Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Need some help here. I have tried everything I know to increase humidity in my 4ft vision cage. Here is the set up. I have a 50 watt bulb in the place for heat. I have to small radient heat panels set at 83 degrees on the far side of the cage. I have the whole back covered except a small part. I have a small water dish in there, and I have a container with moss in it. The humidity is still at like 30 to 40. I mist the cage twice a day. I now use Kraft paper for the flooring. Not sure what else I can do?
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

This is typical with Vision cages in low-humidity rooms.

If your snake will take advantage of localized humidity in the form of a humidity box (box with moss in it) then that is one way to approach it.

If you need humidity throughout, then a large water container helps, as does a substrate that can emit humidity like coir (coconut fiber) or Jungle Mix, etc. A heat pad under a large water container will help.

Although paper substrates make it easy for you, they also readily absorb humidity and hold it in. Kind of the opposite of what you need.

One problem is the glass doors - they let humidity escape. If you can put some gasket between the gap (they sell it for doors at Lowes, HD, etc) then that helps.

Humidity is the biggest problem I face as well. The above suggestions have helped me out.
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Mark

I don't use lights in my vision, as it dries out the cage even more! I use a heat pad taped to the bottom, and I cover it with aspen, or newspaper.
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Thanks,
Amy
My Boids

>>I don't use lights in my vision, as it dries out the cage even more! I use a heat pad taped to the bottom, and I cover it with aspen, or newspaper.
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Appreciate the comments. Can't argue about lights drying the air.

When the room is cold, a heat pad doesn't do too much but produce a hot spot in an otherwise cold cage. In these times, lights (or radiant heaters) make a difference.

Heat pads can dry out animals just as much as lights dry out the air. The moisture to be concerned about maintaining is the moisture in the animal. The trick is a hide area that maintains a moderate humidity. In the wild, snakes use these hides to cool down or heat up without drying out.

The above shows that one heating method is not necessarily better or worse than another as long as the moisture in the animal can be maintained.
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Mark

Over the last 18 years that I've been dealing with reptiles, I can surely say that I have tried everything. Personally, I have had so many problems with radiant heat and lights with snakes, but I do agree a humid hide is a great way to go regardless to whether you use lights or heat pads.

I do use a ceramic space heater to keep my ambient room temperature between 78 and 85 depending on the season and the time of day. That unit alone dries out my room from about 30% humidity to less than 25%. I had to add a humidifier to create an overall room humidity of 50%.

Everybody has different experiences though, and I can't provide a humid hide in a 4 x 2 Vision for a 7 foot boa, so perhaps if I was able to provide more humidity in the cage, I wouldn't have the issues I've had with lights

Happy Holidays!
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Thanks,
Amy
My Boids

Maintaining humidity is a real challenge for sure when you live in a low humidity area. Happy holidays to you too.
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Mark