Bah! Humidity

SerpentLust · 03-01-05, 11:08 PM

Alrighty, help?

I have a Habitarium black enclosure set up for my Colombian Rainbow. I have a Humid Hide (which she adores), paper towel substrate, two water bowls (one under the heat source) and spray three times a day, the humidity won't get over 65%!!

Heather? Help? Hehehe

Anyways, I think I've figured out the solution from reading, just looking for further input...

1. I have it heated by a Red Bulb in a bulb cage, I heard that heat bulb dry out enclosures whereas under tank heat does not.

2. I'm already switching her to cypress mulch after quarantine.

So let's concentrate on #1...I've never used undertank heat on a Melamine Enclosure, but everyone's telling me it's the best way to do it.

I guess it doesn't matter if I use a pet store heater or a human one. I have a thermostat that I would attach it to.

Now as far as placement for both, do I put them under the melamine enclosure or in it. If it goes in, do I put something to cover it like a tile or something?

Thanks in advance

Jenn

ChunkyMunky · 03-01-05, 11:24 PM

I have one Melamine enclosure, and I had the heating pad underneath it. Later, I noticed that there was not enough heat coming through. So I moved it inside on the cage floor and attached it to a thermostat of course. I then put down 2 layers of butcher paper over it, and put about 2-3 inches of the water dish over it as well. I had it this way for about a year now with no problems. Even in winter I maintain around 55-60% humidity without spraying.

Also, Im not familiar with these Habitariums, but make sure it is not over ventilated. I have mine so the ventilation is enough. No more no less.

Hope this helped,

Dan.

HeatherRose · 03-01-05, 11:31 PM

I would get rid of the bulb, it's completely unnecessary and could be drying out the air. I would think it's just evaporating the water, not creating humidity like you want.

I don't know what a Habitarium is, maybe someone with rainbows and custom cages could help you out with that... I'm an advocate of rubbermaids, so I won't be much help there.

I'd use a heat pad, and you could try putting part of the water dish over the heat pad to increase humidity, I do this in some cages, and have all of my rainbows in rubbermaids so I don't have to mist or worry - ever. Belly heat is also a better option.

This is all just what I would do, so I'm not saying it's necessarily right, as I don't have any Colombians right now...

But personally I think the red light is just not a good idea at all, I didn't see anything like that on the few caresheets I perused. They need humidity, and lights are known (I know there is debate over this) to dry out air, so I just don't see the point in using one... but then again I have rubbermaids and you've got something made with Melamine

I think once you've fixed the heating problem your humidity will shoot up nicely.

Good luck Jenn!

SerpentLust · 03-01-05, 11:45 PM

*grins* Thanks guys, I'll go get my Human Heating Pad tomorrow from North Bay.

By the way, Habitariums are just Melamine Enclosures that weren't built by me hahaha

www.habitarium.net they're at most of the expos. Although I'm going to purchase a Reptic Plastic at the next expo and see how those work out for me.

SerpentLust · 03-01-05, 11:49 PM

Heather: Could you take pics of your Rubbermaids? Inside and out? Worse comes to worse, I'll utilize those god aweful ugly things lol j/k

Jenn

ChunkyMunky · 03-02-05, 12:00 AM

www.habitarium,net doesnt work for some reason...... hmmmmm, lol.

[Cough] Comma [/Cough]

SerpentLust · 03-02-05, 09:54 AM

*smirk* Don't know what you're talking about, try clicking on my link again, you weren't clicking right

Jenn

HeatherRose · 03-02-05, 10:06 AM

I'll get some pictures tonight

SerpentLust · 03-02-05, 10:17 AM

Thanks Heather

dr greenlove · 03-02-05, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SerpentLust
Alrighty, help?

I have a Habitarium black enclosure...

Having just looked at the Habitarium site i notice that those cages appear to have somewhat huge ventilation thingys (technical term

).

Assuming that you are using basically the same sort of set up, the amount of ventialtion/air exchange going on will make it very difficult to get the humidity up.

I even noticed that the site advertises these large vents as a good thing. Not really the case if you want that humidity nice'n'high.

SerpentLust · 03-02-05, 01:22 PM

Although I'm not fond of Rubbermaids at all, I think for now it would be the healthier alternative. I'm thinking until the April PCPC expo I'll keep her in a smaller Rubbermaid heated with undertank heat. Then when the expo comes, I'm going to buy a 36" Reptic Plastics enclosure for the colombian with undertank heat and use this Melamine one for a less humidity dependant snake.

My spotted python does fabulously in the habitarium. But I see what you mean with the ventilation. Maybe it'll be an excuse for me to pick up another Spotted, hehehe

Jenn

HeatherRose · 03-02-05, 02:00 PM

Here you go Jenn...

This is my neonate VRB's enclosure:

Two hides, water dish, paper towels, and there would be a heatpad under the right hand side. You can see by the hygrometer that the humidity is rocking.

From the outside, it looks pretty snazzy. I like these particular rubbermaids because they're pretty clear, and have clear lids with snapping handles...