Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys I have a puzzling question for you. I have a small room that I use as a snake room. I currently have 1.4 normals and 1.0 pastel that are housed in a rack system made by myself. The room is heated year round by helix controll systems. This being the abient air temps and the basking temps as well. The question that I have is how to humidify the intire room (200sqft) year round with out making a mess. My animals have no problem shedding as long as I keep them and there boxes moist. Just curious if any small breeders or anyone for that matter had some helpful advice. Thanks Corey

I don't humidify anything but the animal's enclosure. To humidify a full room would take quite a bit. What are your walls and ceiling made out of? Will they rot? You also have to be careful that you are not growing bacteria or providing breeding grounds for it. Now, if you have a room like the Barkers or SK, then you should have no problems.

I think there is too much emphasis placed on humidity. I live in Central FL, so humidity is, well, we have some. I had a snake shed everything but a small piece on her head (not around her eyes). I left it alone. She shed last night - without any misting or increasing humidity - and it all came off.
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Jay A. Martin

Humidity is VERY important to the health of Ball Pythons.

I did not say it was not important. I said I think there is too much emphasis being placed on it - finding the perfect humidity level. Having spent the last 3 or so years helping others in this forum, I think I can safely say there's a considerable amount of overkill in many areas - this being one of them.
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Jay A. Martin

"I did not say it was not important. I said I think there is too much emphasis being placed on it - finding the perfect humidity level. Having spent the last 3 or so years helping others in this forum, I think I can safely say there's a considerable amount of overkill in many areas - this being one of them."

So tell me what is more important than humidity other than temps?

health... I have been a keeper of Ball Pythons for over 10 years and a keeper of reptiles for more than 25 years. Humidity for the Ball Python is not (IMHO) number 2 in the list of most important priorities for Ball Python husbandry.

There are many, many Ball Pythons out there that have retained sheds, not because of low humidity, but because of things like parasites, stress, etc.

Please go back and read my comments and go back and look throughout the Ball Python forum (at least a couple years) and read my comments. I'm not new to this hobby.
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Jay A. Martin

I live in Southern California in what is essentially "reclaimed" desert. Humidity here hovers around 60% outside and a LOT less inside, what with the omnipresent air conditioning. You Floridians are SPOILED.

I recommend going to Radio Shack and getting one of their combination thermo/hygrometers. It's an excellent way of keeping track of the two most important (IMHO) aspects of a herp's environment.

Just my two drachmae....

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2.0 Ball Pythons
2.0 Bettas
1.1 Pekingeses
1.4 Rats (for breeding)
1.0 Mouse (for scenting rat pinkies)

Spoiled? Try living here during breeding season when the animals can't figure out if it's cold or hot from day to day.

The humidity in my home is less than 60% - which is where my Ball Pythons are housed. I also lived in Texas (DFW). Never had a real problem with sheds. An occasional small piece of skin would not come off completely, but that was the exception rather than the rule. My snakes are housed in "closed" rack units with a water bowl, not large enough for the snake to climb into. This will raise the humidity in the enclosure on its own. I've never measured the humidity in my racks as I haven't had an problems with sheds.

I imagine a desert-like environment would be a problem and thus thrust humidity to the top of the concerns list. But like you said, most Floridians don't have that problem.
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Jay A. Martin

It's friggin rediculous. It averages 13% humidity year round except when its "monsoon season". That means we get the occasional sprinkle. We have two 10gallon humidifiers going 24/7 just to keep our room at 65% humidity. Our room is only 17x10.

In Colorado humidity is a problem for me too, especially in the bigger cages and in the winter when the furnace is running. The rack system helps a lot as long as there aren't too many air holes. I've lived in coastal areas before and know it is a different world. I can't imagine trying to keep a ball python in a screen top here but suppose there are places where that will work and humidity is something you don’t have to worry about.

I'm agreeing with Jay here, why humidify an entire room, when with proper husbandry you can keep the humidity of your enclosures perfect for shedding?

My herp room is 13' x 11' and I run 1 Honeywell humidifier for 15 mins out of every hour all summer long. In the wintertime (WI winter) when my furnace dries the house to a crisp, I run BOTH of my humididiers.

I try to maintain a fairly constant 60% in my herp room.

I would check out your local hardware store to find a humidifier that will work for you. Then you can set it at a certian point (mine have auto shut off so it turns of at desired humidity level, but they dont work very well) or set them up on a multi timer like me.

Good luck, Al

So, instead of practicing good husbandry, you'd rather try to mask it by getting the humidity up in the ENTIRE room then in the tanks individually? That seems to me, to be putting the cart in front of the horse. Bass-ackwards.

I'm a new and casual hobbyist but I keep aqauria on a serious level. I have about 75-125 gallons of water in the house at any given time and I noticed I have nice humidity in the winter when others don't. This is a pretty passive method however.