RCReptiles.com

[tigasnake]

Well guess what guys. After taking all suggestions and compiling them, I came to this finish.

The Basking side is now safely 90 degrees. The cool side is now 80 degrees.. and the humidity couldn't be any higher.. 75%.

The cage now has 2 hides, some flora, a "jungle-gym" group of logs to make the center look cluttered and a nice semi-hideaway tunnel while the snake travels. There is also now retail moss inside the hide closest to the waterdish. And yes, I switched completely to Cypress Mulch Bedding. Even in my hands, the mulch seemed cool and a bit damp. Pictures are below:



Above is a pic of Marty (Back to the Future nut)



Above is the overview setup of my new setup



Above is the center of the cage (Monkey Bars)



Above is the right of the cage, with the water bowl and the moss cave



Above is the left of the cage (basking area)


If you look at the overview pic, you'll vaguely see the temps and humidifier.

Left: 90 degrees
Right: 79-80 degrees
Humidity: 75%

Starting from now, I am giving the snake 7 days to explore and get used to its new surroundings before feeding or handling it.

[ryancbj22]

The only thing I see is the analog thermometers. You need to get some digital thermometers that have a probe so you know exactly what the temp of the uth is at the hottest point under the substrate. They sell a nice one at walmart or home-depot for $15 it's an accurite it measures the hot side the cool side and humidity.

[cupcake]

In my opinion after reading lots of caresheets the humidity wants to be around 30-50 % and raised to 75% humidity when in blue (shed). If it is too high all the time it can cause RI, but then if it is too low that can also be a cause. If it is too high you may need more ventilation to allow the humidity to escape and then when you want to raise it mist the viv/tank each day or block some of the ventilation off to help raise levels. Moving the water bowl under the heat source raises the humidity levels and some people use a humid hide which is a hide with a hole cut in the lid and damp spagnum moss inside which the snake will hopefully use when needing higher levels of humidity to shed.

[tigasnake]

Yeh you're right cupcake, the good news is it went down drastically since the setup was finished. It's now at 45%. I hope it stays there, or else I'll be back where I started. It might be because the cypress mulch is getting aired and heated at the same time. I'll keep you guys updated.

[tigasnake]

And as I write this, Marty poked his head out to check out his new setting. He's perimetering the jungle gym right now.

[deborahbroadus]

[ryancbj22]

I agree Deb! My rack holds humidity at 75 and it's not damp or wet at all humidity is not a direct cause of RI. I did a lot of reasearch on RI and humidity was not mentioned in any case. Humidity is a measure of how much moisture is in the air you can have wet or damp substrate and only have 50% humidity and end up with scale rot. As long as the substrate is dry and theres no moisture on the sides of the tank then generally there shouldn't be a problem....

[cupcake]

[ryancbj22]

There is nothing I read in Ron's blog that states an RI can be caused by humidity levels being to high! The only thing it says is too wet. Humidity is the measure of the amount of mouisture that is in the air. Your substrate could be dripping wet and the humidity levels may only be at 50%. I'm not saying that it couldn't be a cause if your humidity is so high that there is mouisture built up on the side of tub or enclosure then ya that could cause a problem but my humidity is at 75 to 85 all the time in my rack and everything from the substrate to the side of the tub is bone dry. I could see certain conditions causing a problem but just because your getting a reading of 75% humidity does not mean your going to have problems. Also if you read further into some other articles there has never been a case of RI with a reptile that was caused directly by high humidity there are always other determaining factors that lead to the RI itself.....

[cupcake]

Why is your humidity that high. Mine hardly gets above 75% after I have sprayed it.

[ryancbj22]

Because of it being a rack system they hold humidity a lot more than say an aquarium with a screen top or lid. Plus the way I built my rack there is only a few thousands of an inch between the top of the tub and the shelf to prevent any escapes so this allows for the humidity to build up better. I control it by drilling holes in the sides the more holes the less humidity.

I have a 4ft long tank that is 2ft high and it holds humidity at 65% but thats with a diy humidifier....

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[cupcake]

This makes sense to me:

http://www.rcreptiles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=21544&highlight=#21544

[Buck_99]

Reasonable people have disagreed on the humidity issue before, and will continue to do so.

I will say that the anapsid.org article cited earlier is for reptiles in general. Different species have different needs. Colubrids don't do as well in high humidity situations as ball pythons, for example.

I personally feel uncomfortable keeping my ball pythons at 75% year-round, day after day. At 75% I tend to see condensation, and that gets absorbed in the aspen substrate. I shoot for about 60% instead, and bump it during shed. But that's just me.

.

[deborahbroadus]

True, all true Buck,

I want to insert an observation here:

Even in tanks with 75-80% humidity..if one would put a thermometer for humidity in different parts of the tub, one may get different readings. 75-80% humidity is not what the whole tub would be and some parts naturally would be more humid than others.

I base this observation on:

In a rack of 5 sterilities...all with the same temp (more or less) I may still get one that has a humid tub and a iffy shed (not bad, but not full either). This is because that snake spent most of it's time at the back of the tub and rarely came to the front where it is most humid because the water is there.

If there are any scientists aboard that have a better explanation, I would like to hear it. Cause this is only an observation on my OWN bps and not a research project.

I am currently doing an investigation on this, but as said before, there has been no research on the issue. Those with R.I have usually had other factors also in play which they would be more willing to disclose in private to a sympathic ear and not on the forum for fear of the backlash.

[cupcake]