Help!!! Humidity Issues!!!

[simone]

hi-
we are really new to the ’corn snake world’-got our first snake, widget(10 mos-about 15-18 inches), friday-she’s so adorable...
here’s my issue:

i cannot get the humidity up past about 50-at times it has plummeted to 30%

we live in Colorado-so its dry anyway.
she is in a 10 gallon tank for now-bought a awesome 20 gallon visionarium, but haven’t switched her yet, bc i don’t want to stress her since we just got her.

she has a water bowl, a moss box on the warm side of her tank and i just added another bowl of moss on the ’cold’ side-also covered one side of the tank(top)w/ saran wrap...
been misting the inside of the tank...

she’s been in her moss box almost exclusively-she is about to shed also, eyes are cloudy, skin is dull...

what can i do---run a humidifier in the room nonstop??? are there any out there for the actual tank????

thanks
simone

 

[alan]

Hi , Simone. Welcome.
Your humidity isn't that drastic an issue, but it would be good to keep it in the right range.
My snake's first viv combined with a dry house kept her humidity kind of low, about 30%-35%.
When she was in blue, and especially when she cleared up prior to shedding we misted her just once a day. All of her sheds were great.

 

[Mysfitz]

30% humidity is fine, you don't want the humidity high or it could cause health issues.

at 30% widget will still shed fine, mine range from 20%-50% depending on if i know they are in shed(woke up a few mornings to skin in the tanks)
and seldom have shedding issues.(only had one bad shed, and all that was left was one spot on her back)

 

[alan]

Sorry, totally forgot 'cause I still haven't tried it. Do a search for "humid hide". Lots of people use one and report good results.

 

[simone]

thanks everyone-just worrying too much i guess.i'm a total novice at this!
most books, caresheets etc i've checked recommended 50 -60%-some even 70%!!!!
i do work at home, but i cant spend my day 'misting' her lol---will check out the 'humid hide'. will have to see how her first shed w/ us goes!
thanks
simone

 

[simone]

guess i do have a 'humid hide' already, -we use a plastic container w/ a hole cut in the lid, filled it w/ moss i mist every day...she's been in there constantly!

 

[Snake Dave]

Your humid hide sounds great

After she's finished her shed cycle, you can remove the moss box and stop misting. Apart from when in the shed cycle (when, as you said, you need 50% +), Cornsnakes don't need high humidity. 30% - 40% as an average is perfectly fine. Too high humidity and the presence of perpetually wet places could encourage the growth of bacteria and scale rot. So too much is bad, apart from in shed.

I hope that helps

David

 

[Bram]

When I first setup my viv I was getting between 30 and 50% humidity. After stretching and taping some plastic cling wrap over the lid (with big air holes cut in it) the humidity has been between 55-60%. Two nights ago she shed in one perfect piece.

To improve on the system I think I'll buy a piece of clear plastic just a bit narrower than the lid of the viv so that it'll let air flow but be a bit more adjustable than taped on shrink-wrap.

 

[simone]

yay!!!she shed!!! all in one piece!!!
thanks everybody!!! i'm sure i'll have more questions in the future lol