Results 1 to 9 of 9

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Forum Moderator Stefan-A's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Southern Finland
    Posts
    12,389
    Country: Finland

    Humidity gradient

    Do any of you provide some kind of humidity gradient in addition to a heat gradient?


    I was also thinking about sealing off a part of a terrarium to make a section with a much more humid micro-climate. In part just for fun, but also because the humidity drops drastically during the winter and that causes some shedding problems if you don't keep misting. I was thinking of making a "terrarium within a terrarium" type of thing out of glass, with one side or the top hinged and just a narrow slit big enough to let the snake through.
    Maybe live moss or other plants inside to provide humidity.



    Just another crazy idea that probably will get stuck in development hell.

  2. #2
    The Leader of the Eastern Gang anji1971's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Windsor, Ontario
    Posts
    3,306
    Country: Canada

    Re: Humidity gradient

    It looks like an interesting idea!
    I've never done anything for humidity other than to put the water dish in the warm end of the tank during winter, hoping for a little extra evaporation. Although I haven't really had any real issues with shedding; just once with the little Dekay's snake.
    I guess it would work fine unless you find the snakes like to hang out in there just a little too much, and then you'd have to worry about excessive humidity instead!
    Anji

  3. #3
    Moderator adamanteus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Cheshire. (Near Manchester).
    Posts
    10,633
    Country: United Kingdom

    Re: Humidity gradient

    A humidity gradient isn't something I've ever considered before. I think you're probably on 'the right lines' with your tank within a tank idea. I'll be interested to see how your design progresses.
    James.

  4. #4
    Ophiuchus rhea drache's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Eastern US
    Posts
    8,129
    Country: Germany

    Re: Humidity gradient

    I provide a damp hide to most of my snakes all the time and to some of my snakes some of the time
    rhea
    "you cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus" Mark Twain


  5. #5
    Brother Snake GarterGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Lancaster,PA
    Posts
    1,351
    Country: United States

    Re: Humidity gradient

    I actually mist the cooler side of my garters' tanks every day. It easily dries out by days end and they seem to really like it. After I spray, all my garters go over to the silk plants on that side and just sort of crawl all around them. Don't know if they like the moisture or if they're hoping that the "rain" will bring out prey. Maybe it's just something instinctive in them, but they seem to like it.
    Roy
    0.1 T.s.pallidulus

  6. #6
    Thamnophis inspectus Zephyr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Posts
    2,539
    Country: United States

    Re: Humidity gradient

    I don't have a humidity gradient, just a *comparative to the snake's size* huge water dish. I always find sheds in or on the rim of it, so I think it works just as well, if not better, than a humid hide.

  7. #7
    Forum Moderator Stefan-A's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Southern Finland
    Posts
    12,389
    Country: Finland

    Re: Humidity gradient

    My snakes may not be smart enough, I've never seen any of them use the bowl that way.

    I tried the huge bowl trick, but it didn't help enough.

  8. #8
    Moderator adamanteus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Cheshire. (Near Manchester).
    Posts
    10,633
    Country: United Kingdom

    Re: Humidity gradient

    I use a secondary heat-mat underneath the built-in water bowl. This is usually turned off, but can be utilized if I need high humidity for whatever reason. It wouldn't provide a gradient though.
    James.

  9. #9
    Forum Moderator Stefan-A's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Southern Finland
    Posts
    12,389
    Country: Finland

    Re: Humidity gradient

    I have the heat lamp partially above the bowl. It manages to raise the relative humidity to the upper 30's right now. But it does provide a gradient of sorts, the humidity declines as you move to the other end of the enclosure. Winters are really tough on the snakes here, the previous winter the humidity dropped to 18% and they were almost always in the 20's. I don't really have a choice but to provide a "wet box" or keep misting daily. And I don't like the idea of constantly wet surfaces in a terrarium.

Similar Threads

  1. Humidity
    By snakehill in forum Husbandry
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 06-27-2011, 10:21 AM
  2. Humidity?
    By RedSidedSPR in forum General Talk
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 05-14-2011, 03:56 PM
  3. Temperature Gradient
    By Plissken in forum Husbandry
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 05-12-2011, 09:20 AM
  4. Optimum temp without gradient?
    By KITKAT in forum Husbandry
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 10-27-2009, 09:47 PM
  5. Humidity
    By Stefan-A in forum Enclosures
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 02-24-2007, 08:32 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •