Tips on bringing up humidity?

vjdragonfly · 01-04-14, 03:01 PM

I just bought my son a BRB for Christmas and I am having a hard time getting the humidity up. We have cypress as the substrate and spray the tank daily. We use a 60 watt heat light in a 10 gal tank with the top covered except where the light sits. The light also sits over the water to increase evaporation. The temperature under the light (on top of his hide) is 84. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The poor guy had a very bad incomplete shed

kwhitlock · 01-04-14, 03:06 PM

Ditch the heat lamp and get a heat pad with a thermostat. A good hotside is about 80-82, anything more than 85 starts becoming lethal. Also, get a humid hide. I have a small locking tupperware thing where I cut two holes in the sides for mine to get in and out, filled with dammp sagph moss. Hope it helps!

vjdragonfly · 01-04-14, 03:07 PM

Here is a picture of the little one:

Jim Smith · 01-04-14, 05:27 PM

Because I have Honduran Milk Snakes, maintaining high levels of humidity is not as big an issue for me. That said, one of my snakes was looking a bit "dry" as she was preparing to shed the last time, so I put a plastic dish in her enclosure with loosely wadded up paper towels and about an inch of water in the dish. The paper towels continuously wick up the moisture up where it evaporates quickly. It seemed to work great and she shed just fine.

lewis13 · 01-04-14, 05:48 PM

I agree with what kwhitlock said. ditch the tank and get a plastic bin or steralite tub. It will keep humidity great and use the UTH as well.

poison123 · 01-04-14, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhitlock

anything more than 85 starts becoming lethal.

I doubt that. So long as you provide lower temps then any snake should be fine with basking temps over 100F. Not saying that the snake would use those temps but having the option to use it is not dangerous.

I've never kept BRB's so I'm not sure if they bask or not but I would use a 40W house bulb and raise to the basking surface to get the temp you want. What are you measuring himidity, basking and ambient temps with?

CK SandBoas · 01-04-14, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I doubt that. So long as you provide lower temps then any snake should be fine with basking temps over 100F. Not saying that the snake would use those temps but having the option to use it is not dangerous.

I've never kept BRB's so I'm not sure if they bask or not but I would use a 40W house bulb and raise to the basking surface to get the temp you want. What are you measuring himidity, basking and ambient temps with?

With Brazilian Rainbow Boas, you do not want to get above 84....especially with young ones.....they are a lower temp species....Adults are a bit more forgiving, but high temps can be lethal to babies......

marvelfreak · 01-04-14, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I doubt that. So long as you provide lower temps then any snake should be fine with basking temps over 100F. Not saying that the snake would use those temps but having the option to use it is not dangerous.

I've never kept BRB's so I'm not sure if they bask or not but I would use a 40W house bulb and raise to the basking surface to get the temp you want. What are you measuring himidity, basking and ambient temps with?

Temps over 85 are deadly for Rainbow Boas.

poison123 · 01-04-14, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CK SandBoas

With Brazilian Rainbow Boas, you do not want to get above 84....especially with young ones.....they are a lower temp species....Adults are a bit more forgiving, but high temps can be lethal to babies......

I can see how having high temps can be lethal if the snake is forced to warm up with those temps and no option to use lower but I don't see how it is harmful if you simply offer it and the snake chooses to use it. I have heard the same story for many species but has been proven to be false imo.

poison123 · 01-04-14, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Temps over 85 are deadly for Rainbow Boas.

Are you saying this because you've never seen a BRB use such temps or have you actually seen them die from such temps (basking temps with the option to use lower). I'm curious as to how its deadly. Are their scales not as thick as other boas?

kwhitlock · 01-04-14, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I doubt that. So long as you provide lower temps then any snake should be fine with basking temps over 100F. Not saying that the snake would use those temps but having the option to use it is not dangerous.

I've never kept BRB's so I'm not sure if they bask or not but I would use a 40W house bulb and raise to the basking surface to get the temp you want. What are you measuring himidity, basking and ambient temps with?

I'm going by what the two biggest BRB breeders that I know of told me and from reading numerous books, care sheets etc. doesn't make me an expert by any means.

My BRB spends most of his time on the cool side of his tub even now with the temp being ambient 68 on average. He will spend some time in his warm side where it doesn't get above 81. Even when he's digesting, usually in his cool humid hide.

Personally, for young BRB, I say no way to heat lamps. I'll never use one.

poison123 · 01-04-14, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhitlock

I'm going by what the two biggest BRB breeders that I know of told me and from reading numerous books, care sheets etc. doesn't make me an expert by any means.

My BRB spends most of his time on the cool side of his tub even now with the temp being ambient 68 on average. He will spend some time in his warm side where it doesn't get above 81. Even when he's digesting, usually in his cool humid hide.

Personally, for young BRB, I say no way to heat lamps. I'll never use one.

Thank you for the info. If these snakes do indeed prefer to bask at lwer temps then there is no point in offering high temps. But still wont hurt to offer, the snake would just avoid that spot.

CK SandBoas · 01-04-14, 08:08 PM

I would still ditch the heat lamp, move to an UTH, move the baby into a tub, and you will see an increase in the humidity. Even if you don't move the BRB into a tub, put a plastic container filled with damp sphagnum moss on the hot spot in the tank, and that will help to achieve proper sheds....

marvelfreak · 01-05-14, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Are you saying this because you've never seen a BRB use such temps or have you actually seen them die from such temps (basking temps with the option to use lower). I'm curious as to how its deadly. Are their scales not as thick as other boas?

I have actually seen temps over 85 cause regurgitation in my male BRB. Plus i had a buddy cook his CRB when his air went out and his room temp spiked to 89 degrees. The cool end of the cage was around 92 for over 8 hours and the warm end 98.5. When he got home and found the air out the first thing he did was check is snakes. To find the male dead and the female near death. He lucked out on the female as she was smart enough to get in her water bowl.

vjdragonfly · 01-06-14, 06:11 AM

Ty so much for all the wonderful advice, definitely will put it to use. It is good to know BRBs don't like as warm of temps, as mine is young. I was told they are very fragile up to a year old. So UTH is safe to use in plastic tubs? How do you control the basking temp.? I do have hides in both ends of the tank and s/he does use both. Again ty so much.