Top 19 How To Keep Humidity Up In A Ball Python Tank The 188 Top Answers

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Low Humidity

Anything below 45% humidity for a long period of time can cause shedding problems (e.g. stuck shed). If a ball python cannot properly shed its skin, this can cause several health issues: It can result in patches of stuck shed, particularly on the eyes, which can cause problems with vision.Ball pythons seem to prefer humidity levels of 50 to 60 percent. Maintaining proper humidity will allow your ball python to shed properly.

How to Increase Humidity in Ball Python Tank

Ensure that the enclosure is well heated throughout. …
Use a large shallow water bowl that will maximize atmospheric exchange and increase humidity. …
Partially cover some of the ventilation holes. …
Use a high-quality absorbent substrate. …
Mist the enclosure regularly.

5 Ways to Increase Humidity for Reptiles

Spraying the enclosure. The most common method of increasing humidity in the enclosure is to spray the enclosure. …
Including a water bowl on the warm end. …
Moving water sources e.g. large pools or waterfalls. …
Absorbent bedding and decorations. …
Foggers and humidifiers.

Contents

How do I keep the humidity up in my snake enclosure?

5 Ways to Increase Humidity for Reptiles

Spraying the enclosure. The most common method of increasing humidity in the enclosure is to spray the enclosure. …
Including a water bowl on the warm end. …
Moving water sources e.g. large pools or waterfalls. …
Absorbent bedding and decorations. …
Foggers and humidifiers.

What humidity is too low for ball python?

Low Humidity

What humidity should a ball pythons tank be at?

Ball pythons seem to prefer humidity levels of 50 to 60 percent. Maintaining proper humidity will allow your ball python to shed properly.

Does spraying water increase humidity?

Fill a spray bottle and walk around your home, misting water into the air. You can also lightly spray bedding and furniture that won’t get damaged by water. The water sprayed into the air will evaporate quickly, thus increasing your home humidity levels.

How do you keep humidity up?

There are a few effective ways to raise the humidity in your home.

Use a vaporizer, cool steam machine, or even a single room humidifier. …
Vent your dryer indoors. …
Air dry your clothes inside. …
Boil water on your stove. …
Get some houseplants. …
Cook at home.

Are humidifiers good for ball pythons?

What To Look For In Humidifiers For Ball Pythons? Humidity is very important for ball pythons because they typically live in warm, humid areas and may become dehydrated if it’s dryer than the environment to which they’ve adapted.

How can I tell if my ball python is cold?

Remember that ball pythons do not undergo brumation. If it looks like brumation is happening, it’s usually a sign that your snake is too cold.

Is a heat pad enough for a ball python?

Heat pads are undoubtedly the most widely used heat source for Ball Pythons. They are low wattage, and incredibly cheap to run when used with a thermostat.

Should I turn off my Ball Pythons heat lamp at night?

Although snakes benefit from heat at night if the temperature gets too low, the heat lamp is not the best method to keep them warm when nightfall arrives. What is this? To mimic their natural environment as best as possible, turn off the heat lamp at night. Other alternatives will not emit as much light.

How do I raise the humidity in my corn snake tank?

Here are some tips to help you maintain healthy humidity levels in your corn snake’s enclosure:

Use moisture-retentive substrate. …
Provide a layer of clean, chemical-free leaf litter on top of the substrate. …
Mist the enclosure daily. …
Install a cool mist humidifier/fogger.

What substrate is best for humidity?

The three most commonly available types of bedding that can be utilized for tropical tanks and/or maintaining humidity are Orchid Bark (aka Reptile Bark), Cypress Mulch, and Coconut Husk (both fine particle and chunky types).

Can I use a humidifier for my snake?

One of the biggest concerns when keeping a ball python as a pet is maintaining the proper heat and humidity in the tank. In order to do so, you’ll need to install a humidifier or, at the very least, mist the tank with water once or twice a day.

HUMIDITY AND SNAKES (How to get it perfect!)

Ball Python Humidity & Temperature: How to Get It Right

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Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Ball Python Humidity & Temperature: How to Get It Right Updating Controlling ball python humidity levels is easier than you might think. Join us as we look at useful tools, tips, and techniques to optimize your setup!
Table of Contents:

In Short

The Ideal Ball Python Temperature and Humidity

Heating Your Ball Python’s Enclosure

Potential Side Effects of Inadequate Conditions for Ball Pythons

How to Increase Humidity in Ball Python Tank

How to Keep Humidity up in Ball Python Tank

Best Tools for Humidifying a Ball Python Enclosure

Best Ball Python Substrate for Humidity

Humidity Box for Ball Python

What Should My Ball Python’s Humidity Be

Ball Python Humidity for Shedding

Ball Python Humidity & Temperature: How to Get It Right

Monitoring and providing ball python humidity needs DOESN’T have to be complicated. Unfortunately, many people overthink the effort it takes to provide perfect ball python conditions.

Join us as we look at the ins and outs of humidity for ball pythons and help YOU create a tool kit to create ball python nirvana.

In Short

Ball pythons require humidity levels of between 50 and 60%.

A good thermometer and hygrometer are essential monitoring devices.

The humidity and ambient temperature are closely linked in a ball python enclosure.

Many different tools like heat pads, heat tape, or a heat lamp help contribute to the overall humidity.

Your ball python enclosure should have a temperature gradient so the snake can adjust its body temperature as it needs to.

A lack of humidity or too much humidity can have negative effects on your ball python. While humidity isn’t hard to maintain, it is essential.

The Ideal Ball Python Temperature and Humidity

Although ball pythons come from tropical and subtropical areas, they don’t require the high humidity level and surface temperature that some tropical snakes do .

Ball pythons prefer an enclosure with a relative humidity of 50-60%.

Temperature is slightly more complex.

As with most snakes, ball pythons do best when provided with a temperature gradient so they can control their body temperature.

There are four significant temperatures in enclosures for ball pythons:

The nighttime temperatures of the tank

The temperature on the cool side of the enclosure

The temperature immediately beneath the hot spot

The ambient temperature between the cool end and the warm end.

The ideal temperature for the two sides of the temperature gradient, the hotspot, and the evening temperatures, differ significantly. They’re as follows:

Hot spot: 88-92°F

88-92°F Cool side: 76-80°F

76-80°F Ambient temperature: 81-83°F

81-83°F Evening temperature: No higher than 75°F

The warm side, hot spot, or hot side uses a heat source like a heating pad or heat tape.

Heat bulbs and ceramic emitters aren’t ideal for ball pythons, and most people prefer a heat mat or heat tape.

In cold regions, you may also need to set up an adjustable heat source, like a digital heating mat on the cool end of the enclosure so that you can keep it in an acceptable temperature range.

Remember to evenly heat both sides of the tank.

The cold side should have its temperatures, but evenly supplied across that end of the tank, and the warm side should have an even distribution of its relevant temperature .

Keeping even heating on either side of the tank is essential for maintaining humidity.

Fortunately, ball pythons are very forgiving (one of the many reasons why they make great pets), so you have some wiggle room to figure it out.

Heating Your Ball Python’s Enclosure

There are many ways of heating your ball python’s enclosure to keep it in the optimal range. It’s essential to remember that your ball python requires a temperature gradient.

To help you maintain the temperature in your pet’s enclosure, you can use any one of the following heat sources:

Heat tape – Heating tape is an option to help increase humidity and maintain temperatures but can also be harder to set up where you want it.

Pro Tip: Never use heat rocks in your ball python’s enclosure. They can result in burns, dehydration, or other types of overheating.

Heat mats – heat pads and heating mats are some of the most reliable heat sources for an enclosure. Most are easy to control with a thermostat and provide constant heat.

Pro Tip: Heat mats or pads and heat tape are the most used options for ball pythons, since they don’t bask like other reptiles. Heat bulbs aren’t appropriate.

Heating cables – Heating cables are easy to control with a thermostat, but heating pads are safer and easier to install.

Potential Side Effects of Inadequate Conditions for Ball Pythons

If the humidity level in your ball python’s enclosure is too high or too low, it can affect your pet significantly.

Excessive humidity often leads to health disorders. one of the most common being respiratory infections caused by higher-than-usual moisture levels in the snake’s lungs.

Insufficient humidity can cause a range of other problems, most notably bad sheds.

Other results of low humidity in a ball python enclosure include respiratory issues. While excessive humidity may lead to respiratory infections, low humidity causes other breathing issues.

