Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was just wondering how you guy regulate your humidity and what you use for substrate
any advice is helpful

New animals get paper towel, but I use sphagnum moss for the adults. Used to use shredded cypress, but I like the moss better. I mist each night with a sprayer. I like the opportunity to check the animals when I do and they like to drink the spray.
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5.5~Cornsnakes
3.4.1~Green tree python
2.1.2~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

Hi Meg. Thanks for reply. I can see where the moss will hold the humidity well, but do you use moss over the entire substrate? wouldn't this make cleaning cage difficult? I've heard cypress mulch is a common substrate too. I'd love to see any pics of your set ups as I want to set up an effective enclosure before I get my chondro. PS fuego is cool!

How old is the chondro you are geting? If it is a neo i would stick with paper towels if its an adult i would use moss or newspaper.
kevin kopf

The moss is the substrate. I used cypress mulch for a long time, but find the snakes like the moss much better and spend a lot of time crawling around in it. If they get some on the food item they are eating, it is far softer and more digestible (if you don't pull it out of their mouths) than the cypress. I do keep babies on paper towel at the beginning. I like Fuego too. She is very cool. Here is a picture of the cages with the moss.

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5.5~Cornsnakes
3.4.1~Green tree python
2.1.2~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

nice

I would use water as your substrate. It is harder to clean when the snakes defacates, but it makes it very easy to regulate the humidity. Chondros are not really suppose to be on the bottom of the cage unless they are sick. I still mist mine in the morning when the heat comes on, and do not mist again for the rest of the day so that the cage can some what dry out over night.

Good luck

Kyle with ALL ABOUT REPTILES
www.freewebs.com/kyleherp/

I find my chondros spend a great deal of time crawling around the bottom of the cage in the evenings, and I have several that will spend some of the time on the floor of the cage in the moss and they are perfectly healthy. Most of the animals that are found in the wild are found crawling around on the roads, not in the trees. I think it does not give the animal a chance to utilize the entire cage for exercise or to go to ground if stressed. It's also very unsanitary and grows bacteria rapidly, even if the animal doesn't deficate in it.
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5.5~Cornsnakes
3.4.1~Green tree python
2.1.2~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

I know of quite a few people who use water on the bottom of their chondro set ups. However as Meg was saying it just is not very practical, yes the humidity is high all the time, but is a little extra work misting worth having mold build up, and bacterial growth.

I guess I should not say that chondros only go to the ground if they are sick. They only stay on the ground if they are sick. At night they will come down to hunt.

Kyle with ALL ABOUT REPTILES
www.freewebs.com/kyleherp/

I would listen to Meg and Kevin on the substrate issue. I use paper towel in my rack, and have just switched to a bioactive substrate in my cages (as described by Phillipe de Vosjolli in the Art of Keeping Snakes).

Chondros aren't as hard as a lot of people make them out to be. As long as you are gong US captive bred, you should be fine. Establish a routine, and you will be ok, I spray my snakes every evening at dusk. I started this with my first chondro, and have continued it for the past two years and have had 99% perfect sheds the entire time. It isn't necessary to monitor your humidity with an actual device, just make sure the cage or tub becomes covered in condensation (hazy look) for a bit after you have sprayed.

Keeping you chondro with a water substrate is a terrible idea. the water will become a bacteria breeding ground due to warm temps...Plus these snakes utilize their entire cage at night, and some may ground themselves for a little bit (and are in perfect health). I have a male that like clockwork will ground himself for a day or two prior to shed.

Good Luck, and welcome to the addiction!!!
Link

I've toyed with the idea of going natural as you have. I just haven't done it yet. I do have the layout for setting it up per the book you have, but I've not built a cage for display yet. Perhaps in the future. Still I'd love to see your finished display cage.

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5.5~Cornsnakes
3.4.1~Green tree python
2.1.2~ATB
Dogs, cats, horses....
www.franclycac.com

I would listen to Meg and Kevin on the substrate issue. I use paper towel in my rack, and have just switched to a bioactive substrate in my cages (as described by Phillipe de Vosjolli in the Art of Keeping Snakes).

Chondros aren't as hard as a lot of people make them out to be. As long as you are gong US captive bred, you should be fine. Establish a routine, and you will be ok, I spray my snakes every evening at dusk. I started this with my first chondro, and have continued it for the past two years and have had 99% perfect sheds the entire time. It isn't necessary to monitor your humidity with an actual device, just make sure the cage or tub becomes covered in condensation (hazy look) for a bit after you have sprayed.

Keeping you chondro with a water substrate is a terrible idea. the water will become a bacteria breeding ground due to warm temps...Plus these snakes utilize their entire cage at night, and some may ground themselves for a little bit (and are in perfect health). I have a male that like clockwork will ground himself for a day or two prior to shed.

Good Luck, and welcome to the addiction!!!

Steve
http://www.[url ban]/NCherper
Link

for some reason it won't let me put my iherp URL on here...sorry for the duplicate

I have used water as a substrate for a long time and my gtp's have always been fine. Kevin Switzer of switzer reptiles does the same thing. Of course the water needs to be changed often, but depending on what type a cage you would be using, some are eayier to keep humid than others. I know of many breeders that use water or just keep it bare on the bottom of the tank. Chondros do not need higher temps anyway, only about 83-84 not 90. Sorry to give my advice, but it works well for me.

Kyle with ALL ABOUT REPTILES
www.freewebs.com/kyleherp/