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Having humidity issues...

sprastr May 11, 2005 09:54 PM

Hey again guys. Got my setup all finished and ready to go. Temps look good but I'm having some problems with the humidity. Optimal humidity for balls is 50-60 I believe but I'm having trouble getting it above 30. Any suggestions? I tried putting the water bowl underneath the heat lamp and I tried misting but it seemed to just get stuff wet and still not break 40. Thanks.

Replies (6)

toshamc May 11, 2005 11:23 PM

If your set up has a screen top you need to cover it all the heat and humidity go right out the screen. Also heat lamps have a tendancy to dry out the cage too, use an UTH if possible. Also your substrate can help or hurt your humidity (dependingon what you use). Hope this helps.
-----
Tosha

"Of course, this is just my opinion...and I believe I am God." -- Christopher Bianco

6.24.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

Kingofspades May 12, 2005 05:31 AM

If it's a screen top, cover 2/3 of it with a towel and keep the towel damp but not wet.
This keeps the humidity real nice in Eve's and Damien's cages.

sprastr May 12, 2005 08:16 AM

Alright well I don't have a screen top but I do have two small air vents I put towards the bottom so I wouldn't lose too much heat. I don't think they're big enough to be a problem though. And help a clueless guy out...what's a UTH? Right now a have a porcelain fixture with an infrared bulb...my basking temps are running a bit high so I might end up stepping down to a 100 watt rather than a 150. Thanks again guys.

toshamc May 12, 2005 10:59 AM

What set up you are using. what kind of cage, what size, what substrate, heat sources, etc. Then we can take it from there, just guessing but if you have an enclosed cage and you are using a 150 watt bulb - that may be the culprit. An UTH is an Under tnak Heater, provides some nice belly heat without drying out the cage.
-----
Tosha

"Of course, this is just my opinion...and I believe I am God." -- Christopher Bianco

6.24.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

sprastr May 12, 2005 01:53 PM

Yeah its a selfmade cage built into a bookshelf type deal. It is 30x26x18, made of fiberboard. And you're right about the light. Like I said the temps are a bit high anyway so I was going to try out a 100 or less watt bulb rather than a 150. And I can pick up a heating pad sometime this week. Thanks again.

sprastr May 13, 2005 08:45 PM

Turns out I don't have humidity issues at all. Just happened to be using a crappy hygrometer. Picked up some new therms and a hygro today and its reading a healthy 58 percent. So if you submerge the hygrometer in question in water and it only reads 70 percent, take a hint fellow herpers. Thanks again to anyone who posted.

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