Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a screen top 20 gallon long glass aquarium. I use Bed-a-beast for my substrate and a small heat pad and 100W red heat light for heat. my temps are 90 degree basking, 85 warm side and 78-82 cool side. I have a bark hide for the cool side and a ceramic plant pot for a warm hide. I have a medium water dish on the cool side. I have a huidity level of 35-40 on the warm side. I NEED MORE HUMIDITY.

Here are my ideas:
-Cover screen top with plastic wrap except where heat bulb is.
-Move water dish to a warmer spot for more evaporation
-create a water hide for more humidity.
-pet store guy said to keep bed-a-beast substrate damp constantly for more humidity (scale rot issue?)I spray 1 time a day
-put a humidifier in the room. it is an open ended room (no doors to restrict humidity)

any other ideas? or input on theses ideas. I think I will definitely cover the top and move the water dish. The humidity hide seems like a good idea, any container suggestions to keep it looking 'natural'? Thanks for your help!

Jeff

I would make a humid hide from a container that the snake fits well into. If you want it 'natural' looking you can try a clay pot type or you could hot glue gun rocks or wood to it I suppose.
-----
Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

Heres what i did, i took a small (blue) kitty liter pan and turned it upside down, cut a square in the side and made it into a humidity box. I put it in there but I didnt like the blue plastic look of it. So i took more wood chips and covered it up on the side and top of the hide. There was no blue showing at all, it looked like a cave and it made another level on the top of the hide. Kinda like a plateu with a cave in it. It looks cool to me. Just my thoughts.
'Chris

Instead of increasing your whole room or whole cage humidity, I would simply add a humid hide area. This works well for me. I just have a rubbermaid container with a hole cut in the top and it is filled with moist substrate. I have had no shedding problems. I live in UT where it is very dry throughout the year, and this method works great. This also gives the snake a choice to be moist if it wants to. If you increase the whole cage humidity, then there is no choice.
Justin J

I am very lucky that both of my B.P.'s use their humid hides.
I don't have to worry about humidity... and they have both had perfect sheds, so far. Right now, I'm just using "Cool Whip" containers... with a hole in the side, and damp paper towels. I make sure to change the paper towels, at least every-other-day... so they don't get "gross". I keep them on the warm side, but not directly ON the heat. It seems to work for me, and that is where they spend a LOT of their time. They seem to love it.
Just my humble opinion... I'm a beginner, and there may be more experienced people on here that will give you better advice.
Good luck!
Mindy

OK, I like the idea of another hide for humidity. Now, do I put a moist substrate in it or just water? I have read that my substrate - 'Bed-a-beast', is good at holding water, should i throw some of that in there, or use paper towels or just water? How big should the hole be and where? on the side and just big enough for him to get into without letting too much out? Thanks for everything guys

I use spaghum moss and just dampen it - rewet as needed. I put it on the warm side. I have a hole in the top for entrance and exit - big enough for the snake to get in, but not too big.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Sounds good, but doesn't wet substrate lead to scale rot? I guess that isnt 100% of the time he is on it, so it doesnt matter...

You don't want it to be soaking wet. Just damp. I think as long as your BP isn't in there 100% of the time and has an alternative drier substrate to go to it should be okay.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I use that too and I'm wondering how long it lasts.

TX!
-----
Rob Talkington

Well, I actually use it for my Kenyan Sand Boa and I only give it to him when he's in shed (since they need lower humidity). My Ball Python won't use a humid hide - he likes to make me do all that extra work to up humidity. LOL.

Hopefully someone else can answer that as I'm sure I'll need to know for one of the snakes I hope to get in the future.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I tend to leave it in there and check it, by smell, for mold or mildew. I am VERY allergic to mold and mildew and so I can literally just go by smell. That said, I replace it maybe twice a year. If it totally drys out now and then you run less chance of it getting funky. But generally it is beaten to powder and has to be replaced anyway. Lovely thing about spaghnum is it has good fibers to help shedding and it is really resistant to rotting.
-----
Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

>>I tend to leave it in there and check it, by smell, for mold or mildew. I am VERY allergic to mold and mildew and so I can literally just go by smell. That said, I replace it maybe twice a year. If it totally drys out now and then you run less chance of it getting funky. But generally it is beaten to powder and has to be replaced anyway. Lovely thing about spaghnum is it has good fibers to help shedding and it is really resistant to rotting.
>>-----
>>Sonya
>>
>>Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.
-----
Rob Talkington