If your humidity isn’t well-balanced, your ball python may also be more susceptible to other diseases, infections, and even parasites.

How to Increase Humidity in Ball Python Tank

There are a few ways that you can incorporate to help increase humidity in a ball pythons tank. We’ll list some of them below:

Ensure that the enclosure is well heated throughout.

Providing a sufficient temperature gradient throughout the ball python’s enclosure will consistently ensure that latent water turns into humidity. Use a large shallow water bowl that will maximize atmospheric exchange and increase humidity.

The water bowl is one of the best tools that snake keepers have. It provides a constant source of water which one can turn into humidity by heating it. Top Tip: Use heat sources to turn the room temperature water in your python’s enclosure into vapor and push up the relative humidity of the tank. Partially cover some of the ventilation holes.

Suppose your tank has a lot of ventilation, and you live in an area with naturally low humidity. In that case, it may be difficult to maintain a high enough humidity level in the enclosure. Covering some (not all!) ventilation will help keep the humidity higher in your python’s home. You can safely cover up to 50% of the vents, as long as the tank has at least six to start with. Use a high-quality absorbent substrate.

Many new snake owners make the mistake of using a very basic substrate like newspaper or paper towels. While these are acceptable substrate choices (and easy to use and clean), they contribute nothing towards the enclosure’s humidity level. When placed on a heat source, paper towels dry out within moments, and provide no long-term humidity boost. Use a decent absorbent substrate like coco peat or reptile mulch, and you’ll have much better humidity levels. Mist the enclosure regularly. If you have a good heating system and absorbent substrate, one of the best ways to increase humidity is to mist the enclosure. Have a Mist bottle specifically for the purpose, and give the substrate a solid misting when necessary. Incorporate a humidifier or fogger.

If you live in a very dry area or one with extremely low humidity, it might be worthwhile to consider buying a reptile fogger. If you decide to go this route, ensure that you buy a fogger with variable output to keep the humidity in that optimum 50 to 60% range.

How to Keep Humidity up in Ball Python Tank

Once you manage to get the humidity level in an acceptable range, you need to maintain it.

You can do a few things to ensure that the level doesn’t drop again, and mostly they qualify as minor maintenance.

Try the following:

Keep misting regularly.

Fill the water bowl regularly.

Check the substrate daily to see if it’s still moist.

Ensure that your reptile fogger always has water in the tank.

Check the heating devices daily to ensure that they’re in working condition.

Best Tools for Humidifying a Ball Python Enclosure

As with any endeavor, having the right tools will help simplify the process. We’ve listed a couple of our favorite tools for managing humidity in a ball python’s enclosure.

Thermometer and Hygrometer

One of the essential elements you’ll need is a thermometer and hygrometer, three of them .

You should have one on the warm side of the tank, the cool side, and one in the middle to measure the ambient temperature.

We suggest a two-in-one combo device like the ReptiZoo terrarium thermometer hygrometer.

This convenient digital system measures both the temperature and the humidity and easily sticks to the wall of your python’s glass enclosure.

Substrate

Using an absorbent substrate will help increase the humidity in your pet’s terrarium more than you imagine (more about that in our best substrate for ball pythons post).

Overall, the best substrate to use is coco coir for reptiles since it’s extremely absorbent but doesn’t contain any harmful buffering agents.

We suggest using a product like the coco bricks from Josh’s Frogs. This awesome substrate is slightly larger than some coco coir products but equally absorbent.

Heating Pad

Consistent heating is one of the essential elements when it comes to maintaining constant humidity.

A heating pad with a thermostat is one of the easiest ways to accomplish this. We recommend a product that comes with a thermostat like the Tikaton reptile heat pad.

This excellent heating pad is fully adjustable, allowing you to set the ideal temperature for your scaled pets.

It has very little setup work, and you can essentially plug it in and set the temperature.

Mist Bottle

A decent Mist bottle is one of the fundamental elements of maintaining humidity in a ball python terrarium.

Look for a product with an adjustable spray size and that takes several ounces .

A bottle with a larger capacity is better because it means you have to fill it less often. Keep it near your pet’s enclosure and mist when necessary.

We suggest a product like the YAMYONE continuous aerosol. Although this product may not be specifically designed for reptiles, it ticks all the boxes.

