humidity

tonyb · 02-23-05, 06:45 AM

whats the best humidity level for royals? also, whats the best way to increase humidity inside a melamine vivarium? at the moment ive got a bowl of water underneath the heat lamp but i cant seem to get the humidity above 30%

greenman1867 · 02-23-05, 06:52 AM

The heat lamp will dry out your Viv. If possible go with under tank heat.

Markus Jayne · 02-23-05, 07:42 AM

Use a bigger water bowl to attain a higher humidity level. More surface equal more evaporation.

My room runs at around 60% but containers are different. I can vary greatly based on the substrate you are using and where in the container your snake is situated.

I monitor both ends for humidity. One end, away from the water bowl runs around 40% and close to the water bowl around 58%. Wetting your substrate can make a big difference as well.

Mark

Bristen · 02-23-05, 08:35 AM

since I have a room dedicated to my snakes, I have a humidifer and I keep the room at 60% relative humidity which appears to be working fine for me.

However, in your case you may want to look at a different substrate that could hold moisture, such as bark suitable for reptiles, for example. Then you would have to mist it every once in a while, but the substrate would hold the humidity for longer than just plain newspaper or other such substrates.

Another thing you can do, is provide your animal with a "humid hide box". A hide box filled with damp sphagum(sp?) moss or something would also help with regards to this. I prefer raising the overall relative humidity in the ambient air better, but if all else fails, a humid hide could help.

Best of luck,
Bristen.

tonyb · 02-23-05, 09:01 AM

i have my humidity monitor at the opposite end to the water bowl so i supoose the heated end could be higher but obviously not high enough. i also used a humid hide but she never went in it. the other thing is, i live in england which is freezing so i have to use an heat lamp because a heat mat wouldnt keep it at the right temp on its own. i do have a heat mat though which i dont use, would it be worthwhile using the heat mat as well with the water bowl over the top of it?

malaysianbloods · 02-23-05, 01:44 PM

You should be using a heat mat underneath the tank anyways just to give your snake a hot spot of 90-93 and if your heat lamp is close enough to the cage floor to keep the hot spot at 90-93 then your snake is probably able to be burned i he go's to close. If you already hae a heat map then my bad but if not you shoudl put it under your cage and it will be worth wild to put the water dish over the heated area to bring up the humidity. HTH

tonyb · 02-23-05, 03:06 PM

cheers guys. as i said i have a melamine vivarium and use newspaper substrate. now, do i put the heat mat under the viv or under the newspaper?

greenman1867 · 02-23-05, 03:20 PM

I have mine under the viv, but if you want to get really fancy (but easy too) you can put a thin piece of lexan/acrylic/plexi or whatever in the viv and have the heat pad under it.

Spirit · 02-23-05, 04:14 PM

I use a heat lamp (have to because of ambient room temps) on the cool side, and a UTH on the warm. The humidity levels under the lamp stay at a steady 58-62% for about a week before I have to raise it.

I used to use aspen (23% humidity with 4 LARGE -not deep- water bowls), and quickly switched to a mix of forest bark and forest bed. Every week I pour some water along the edge of the tank, or on the UTH... it seeps in underneath, and the top stays dry. Works great.

Jeff_Favelle · 02-23-05, 07:48 PM

Quote:

i live in england which is freezing so i have to use an heat lamp because a heat mat wouldnt keep it at the right temp on its own.

Is your cage outside? Room temperature is room temperature, world-wide.

pinoiballer01 · 02-23-05, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Is your cage outside? Room temperature is room temperature, world-wide.

the room temperature changes if you dont have a centralized heat source like me. i live in an apartment and every time the weather changes my room temp changes. i dont have a heater in my room so i have to used both an undertank and heat lamp.

paulsreef · 02-23-05, 09:30 PM

It's -17 Celcius here today in Toronto; but my Balls are still at 93 F. With a portable heater you could increase the temperature in the room that your snake is in; therefore your undertank heater wouldn't have to work as hard.

tonyb · 02-24-05, 07:06 AM

favelle, you obviuosly havent been to england in the winter. its about -6 in the nights at the mo and room temps are low 50's. if i had numerous snakes then it would be worth buying heaters for the room but i only have one so its more economical to use heat lamps/mat etc. its also easier to keep constant temps control this way.

greenman1867 · 02-24-05, 07:24 AM

TonyB if you have to use an additional heat source, I would try either a Radiant Heat Panel, or a Ceramic Heat Element. Heating your room is the best option as mentioned, but if thats not possible try the other suggestions.

**edit: You could also try insulating the back sides top and bottom of the enclosure with the pink insulation board, its pretty cheap and for the winter you could just tape it in place. That might help a fair bit. **

Jeff lives on the Mythical Island Paradise of Vancouver Island, where as all us "other Mainland Canadians" know is like paradise on earth (at least if you live in Saskatchewan or Manitoba

). LOL J/K Jeff I know Victoria and Area is gorgeous, I am just jealous.

tonyb · 02-24-05, 07:47 AM

i do use a heat mat and viv heat lamp. i dont have a problem with the heating, the heating is good. it was just the humidity i had a problem with and hopefully ive sorted that out now. i never mentioned heating.