Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband is getting an enclosure ready for a brazlian hatchling. We are working at maintaining a humidity of around 80%. I was told by a person that has brazilians not to allow the substrate to be damp, that the snake will soak in it's water bowl to get the moisture needed, however, we can find NO way to keep the required humidity without the substrate being damp, the glass in the tank actually fogs somewhat. He says if we allow the substrate to be damp, the snake will get blister disease.

What do you guys recommend?

Thanks
Nina

I've kept mine in a tank on pretty moist cypress mulch since 4/02 and have not had any skin problems. I really am not familiar with blister disease, but have been actively reading in the forums since I've had the snakes and do not recall any mention of it. The bigger problem seems to be lack of humidity, not too much. If the bedding is thick enough(I keep mine 2 to 4 inches) your snake won't actually be laying in water, and will be fine. It's okay to have condensation on the enclosure, it just means your humidity is up.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

I wouldn't worry to much about the "blister" thing... Just keep your cage clean.. In very humid setups I have seen fecal matter grow mold on it over night!! So your friends blister dease is a husbandy issue (most likey). The only ways that I know that snakes get blisters are fungi infections (clean the cage) or by uric acid ex: snake tips over water bowl or is in a very humid set up the urin desolves in the water and starts burning the skin of the snake..