Docter's Orders!

Herpkid101x · 07-31-07, 02:33 PM

Yesterday whle i was at the vet with my ball python i had mentioned that the snake had had incomplete sheds ever since i have owned him. I told him that the humidity is 50-60 in day and 60-70 at night and he said its too low and that it should be 75. I have a humidity box(which is spahgum moss inside a show box) and a water bowl large enough for him to soak in. He has been using it for a couple of weeks before he shed which he did last Saturday. I try misting the cage but it only stays high for like 10 minutes. Could i use a Humidifier that i can buy from Petco because it looks like it can do the job and is a reasonable price of $19.79

Joe · 07-31-07, 02:57 PM

what kind of enclosure are you using? if its a screen top aquarium try covering some of the top, leave some exposed for air movement but if you cover the top a little more it will create less area for the humidity to escape, good luck and keep us posted

SerpentLust · 07-31-07, 04:11 PM

When I had problem sheds with my amazons, I covered 3/4 of the top of the tank with a damp towel. Worked wonders. Of course, you could just change his enclosure to a rubbermaid which will hole humidity a lot better.

Jenn

Herpkid101x · 07-31-07, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

what kind of enclosure are you using? if its a screen top aquarium try covering some of the top, leave some exposed for air movement but if you cover the top a little more it will create less area for the humidity to escape, good luck and keep us posted

i use a screen top cage but the problem is that the heat lamp on the top of the cage takes up most of it

SerpentLust · 07-31-07, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herpkid101x

i use a screen top cage but the problem is that the heat lamp on the top of the cage takes up most of it

Well there's another issue right there. Using a heat lamp will dry up the air. If you can afford it, I would get myself an under tank heater, you will notice a big difference.

Herpkid101x · 07-31-07, 08:30 PM

i already have an undertank heater! : ) so do i just put a towel over half of the top? also does it have to be a damp towel or does it just add extra humidity if like that?

mykee · 07-31-07, 09:05 PM

Extra humidity is good in your case. Cover up as much as you can without completely restricting airflow.

The Snake Guru · 07-31-07, 09:37 PM

All interesting points, the heat lamp, heat pad combo is usually needed in most households to keep temps up.

Covering up part of the tank lid is a fine idea....you actually do it for just the shed cycle as well to raise the humidity.

I forget what type of substrate do you use? Looking into a substrate that holds more humidity would be another option.

the room humidifier is also a good one, I have humidifiers in every one of my snake rooms.

~B~

SerpentLust · 07-31-07, 10:12 PM

That's strange to me that the lamp/pad combo is needed. I have never, ever needed to use more than a UTH, they've always made a great hot spot and my ambient temps have always been good, and I'm in Northern Ontario. lol

The Snake Guru · 07-31-07, 11:39 PM

LOL, must keep your house very warm then! I do the same with my reptile rooms.

~B~

Herpkid101x · 08-01-07, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Snake Guru

All interesting points, the heat lamp, heat pad combo is usually needed in most households to keep temps up.

Covering up part of the tank lid is a fine idea....you actually do it for just the shed cycle as well to raise the humidity.

I forget what type of substrate do you use? Looking into a substrate that holds more humidity would be another option.

the room humidifier is also a good one, I have humidifiers in every one of my snake rooms.

~B~

i use aspen snake bedding for my snake. so would the undertank heater and the heat bulbs on top with the humidifier be good enough? Also you said to put the towel over the cage only during the shed cycle but could you have both the towel on top of the cage only during shed and the humidifier all the time?

Herpkid101x · 08-01-07, 09:45 AM

Another question for everyone is it ok to switch a snakes lighting heat source from a red bulbs to regular light bulbs? I dont think it matters but i just want to be sure. The lizard has the regular light bulb and the snake has the two red. The one on the lizards cage makes the same amount of heat as the two on the snakes cage put together. So i was thinkin i can switch the two since lizards cant see red light and i could just turn of the regular light bulb of for the snake at night. Doing that i can have more room for the towels on the snakes cage since his heating source is kinda big.

SerpentLust · 08-01-07, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Snake Guru

LOL, must keep your house very warm then! I do the same with my reptile rooms.

~B~

Yeah I really do LOL I belong in Australia or something haha Seeing as how most my reptiles are from there anyways

The Snake Guru · 08-01-07, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herpkid101x

Another question for everyone is it ok to switch a snakes lighting heat source from a red bulbs to regular light bulbs? I dont think it matters but i just want to be sure. The lizard has the regular light bulb and the snake has the two red. The one on the lizards cage makes the same amount of heat as the two on the snakes cage put together. So i was thinkin i can switch the two since lizards cant see red light and i could just turn of the regular light bulb of for the snake at night. Doing that i can have more room for the towels on the snakes cage since his heating source is kinda big.

It does make a difference, using the red style bulbs keeps you day/night cycle in check....if you use a regular light bulb all the time....well it'll be like daytime 24-7 not something you want to do. If you need more space...look into a differnt style bulb that puts off more heat, or a larger bulb or ceramic heat emitter.

Quote:

Yeah I really do LOL I belong in Australia or something haha Seeing as how most my reptiles are from there anyways

LOL I hear that! 80 to 82 degrees up here year round! Love it in the winter time! LOL

~B~

SerpentLust · 08-01-07, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herpkid101x

Another question for everyone is it ok to switch a snakes lighting heat source from a red bulbs to regular light bulbs? I dont think it matters but i just want to be sure. The lizard has the regular light bulb and the snake has the two red. The one on the lizards cage makes the same amount of heat as the two on the snakes cage put together. So i was thinkin i can switch the two since lizards cant see red light and i could just turn of the regular light bulb of for the snake at night. Doing that i can have more room for the towels on the snakes cage since his heating source is kinda big.

I wouldn't put the normal light bulb on the snake. If you need more heat, use a ceramic heat emitter, but make sure it's attached to a dimmer or thermostat, I have a nasty scar from being burned really badly from a ceramic heat emitter.