02, 12:46 PM

I've just heard that it helps with shedding, so I do it and it works.

Big Mike · 11-07-02, 01:17 PM

I have heard that coconut bark can really dry out the air in an enclosure. Therefore if you use it, you may need suplimental humidity.

You want to give the snake some options...a big water dish to drink out of, soak in or deficate in. Maybe the snake does not like to soak in water, even if it need the moisture so give it another option like a humid hide.

At the very least...put the water dish on the warm side and cover most of the screen top with a towel or something to keep the humidity in.

It sound like you have a good set up though...your snake should be happy & healthy.

P.curtus · 11-07-02, 01:52 PM

Big Mike hit it right on the head, cocconut husk is not a good substrate for ball pythons. I suggest plain old newspaper, but if you're gone for a natural look cypress mulch is great and will help out with humidity too. Although you don't have to be too concerned about humidity with bps' just mist 'em 2 or 3 times a day when they go into shed.

Lisa · 11-08-02, 12:26 AM

I've found the cypress mulch to work great for humidity concerns, and as you can see from the pics i've posted both here and on http://snakes.lexxdog.com it looks good.