Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, everything in my set up has been working for a couple of days now and I wanted to run everything past you all first just to get some feedback before I get the occupant this coming weekend.

I will be picking up a '06 ball. He will be starting off in a 10 gal for the first several months to year. Here's my list: under tank heating pad running through a thermostat, aspen bedding, hide on cool side, hide on warm side, water hide in the center, two branches for climbing, screen lid weighted down, small overhead clamp light resting on screen lid. (Branches do not get very close to location of lamp.)

Temps: I have about 88 on the warm side, and the cool side seems to hover around 78. The natural humidity in the room/tank seems to be sitting around 40% right now.

So, suggestions on getting humidity up higher? Also, should I try and get my cool side cooler?

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
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O.1 Cat "Bella"
1.0.2 Red Earred Sliders "Yertle" and "The Twins"
1.0 Husband "John"
297.331 Elementary School Students

i keep my cool side 85 degree's and warm side about 95...humidity i try to always keep above 60 percent...i have a waterfall...large drinking bowl and i spray in it everyday..my top is made of 1/4 inch plexiglass so it holds humidity in...try spraying ..or getting a mister for the cage...maybe a larger water bowl...use a substrate that hold humidity
jake

I think your temp profile is just about perfect. No need to get the warm side any higher. The cool side may be just a tad bit low. I like to shoot or around 80-82 for the cool side, with the warm side hanging around 86-88. You humidity (40% RH) is absolutely perfect. Contrary to some info you may run across, BPs do not need humidity any higher than that (excpet during a shed). In fact, it is far worse to keep a cage overly humid and damp. To boost humidty during shedding time, simply mist the tank a couple times a day.

Thanks to both of you (rare and JP) for your thoughts. I know the basics are in good shape...it's just the details that herp people always seem to sweat over

I will admit that I am concerned about the humidity thing...frequent tank misting makes me concerned about damp substrate and blister disease. When you mist, are you misting the walls, the substrate, furniture, everything?

However I also don't want to just shrug it off for right now and then have the poor little guy's first shed in my care be a disaster.

I guess my challenge, like so many others, is increasing humidity with out everything having to be damp to sopping wet to do it.

Once again, thanks to both of you...I appreciate the feedback.
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O.1 Cat "Bella"
1.0.2 Red Earred Sliders "Yertle" and "The Twins"
1.0 Husband "John"
297.331 Elementary School Students

Don't sweat it. It will be fine. The misting will not lead to blister disease. You can soak the substrate thoroughly without any problems. As long as it dries out periodically. Also, you only really need to worry about it RIGHT BEFORE it sheds. You can wait till the eyes go from blue back to clear, then mist (or even soak, if you want) once or twice a day. I actually rarely do even this, and most of my snakes shed just fine. I usually wait until I have a bad shed, then simply help the snake out. It might happen once every 3 or 4 months, and I have a fairly sizable collection.