Can humidity be too high?

[Sasha2]

Ive had my rainbow for 2 weeks now. He was given to me along with a ball python. He is about a year old, best guess. Now he had a bad stuck shed but Ive have gotten all but one eye cap off so I wasnt worried to much about the super high humidity. But long term could be a problem. I bought a digital hygrometer 2 days ago and it reads 99 percent. Is this something to worry about??
He is in a tub so I imagine the only way to control it is too put in more holes?
Papertowel substrate, two hides with eco earth in them. A large water bowl.
The ambient temps have been a bit too cool. I just moved to the new house so havent gotten things squared away yet.

[ARCH3R]

Yes, it can be too high. Not necessarily directly on the snake, but because it indicates extremely low ventilation, especially if it's been cooler in the tub. The low ventilation can cause RI and mold, and as I'm sure you've heard BRB's don't have the hardiest respiratory systems. Drill more holes, keep the moist hide. If it's not enough try baking the substrate to dry it out a bit, as long as you still have the really moist hide. I shoot for 75-85 on "dry side" and over 90 in moist hide.

[bigsnakegirl785]

No, humidity cannot be too high for BRBs. Babies need to be kept as close to 100% as you can possibly get it, and no less than 85% for optimal health. As adults, they can tolerate it as low as 75%, but I'd keep it higher like a baby's.

There IS, however, such a thing as being too wet with these guys. Dirty conditions and perhaps too low of humidity will give these guys an RI, but they aren't like most other species in captivity. High relative humidity (humidity in the air) does not cause problems, only helps. You want minimal ventilation to keep humidity up as well.

Having a lower humidity can work if you have a humid hide, but I wouldn't let it get below 75% at the lowest anywhere in the enclosure even with it in there.

[Sasha2]

Thanks Bigsnakegirl

ARCH3R, I have a bit of problem taking your advice when you say 90 degree hot hide. I do know for a fact that brbs do not tolerate temps above 85. Although I wasnt sure about exact humidity levels I have read the caresheets from Rainbows R Us
http://rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com/Ca...ainbow_Boa.htm
They keep temps low, humidity up and low ventilation.

[bigsnakegirl785]

As far as the shed problem, it could either be due to an inaccurate hygrometer or the ambients aren't high enough to hold sufficient air droplets. You generally want to see condensation, which is a good indication of good humidity. You do still want enough humidity to escape so it doesn't stay wet in there all the time, though, to try to combat mold growth.

[ARCH3R]

Originally Posted by Sasha2

Thanks Bigsnakegirl

ARCH3R, I have a bit of problem taking your advice when you say 90 degree hot hide. I do know for a fact that brbs do not tolerate temps above 85. Although I wasnt sure about exact humidity levels I have read the caresheets from Rainbows R Us
http://rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com/Ca...ainbow_Boa.htm
They keep temps low, humidity up and low ventilation.

You should read my post again, those aren't temps, they're percentages.

Big snake girl- I think we're saying the same thing in different ways, because I agree with everything but the ventilation. When I say ventilation I mean a line of holes drilled around the tub and a few lines on top so that enough air can circulate that it doesn't become so stuffy that bacteria and mold begin to form.

[Sasha2]

ARCH Im super sorry, didnt realize those were humidity percentages. I read them as temps and that threw me off.

I do have holes drilled in the sides and just a few in the top of the tub. Like I do with my balls.
He had the stuck shed when I got him two weeks ago. I am just doing damage control on the snakes now from their former owner.
He is eating great,which is always a relief, although so far has only taken live mice.


I do notice ive had mold in some of the humid hides that I use the eco earth in.(I keep small containers in all my tubs for all my snakes with eco earth). I recently switched from spaghum moss to the eco earth, Im thinking of switching back.

[ARCH3R]

It's all good I wasn't very clear. And mold is definitely bad, that's all I was trying to avoid. Will these snakes handle as much humidity as you put them in? Yes, but, dehydration isn't the only thing that can cause harm to them.

[SoPhilly]

I'd switch back to sphangum moss, I've never had it mold.

[Snakesitter]

^^^ This. Great answer.

The high reading could be due to a poor gauge. Are you using one of the little spin dials?

Better to go with too few holes to start (easier to add than take away).

Good luck!

[Snakesitter]

Yes:

;-)

[bigsnakegirl785]

I have yet to figure out how to completely stop mold in my BRB's enclosure. Both sphagnum moss and EcoEarth have molded on me. I have to completely switch the bedding out every few weeks, and it's getting expensive. I've tried adding more air holes, I've tried keeping the bedding completely dry and just spraying a little, I've tried getting a larger flexwatt to increase the area that's heated so maybe more will evaporate...nothing's worked for me. I'll probably see mold all the time until I start heating him with an RHP in his adult enclosure, which should dry out the bedding before it starts molding.

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Yes:

;-)

This made me lol

[Sasha2]

I have a digital hygrometer that is brand new.I'm going to put a few more holes in the sides and see how that helps.
I havent decided if I am keeping him, he was given to me with the ball python I bought.
If I do I wonder if a cage like a boaphile or animal plastics might work better then a tub? He is pretty cool but my main focus is the balls and corns.

[Albert Clark]

Try using 100% cypress mulch. One of the top substrates.