Zoomed repti rain help

sdiamond808 · 05-29-19, 05:08 PM

Picked up a zoomed repti rain to help keep humidity levels in the 60s for my boa. Issue is, it seems to just flood the soil below where the mister is. I adjusted the setting to more of a spray and it got the first few inches of soil below puddling wet, so I set it to stream, a little less now that is it spraying across the enclosure, but the substrate is still wet. Anybody know how to fix this or is repti rain just junk?

craigafrechette · 05-30-19, 07:11 AM

I've never used one, so can't comment on the quality or effectiveness of the product.

Can you tell me about your enclosure? I may be able to share a few tricks and tips to keep humidity up.

What type and size enclosure?
How are you heating the enclosure?
What substrate are you using?

Andy27012 · 05-30-19, 09:11 PM

Repti rains junk, buy a mistaking.

sdiamond808 · 05-30-19, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy27012

Repti rains junk, buy a mistaking.

I just ordered a mistking. Will have it by Saturday.

sdiamond808 · 05-30-19, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

I've never used one, so can't comment on the quality or effectiveness of the product.

Can you tell me about your enclosure? I may be able to share a few tricks and tips to keep humidity up.

What type and size enclosure?
How are you heating the enclosure?
What substrate are you using?

I have a 75 gallon glass enclosure with a screen top. I know it was a mistake, but I already paid so I'm locked in. When she gets bigger I will get a better enclosure. I just added a drainage layer and abg substrate so hopefully that helps. I have a 100w basking bulb for heat and I taped off half the mesh lid. Now all I think I can do is mist.

craigafrechette · 05-31-19, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdiamond808

I have a 75 gallon glass enclosure with a screen top. I know it was a mistake, but I already paid so I'm locked in. When she gets bigger I will get a better enclosure. I just added a drainage layer and abg substrate so hopefully that helps. I have a 100w basking bulb for heat and I taped off half the mesh lid. Now all I think I can do is mist.

There are still plenty of tricks. I live in pretty dry MA and never have to mist any of my enclosures. I'm happy to help you out if you're interested.
I've never used misters because they're just not needed. If the enclosure is set up right you likely won't need one either.

Albert Clark · 05-31-19, 12:33 PM

Wow, why don't you consider using some "press and seal" over the top of the glass enclosure? Then, just experiment with how much of the top you need keep covered to get the readings you need on the hygrometer. Press and seal is great stuff and easily accessed at the grocery stores. Much cheaper than the misting devices also. Of course always take into consideration how to maximize your ventilation of the enclosure if you decide to experiment with the "press and seal". Good luck.

There is also a glass top called a "versa top" that folds and comes with a plastic attachment to slide onto the glass on one side. They are made specifically to fit the sized aquarium/terrarium that you have in gallons. Therefore would be a perfect fit. A lot more pricey than " press and seal" but another option nonetheless.

sdiamond808 · 05-31-19, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

There are still plenty of tricks. I live in pretty dry MA and never have to mist any of my enclosures. I'm happy to help you out if you're interested.
I've never used misters because they're just not needed. If the enclosure is set up right you likely won't need one either.

Please help, I appreciate any advice. I live in tx and the ambiant humidity is mid 50s. With the mesh top and basking bulb I have to mist all day to keep it at 60. If I do nothing it seems the bulb burns off the water and drops it to the 40s.

sdiamond808 · 05-31-19, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Wow, why don't you consider using some "press and seal" over the top of the glass enclosure? Then, just experiment with how much of the top you need keep covered to get the readings you need on the hygrometer. Press and seal is great stuff and easily accessed at the grocery stores. Much cheaper than the misting devices also. Of course always take into consideration how to maximize your ventilation of the enclosure if you decide to experiment with the "press and seal". Good luck.

There is also a glass top called a "versa top" that folds and comes with a plastic attachment to slide onto the glass on one side. They are made specifically to fit the sized aquarium/terrarium that you have in gallons. Therefore would be a perfect fit. A lot more pricey than " press and seal" but another option nonetheless.

I like it to look nice so I have an led terrarium hood and the basking bulbs sitting on top. I used heavy duty gorilla tape to cover the end without the basking bulb, didn't seem to do much. How much air do snakes need? Don't want to suffocate her

craigafrechette · 05-31-19, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdiamond808

Please help, I appreciate any advice. I live in tx and the ambiant humidity is mid 50s. With the mesh top and basking bulb I have to mist all day to keep it at 60. If I do nothing it seems the bulb burns off the water and drops it to the 40s.

Since you've got plenty of room in that 75 gallon you can add a 2nd or even 3rd water bowl.

What are you using for substrate?
Using Coco coir would be your best bet. I use a blend of Eco Earth and ReptiBark. It holds humidity well and also spot cleans easy and looks naturalistic. You can also use damp shphangnum moss in hides and various spots to boost humidity.

