Of course there could be other causes. But this is based on what you tell us. As there is not animal or even pictures to help with a more accurate recommendation.

Humidity, 70% RH is great for reptiles and hognose. You can tell when its to humid in a cage, if mold grows in the cage, you know, on any biological matter. Then increase ventilation. If no mold is growing in the cage, there will be no problem from humidity.

Also, you talk about how hot it is, yet you use a heat pad. If your room temps are 85% you have no need for a heat pad of any kind. If your using the heat pad for winter, please turn them off in the summer.

Your design appears to me, to be something that complicates something simple. Colubrids snakes are as simple as you can get, which is why they are popular. In your case, you don't need fans or heaters, all you need is a box to hold them in and the ability to adjust ventilation when required.

About water, wild hogs, do not have drinking water for 80% of the year, which is why they CHOOSE to live in high humidity. They obtain their water from their food, and do everything they can to prevent water loss. An average hognose on my study site, may come to the surface and expose itself to open air, maybe 30 hours a YEAR. Most likely less.

Again, Heat, snakes including hognose, use a wide range of temperatures. Not one temp, their biology is based on that. To speed up their metabolism and slow down their metabolism when needed(required) Keeping them at one temp or within a few degrees is UNNATURAL to them. Which means, if you take away their natural abilities, it then becomes your responsibility to provide the right temps at the right time.

So the next step, before you waste time and energy with yout design is, provide pictures of the snakes and cages. Which may help you a lot oh and your hognose.

So please help us help you and offer more information. Best wishes and have a great day.

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