Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I'm trying to raise the humidity in my 55 gallon tank because for some reason the guage says that it keeps dropping down to about 40%... And from what I understand, that's not a good thing..... I've gotten the temp regulated but the humidity is just concerning me... Am I going to have to bite the bullet and get one of those little foggers? Or does anyone else have and suggestions?

Mike

Whats your cage set up like?

Type of cage (and size), type of substrate, screen top or covered, type of heating, type of hygrometer you are using (digital or analog), etc.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

It's a 55 gallon tank.... with a screen lid made from 1/4 hardware cloth....I'm using aspen for bedding and I have an under tank heater with a full spectrum light for the day time and an infared light at night... And I'm using a digital hygrometer that I bought from the hardware store.

OK - first with the open top the heat and humidity rises right up out of the tank - a covered on the top will solve a lot of your problems - try finding a peice of plexiglass that will fit - or you can use a peice of wood, pegboard, etc. Also I would use cypress or reptibark to help maintain better temps and humidity in a bigger tank.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

My only concern about putting plexiglass on there for a top is.... wouldn't the lights melt the plexi glass?

Personally - I would ditch the lights all together - if you needed additional heating - I would stick another heat mat to the bottom or side of the tank. Or depending on whether you are using dome lights or hood lights you could cover just a portion of the top and still allow the lights to be used.

To be honest I have two concerns with the hardware cloth - is it the metal kind? If so don't the lights make the cloth hot too? My concern would be that it would burn the snake? Also I would be concerned about accidents due to rubbing on the hardware cloth while he's trying to make a break for it in the middle of the night?
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

The hardware cloth is made of metal.... But it seems to stay cool to the touch with the lights on it... And as far as your other concern.... There are no jagged edges on the lid from what I can feel..... Here's a pic of my tank.... It's not a very good one of the top, but it's all I have for right now.

Incandescent lights will dry the air out pretty quick, especially 3 of them. They also generate a lot of heat. I can't think of any reason why you would need 3 big lights and a heat pad. Make sure you are checking your temperatures correctly.

These snakes need belly heat, not air heat. The temperature right over the heatpad if what you should be measuring. Heatpads without thermostats / rheostats will easily break 100 degrees farenheit, so if you don't have a temperature controller, AND you are using 3 lights, there is something wrong.

As for humidity, the only time you need high humidity levels is during shed. Find a solution that works and stick with it. For some it is heavy misting repeatedly during the shed cycle. For others, covering the screen works fine.

Good luck.
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0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Leopard Gecko

OK, one of the lights is a full spectrum bulb.... Which I could understand ditching that one and the other is a 50 watt basking bulb.... The third one in the middle is one of those infared heat bulbs.....I have an under tank heater on one side of the tank..... it's not a very big one. The room is well heated by a wall mounted heater that's right behind the tank... If I ditch the lights what should I use for lighting in the tank? Just the natural sunlight coming in from the window? The other thing is that I live in Oregon...right on the beach.... Not exactly the warmest most humid place to live in the United States...

The reason that I'm trying to get all of this straightened out is because the two BP's that I house in the tank haven't eaten in almost 3 months... And I'm just trying to figure out what could be making it so they don't want to eat... Any other suggestions would be oh so helpful because at the current time I don't have the money to get another set up...

Thank you all for your help
Mike

Balls don't need any additional light than what comes through the window - remeber they spend most of thier life in the wild inside burrows and termite mounds (completely in the dark). If you cover the tank and heat from the bottom up you should be good to go. It may take some tweaking but once you get it where you need it, you are good to go.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

So should I get rid of the Infared light also?....

>>So should I get rid of the Infared light also?....
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

Ok I see the point of no extra lighting. But as for the infrared light the only thing I could see you use this for is viewing your bps at night. Because the infrared light should not disturb them in their nocturnal activities. And a low watt one at that.
The other thing is that maybe they went off feed for the winter. That could and does happen. I do agree that they should have their own cages for the reason that if one gets sick, the other can get sick very easy. And if you have to take a sample of their stools in to the vet. How are you going to know which one it came from unless you see them deposit it. This is my opinion I am not an expert.
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1.2.0 ball python (aragorn, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 100% het pied (frodo)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

The fact that there are two of them together. That could be the reason right there that they won't eat. Put them into their own enclosure, get a digital thermometer to test the heat directly over your UTH and once that is done I bet they will eat for you.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

Sorry my concern is not really jagged or sharp areas but that balls tend to like to spend their free time exploring the top of their cage - with a (rough) surface like hardware cloth there may a more of a likelihood that while hes poking around the top that he rubs his nose raw. Smooth surfaces are usually your best bet.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

Cover up 3/4 or so of your screen and get rid of the lights they dry out the air sucking away your moisture. A UTH should be good for heat.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com