Dumerils- humidity concerns

KWenger · 10-08-13, 05:27 PM

About six weeks ago I got my new T10 cage from Animal Plastics (48x24x15) and I really love it. I ordered it with an overhead RHP (radiant heat panel) and am very satisfied with the set up. Quality is excellent. I of course am controlling the RHP with a thermostat and have it set so that the warm end is around 85 and the opposite end stays around 76-79. I think that's about right, don't you? My concern is the humidity level. In addition to two hides, one at each end, I have an 8 inch round water bowl in the middle of the cage. The humidity consistently stays in the high 70s and NEVER goes below 70%. MUCH higher than when I was using a glass tank to house my Dumerils. I realize an advantage of a plastic enclosure like this one is the superior insulation qualities (compared to glass) and ease of maintaining humidity levels. But is the humidity in my cage too high? Maybe the water bowl is too big and is causing too much evaporation? What do you think? Not sure how to reduce humidity as I've always had the opposite problem. Also, I have two hygrometers in the cage and both register about the same.

Mikoh4792 · 10-08-13, 06:13 PM

70% for a boa should be just fine. This way you don't even have to mist when it's going into shed.

However if you want the humidity to be lower you can drill holes on the wall using a drill bit. I do that to most of my plastic cages.

EDIT: I'd raise the hotspot to 90F. You can install a perch so that the hotspot is elevated.

edit: I just realized we were talking about dumerils and not bci.

Terranaut · 10-08-13, 06:18 PM

70% with dry surfaces (meaning no droplets of water for the snake to climb through) is fine. If the snake is wet all the time you might have issues but 70% ambient humidity...I doubt anything negative will come of it.

nick654377 · 10-10-13, 03:28 PM

what are you using for bedding? I have a t10 and two t8's. the t8's hold humidity better than my t10 and they are all in the same area. same temps and same substrate.

ErikBush97 · 10-10-13, 05:00 PM

Someone may have said this already, but drill a few holes on each side, and if you aren't already using it, try newspaper or corrugated cardboard

KWenger · 10-11-13, 05:36 AM

I'm using a thick layer of aspen for bedding. It looks nice and he LOVES to burrow in it. Most of the time he stays buried in the aspen shavings with just his head sticking out. Kinda cute. I haven't noticed any problems with the humidity levels as far as the Dum's behavior is concerned. He eats great (has more than doubled in weight since I got him in June) and his sheds have been perfect. I was concerned mainly because most Dumerils husbandry articles seem to say that lower humidity....around 50% or less.....is ideal.

Terranaut · 10-11-13, 11:34 AM

Enough humidity to harm the snake will mold the aspen. No mold = no worries.

exwizard · 10-11-13, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Enough humidity to harm the snake will mold the aspen. No mold = no worries.

I like this approach.

The great thing about Dums is that they don't require a whole lot of humidity but higher levels, as long as the surfaces aren't wet should not be a problem at all. As stated earlier, if you want to reduce the humidity generated simply create more ventilation by melting or drilling more holes. You can also reduce the size of the water bowl and take it out of the heat source entirely, thus reducing the evaporation.