Also, what helps me a ton, is I wrap all my glass enclosures in 1/2" foam board insulation. I do the sides, back and top.
This keeps heat and humidity in and helps immensely. I just cut a hole about 1" bigger around than the heat lamp. That provides plenty of air flow for the snake.
This keeps heat in,which allows our heating equipment to run more efficiently. The less artificial heat in the enclosure, the less evaporation. So the humidity stays higher. It also saves money on the electric bill since equipment is running more efficiently.

It also provides the security snakes thrive in by blocking out 3 sides of the enclosure while leaving the front open for viewing.

WolfMum13 · 06-01-19, 07:43 PM

Weirdest but best trick I’ve picked up. Wet towel over the top screen. My cages are black on top so I bought black towels cheap so it looks “aesthetic”, hand towels. Wet them with warm water put it over screen on the cool side, so it leaves air room, and my enclosures stay in the 70’s, 60’s depending on my snake. I usually just mist the towel with warm water every three days and it’s perfect. It’s great because depending on the humidity you want you can add more water to the towel or just make it slightly damp. I live in TN so it’s hot here a lot, the AC just kills my humidity in my house and no matter the amount of moss or misting I could never get it right. My Emerald Tree Boa had a mister and it caused the humidity to jump then drop etc. so i stopped using it, except when she’s in shed.

sdiamond808 · 06-02-19, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Since you've got plenty of room in that 75 gallon you can add a 2nd or even 3rd water bowl.

What are you using for substrate?
Using Coco coir would be your best bet. I use a blend of Eco Earth and ReptiBark. It holds humidity well and also spot cleans easy and looks naturalistic. You can also use damp shphangnum moss in hides and various spots to boost humidity.

Also, what helps me a ton, is I wrap all my glass enclosures in 1/2" foam board insulation. I do the sides, back and top.
This keeps heat and humidity in and helps immensely. I just cut a hole about 1" bigger around than the heat lamp. That provides plenty of air flow for the snake.
This keeps heat in,which allows our heating equipment to run more efficiently. The less artificial heat in the enclosure, the less evaporation. So the humidity stays higher. It also saves money on the electric bill since equipment is running more efficiently.

It also provides the security snakes thrive in by blocking out 3 sides of the enclosure while leaving the front open for viewing.

I installed a rock drainage layer with 3 inches of abg substrate. The abg seems to hold on to moisture well but isn't puddling. Seems to be working.

phenyx · 06-02-19, 08:46 PM

I keep both my snakes in glass tanks with mesh tops. To cut down on humidity loss, I go to Wal-Mart and buy one of their stupid-cheap poster frames with the 4 separate rails. The side rails aren't important; you can toss those in the recycle bin. What you're left with is a nice piece of plastic that you can cut with utility scissors (I use an old pair of poultry shears) to fit over the mesh top, inside the metal rim, leaving 1/2-1" of uncovered mesh for ventilation.

I put the bare ventilation strip at the farthest end from the CHE. The first time I did this, I ran a bead of hot glue around the edge of the plastic securing it to the frame. I haven't done this on the subsequent tops and I haven't noticed any difference in how well it maintains humidity.

One caveat: You will have to suspend your heat/light fixtures over the plastic on a lamp stand or clamp the fixtures to something because the heat from a CHE will melt this plastic.

But it does work. I mist my BRB viv once or twice a week and am able to maintain 80%+. My BP viv gets misted once every 7-10 days to maintain 60%. Of course, both are misted more often when they are in shed.

Albert Clark · 06-03-19, 12:59 PM

You may like it to look nice but the functionality has to serve the needs of the animal. So it may have to be a trade off in consideration of the needs of the reptile.

sdiamond808 · 06-03-19, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Since you've got plenty of room in that 75 gallon you can add a 2nd or even 3rd water bowl.

What are you using for substrate?
Using Coco coir would be your best bet. I use a blend of Eco Earth and ReptiBark. It holds humidity well and also spot cleans easy and looks naturalistic. You can also use damp shphangnum moss in hides and various spots to boost humidity.

Also, what helps me a ton, is I wrap all my glass enclosures in 1/2" foam board insulation. I do the sides, back and top.
This keeps heat and humidity in and helps immensely. I just cut a hole about 1" bigger around than the heat lamp. That provides plenty of air flow for the snake.
This keeps heat in,which allows our heating equipment to run more efficiently. The less artificial heat in the enclosure, the less evaporation. So the humidity stays higher. It also saves money on the electric bill since equipment is running more efficiently.

It also provides the security snakes thrive in by blocking out 3 sides of the enclosure while leaving the front open for viewing.

What do you keep humidity at? I read some people say 75-80 others 60