Fogger

If you live in a particularly dry area or keeping the humidity high enough is a constant struggle, it may be time to consider a humidifier or reptile fogger of some kind.

If you decide to go this route, ensure that it has variable output control and set it quite low .

Despite their tropical origins, ball pythons DON’T require excessive humidity levels. A system that constantly creates intense humidity may make your snake ill.

One of our favorite foggers on the market is the Coospider terrarium humidifier.

This device has a large capacity and a variable output, so you can set it to create exactly the right amount of humidity.

Best Ball Python Substrate for Humidity

There are many excellent ball python substrates on the market, and many of the absorbent ones can help maintain humidity levels.

Some of the best absorbent options include:

Topsoil mix

Reptile mulch

Cypress mulch

In our opinion, coco coir or coco peat is the best moist substrate for your ball python’s enclosure.

It will maintain constant moisture, which your heat pad, heat lamp, or another heat source can turn into part of the enclosure’s humidity.

Humidity Box for Ball Python

Using a humidity box, also known as a humid hide or moisture box, can make a huge difference to your python.

It gives your pet ball python a place to go if it feels that it needs more humidity . The humid hide is a simple box placed inside your python’s enclosure.

You can purchase one as a ready-made product from a supplier, which is easier, but it may be cheaper to make one yourself.

Making a humidity box is easy. You’ll need:

Some sandpaper

A craft knife, utility knife, or pair of scissors

Absorbent substrates like sphagnum moss or coco peat

A plastic tub, large enough for your python to climb into

To make the moisture box:

Wash the plastic tub thoroughly to remove any harmful chemical residues from the manufacturing process. A tub with a removable lid is best for cleaning purposes. Use the knife or scissors to cut a hole in the lid that’s slightly larger than the widest part of your snake’s head. Sand down the edges of the hole to ensure there aren’t any sharp ends that could hurt your ball python. Rinse the tub again to remove any debris and plastic residue. Place the absorbent substrate in the bottom one-third of the tub. Using a spray bottle, thoroughly dampen the substrate. Place the humidity box on the warm side of the enclosure, and mist it daily to keep it damp. Congratulations! You’ve successfully built a humidity box!

What Should My Ball Python’s Humidity Be?

Ball pythons don’t require the high humidity levels of some tropical species. Excessively high humidity levels can lead to a respiratory infection.

Most ball pythons thrive in an enclosure with humidity levels in the 50-60% range.

Always try to stay in that range, as lower humidity can cause problems with shedding and bodily functions, while high humidity levels make room for infections and diseases.

Ball Python Humidity for Shedding

When it sheds, a ball python requires ideal humidity levels. As mentioned above, the perfect range is 50-60% relative humidity.

Sometimes a certain snake, especially an adult ball python, may have a hard time shedding. In these cases, a higher humidity level of up to 80% is sometimes required .

Unfortunately, if you increase humidity in the ball python’s tank as a whole, it’s likely to cause some nasty side effects.

The best solution is to give your pet snake a humid hide or humidity box.

This simple box goes in your python’s enclosure, and has higher humidity due to the moist substrate inside it.

Thanks to the damp substrate in the box, the humidity is higher within its confines. The box gives your ball pythons a place to go if they need more humidity mid-shed or if the tank’s humidity drops.

Have you enjoyed this article about creating and maintaining humidity? Let us know in the comments, and share your tricks for managing temperature and relative humidity.

You might also want to check out our other ball python articles, like the care sheet, morph guide, and discussion about ball python sizes.as

5 Ways to Increase Humidity for Reptiles

Reptiles can be found in different environments all over the world meaning that the conditions required for them to thrive will vary wildly from species to species. The four main points to consider when setting up a reptiles enclosure are humidity, heating, lighting and husbandry (including decor). Many people in the UK find humidity to be one of the hardest of these to control as we can have humid rooms limiting how low the humidity inside of the enclosure can go or more often we have well-ventilated enclosures that lose humidity way too quickly. We constantly hear this from gecko, frog and chameleon keepers and thought that a blog including 5 suggestions to keep the humidity up might be helpful. Please bear in mind that not all of these will be suitable for your pet, if you aren’t sure which would be the best method please contact us using the contact details at the bottom of this blog.

