How should I raise the humidity in my snake cage?

Question

He just shed and it wasn't in one piece. I hear that is from low humidity.

I have a (just one) water bowl in it, I plan to maybe put in another.

He is on "vita-Sand" (edible sand stuff that they can digest) Is that making it too dry? Also, can I just put any kind of moss in his cage if I have to? And last, How long, and often should I soak him?

Please Help!

Answer 1

First if all - if he did just had a bad shed it happens to everyone - here is a GREAT pictorial of how to soak them after a bad shed - http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/showt... - to help with his current situation.

As for humidity - you would be better off with a different substrate - I hear aspen works well and I use reptibark since it holds in moisture pretty well.  You could also try to misting the tank once or twice a day.  Also - if you have a screen top you can cover part of it to help keep humidity in.  There are several ways to do this - I simply use glads press and seal and put that over 1/2 - 2/3 of the cover and that helps.

What are you measuring your humidity with?  You don't say what kind of snake you have, so I'm not sure what humidity level you need.

Answer 2

get him a warm bath for about 20 minits or less....then make a humidity box..

or mist him...

yur snake also need a high level of humidity in their enclosure, and benefit from being misted several times a day. In addition, they should be given a large water bowl that is big enough for them to soak. Strive to keep a relative humidity level of 75 to 80 percent. This can be measured with a hygrometer. A solid lid with ventilation holes will help keep humidity in better than a screen top. If you must use screen, it can be partly covered with plastic wrap or Plexiglas to help keep in moisture.

A special method of providing extra humidity is to make a humidity box for the snake. Line a lidded plastic container with damp sphagnum moss, and give it an entry hole. The snake can enter this container when it feels a need for even more humidity. The sphagnum moss needs to be changed at least once weekly in order to keep the snake enclosure free of mold.

Answer 3

wat i like to do is put a moist sponge in the snakes cage.  They are cheap and raise humidity a lot.

Answer 4

There are very few reptiles that sand is a good substrate. I would get rid of it, it can cause scale irritation, respiratory infection, possibly impaction even with vita-sand, and dehyration which can also cause bad sheds. There are far better options. One of the best for holding humidity being eco-earth ( or similar coconut husk/fiber products) especialy if you need 70% or more. I like using alfalfa (rabbit) pellets as its easy to clean, holds warmth well, and is nontoxic if ingested ( I have used this boas, corns, garters, balls, burmeses, iguanas and more), and this works fine for maintaning relative humidity of 50%-60%.

List of Usable Substrates:

alfalfa pellets

eco-earth ( or similar coconut  product)

potting soil (that does not contain perlite)

outdoor carpeting

aspen shavings

cypress or aspen mulch

bed-a-beast (or similar recycled paper product)

repta-bark (or similar product)

shedding problem and retained eye caps

1) bring the humidity up to 70%-80%

2) misting

3) a water dish he can submerge in the cage if possible

4) get a lidded rubber-maid type container, fill it half way with warm, damp towels, and put your snake in there for 20-40 minutes

5)use mineral oil (can be found in the pharmacy area)

using the the oil take a sock turned inside-out

over your hand and brush with the scales

If there is a problem with the eye caps apply the mineral oil with a q-tip gently to the eyes once or twice daily until they come off

*Whatever you do, don’t pull the skin off if there is any resistance (the skin is still sticking). You can injure your snake by doing that. Do not use tape to remove the eye caps! I know this is in many care guides, but don't do it! There is a greater chance of hurting your snake.The q-tip with mineral oil will safely soften the eye caps and remove them.