Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Awhile back I read that you should not use the screen tops on a tank because it lets the tank dry out during the winter.My question is if you use plexiglass should you drill a couple small holes in it?If you dont will it raise the air temps to much?Any info will be great.Thanks.
Randy
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1.0 aberrant cal. king
0.1 reverse spotted cal. king

If where you live the humidity gets too low for the species you are housing, then you should cover the screen top.

Certainly you will need to allow some ventilation, even if just a little.

Temperature controllers are a necessity so you don't overheat the poor animal inside the cage, whether the top is screen or acrylic. With an acrylic top, it takes less heating to keep the cage warm, so monitor accordingly.
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Mark

Several things

First of all you are right, using a screen topped tank will dry out the inhabitants unless you live in a very humid climate or find some other way to humidify the entire room. Even with the closed top providing a humidity chamber is also a good idea.

Second, If you use acrylic it will warp over time. Heat and humidity from one side will make it bend unless it is attatched to some kind of frame, flipped over regularly, or otherwise held in place.

Third, are you asking if you need air holes? The answer is obviously yes.

Just a question: would a moderately-sized water dish provide enough humidity for a tank with a screen lid? That's all I have in mine, and I've never had an issue with sheds, etc.

Also, could some of you post some pics of your setups? I'm trying to move my Cal king to a larger tank, and I need some ideas.

Thanks.

that is not really a question that any one can answer.

However a cheap barometer could tell you easily.

The reason is because I know nothing about your setup. This entire conversation is mute if you live in FL for example. Or if you have a fishtank in the same room... or if you provide a humid hide of some type... or if ....whatever

If your snake doesn't have shedding problems then you are probably OK, but if you put in a humidity box and the snake never leaves...

check out the thread below about a snake in a cup of wet moss.

LOL. I posted on that thread. I'm planning on moving my snake into a 50 gallon long tank, and I was wondering if a large water dish would provide sufficient humidity. I live in the mountains of NC where it is reasonably humid, though nowhere near that of Florida.

I live in Ohio and the furnance runs alot.I do have a large water bowl in the tank with them.I have noticed the sheds have been more brittle the last couple of times.I do have the plexiglass bolted to the screen top.Thanks for all the replies.
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1.0 aberrant cal. king
0.1 reverse spotted cal. king

>>Awhile back I read that you should not use the screen tops on a tank because it lets the tank dry out during the winter.My question is if you use plexiglass should you drill a couple small holes in it?If you dont will it raise the air temps to much?Any info will be great.Thanks.
>> Randy
If you have under the tank heater, you can ajust your humitity by simply moving the water bowl closer to the heater or light. It also depends on what type of bedding you use, Wood products will suck up the moisture. Cal Kings are pretty durable, you could experiment by covering part of the tank with plywood or paneling, and checking temps.and humitity. On my tanks, I've been using screen tops for years, and never had a problem, but my largest tank is a 20 gal. so its a smaller area to keep the moisture contained. I would think if the snake is to dry, it would just get in its water bowl, as long as you use a big enough bowl.
Good Luck!

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I have found that my snakes soak more with the water bowl on the cool side.

>>I have found that my snakes soak more with the water bowl on the cool side.

Ya, the only time I see my snakes soak, is if I over feed them, to large of meal, or if we have a hot spell, 90 degrees plus, they will soak in their water bowl. Except for a 14yr. old corn snake that takes a quick bath after every meal, as soon as he is done eating it.LOL
I also see them soaking once in while during brumation (50-60 degrees). Any information on that?
THANKS;
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Yeah last year I lived in an attic apartment and had a tough time keeping temps down in the summer. I found my snakes all soaking a few times. Thats partly why I always leave it on the cool side. If a thermostat should open up, a cool water bowl provides a last saftey catch.

I can safely say that I have never seen any of my snakes soak during brumation