Spraying the enclosure

The most common method of increasing humidity in the enclosure is to spray the enclosure. For many species requiring additional humidity, this will also be a great way to provide drinking water throughout the day. Spraying the enclosure is an especially effective method when paired with absorbent beddings and decorations as detailed in the section below. When spraying the enclosure we expect the humidity to rise to 90-100% during and shortly after the spray, it will then drop rapidly or slowly depending on how much ventilation there is, how humid the room is and how much water has been absorbed within the enclosure. If you have a species that needs super high humidity and you aren’t able to spray throughout the day an automatic sprayer or misting system would be perfect. We would favour the units that have reservoirs outside of the enclosure and use adjustable nozzles within the enclosure. The finer the mist the more humidity you will get but with a long enough spray you can expect a spike to 90%+. Of the misters currently on the market, we would recommend the MistKing systems for larger collections and the ExoTerra Monsoon range for smaller collections. To see all of our misters click here.

Including a water bowl on the warm end

Including a water bowl isn’t always the best option if your pet can’t swim very well but they are a brilliant way to increase humidity and make sure there is always drinking water within the enclosure. If it is placed on the warm end a steady stream of water should be evaporating from the surface and increasing the humidity in the enclosure. This works best in enclosures 2ft or shorter and will be especially effective if the bowl is near the basking section of the enclosure. To browse our range of water bowls please click here.

Moving water sources e.g. large pools or waterfalls

Having water moving within your enclosure is a great way to increase the humidity of the enclosure. The most common way to add moving water would be to include a waterfall on the cool end of a tall enclosure. Having water cascade down the decoration and splash should release a fair amount of humidity. If the waterfall is placed in a warm spot you should also see some evaporation which will also increase the humidity. A less commonly used method that could be great for some species would be to have a larger pool of water with a pump or some other device causing breaks on the surface of the pool. This is easiest to implement in a paludarium which already includes a body of water at the bottom but a small tank or extremely large bowl with a pump could provide the same effect. We will often use this method with larger lizards such as water dragons, basilisks and iguanas.

Absorbent bedding and decorations

Absorbent decorations are a brilliant way of maintaining humidity after it has been introduced to the enclosure. Unlike the other suggestions in our list, this will not increase the humidity on its own but it is the best way to maintain humidity throughout the day without constantly adding more water to the enclosure. Natural wood pieces would be included in this category with those including absorbent bark layers being the best. We normally use troncho branches, oak branches and cork branches. Natural cork pieces such as the tubes and flat pieces are also brilliant. Also included in this category would be soil and bark beddings, live plants and live mosses.

Foggers and humidifiers

Foggers and humidifiers are devices that put very fine water particles into the air. Unlike sprayers and misters they will not normally saturate the decorations or condensate onto surfaces but they will increase the humidity for as long as they are on. They are normally available as external devices with hoses to go into the enclosure or as small internal devices that can be submerged in a pool. As foggers only service a single purpose we don’t normally use these very often and tend to lean into the spraying, moving water or absorbent decor but these can be a good option if you would like a mist/fog effect in your enclosure.

I hope you have found these suggestions helpful. As always please consider your pet when deciding on a course of action and if you aren’t sure which of these, or combination of these, would be best for your pet please contact us at [email protected] or call us on 01604753823.

Ball Python Humidity & Temperature: The Complete Guide

Ball pythons are one of the best pet snakes for beginners. They are low maintenance, hardy and have a very easy-going, friendly temperament.

Despite being a great pet snake, Ball pythons do have specific needs for their enclosure’s setup. This includes maintaining a heat gradient, humidity level and basking spot. Some beginners find it hard to control the humidity level in a tank. Or, they struggle to maintain a suitable ambient temperature over 24 hours.

Without the right temperature and humidity, ball pythons can become sick. Some common health issues can include stuck shed or respiratory problems.

In this article, we will cover their humidity and temperature requirements. We also share how to setup and maintain a good tank climate…

Ball Python Humidity

Humidity is a relative measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. The higher the humidity level, the wetter the air will feel. Humidity is very important for the health of a snake. Improper humidity levels can make your ball python sick or cause stuck shed.

Ball pythons are native to Central and West Africa, they are used to high heat and humidity levels. Humidity in their native range is between 55% to 70%, but it can spike to over 80% in the morning.

