Posted by:
JP
at Fri Mar 31 07:20:12 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by JP ]
I respectfully disagree with you on this point. Can you cite one specific example of a ball that suffered any health problem what so ever as a definite result of LOW humidity? Just one? I have kept balls for well over 10 years, followed the forums for just as long, and have NEVER, not once, heard of a ball with a health problem as a result of lw humidity (other than bad sheds). Now, the flip side is that overly humidified conditions cause all sorts of problems...scale rot, mouth rot, other dermatitis type conditions, respiratory conditions, etc.
In my opinion, too many people rationalize certain conditions by "matching" the wild condition. In other words, since balls have higher humidity in their burrows in the wild, we should try and duplicate that as well in our captive snakes. Well, in the wild virtually all BPs have high loads of internal and external parsites. Should we try to duplicate that in captive snakes? I haven't seen anyone selling ticks...where can I get some to make my snakes more "natural"? Obviously that's tongue in cheek, but I think you get my point. The same goes for feeding. Many responsible herpers feed frozen/thawed, which is obviously not what the snakes get in the wild.
Herpers, particulary the inexperienced, get into trouble trying to match the conditions the animals get in the wild. My snakes get room humidity year round. It has been as low as 30% or lower during the dryest part of the winter. My snakes breed well (seems better than most, to tell the truth...I've never had a snake "slug out", become egg-bound, etc.), feed well, and do very well. My vet and I have a collegial relationship. I've shared things with her, but she has never had to treat any of my animals for any illness (and we're talking hundreds ove balls over the years).
Yes, I spritz a little when introducing males and females. Yes, I spritz a little around shedding. Otherwise, ball pythons simple do not require, and in fact seem to thrive even better without, high humidity.
Ask the "big boys (and gals)" how many of them do anything at all to increase humidity on a regular basis...you'll see my thinking is very much in line with their experiences as well.
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Tosh...we'll have to agree to disagree.. - JP, Fri Mar 31 07:20:12 2006