For pet ball pythons you will want to keep humidity somewhere between 55% and 60%. This humidity level allows pythons to keep their skin moist enough to shed properly and avoids respiratory infections. Also, it is not too high that their skin will be constantly wet.

By maintaining a ~60% humidity in their enclosure, you can extend the lifespan of a ball python well beyond their natural 10 year lifespan. Some pet individuals have lived for over 25 years.

Low Humidity

Humidity should not dip below 45%, even at night when the temperature cools. Anything below 45% humidity for a long period of time can cause shedding problems (e.g. stuck shed). If a ball python cannot properly shed its skin, this can cause several health issues:

It can result in patches of stuck shed, particularly on the eyes, which can cause problems with vision. If left long enough, it can cause blindness.

It can cause damage to the new scales. New scales can be torn and exposed to dirt and bacteria that can lead to infections.

Keeping humidity lower than 40% for more than a few weeks can be very harmful to a ball python, especially during shedding. You may notice some of the issues above. How quickly this happens depends on how low the humidity level is, and the individual snake. Some individuals are hardier than others. Lower humidity is more dangerous for younger snakes as they shed more frequently as they grow.

The best rule of thumb is to keep the humidity above 50%, ideally between 55% to 60%.

High Humidity

On the other end of the spectrum is a tank with very high humidity. Health problems can also occur up if you keep your snake too wet.

Humidity levels above 60% are not an issue, provided there are not pools of water forming in the cage. Normally you will start to see pools of water form at around 75% or 80% humidity.

Humidity levels above 80% will create an environment that is constantly wet. It can also cause the temperature to become too high. High humidity traps heat and creates a perfect environment to grow mold, bacteria, and other nasty things that your snake should not come into contact with.

A common bacterial infection in ball pythons is infectious stomatitis (i.e. mouth rot). Symptoms of mouth rot include a loss of appetite, dehydration, swollen gums, bubbles of mucus around the mouth, and mouth-open breathing.

Respiratory infections are a serious health issue that can be fatal if left untreated.

High humidity also traps heat in the tank. This can especially be a problem in plastic tubs, which are excellent at trapping moisture. High humidity in a plastic tub can cause your snake to suffer from heat exhaustion. This is one of the reasons why reptile terrariums should be glass.

These health issues may sound terrifying to new snake owners.

But, as long as you carefully monitor the enclosure’s humidity all of these issues are easily avoided.

The best setup will have two hygrometers. Hygrometers are a small device that measures humidity.

Using two hygrometers makes it easier to see how the humidity level changes with the heat gradient.

Ideally, place one on the cool side and one on the hot side of the tank. Place them a few inches above the substrate, ideally in between the bottom and halfway point on your cage. Again, you will want to make sure both hygrometers read between 55-60%.

If your ball python’s humidity is between a range of 55% to 60%, good job! You humidity level is perfect.

Just continue to track it with a hygrometer, especially during season changes where the humidity in your house can change.

If you are having trouble, keep reading to see how to increase or decrease humidity.

How To Increase Humidity In Ball Python Tank

The most common issue for beginners is raising humidity levels to reach a range of 55% to 60%. This is because the enclosure is normally inside a room where the air is dryer. The air in a room normally has a humidity of 30% to 50%, depending on the season.

Luckily, controlling the humidity level in a ball python’s cage is fairly simple.

Misting

One of the cheapest ways to quickly increase the humidity is to mist the enclosure daily. You should lightly mist the walls of the tank as well as the substrate.

The tank should be misted enough to dampen it, but not completely saturate it.

Start by misting the tank with room temperature water in the morning. After misting, humidity should briefly reach 65%. Be careful not to spike the humidity much above 70% as this can cause respiratory problems.

You can mist once or twice a day as needed. Just make sure to keep an eye on the substrate for any signs of mold or rot. If you see this, you may be misting too heavily.

Some owners choose to automate misting by using a reptile mister. However, this isn’t necessary for Ball pythons.

Change the Substrate

Another way to increase tank humidity is to change the substrate you use.

Many beginners use paper towels or newspaper as it is cheap and easy to replace. But, it does not do a good job of retaining moisture.

A better substrate for ball pythons is cypress mulch or aspen shavings.

Both substrates are relatively cheap and do an excellent job of holding humidity. Cypress mulch is the best choice as Aspen shavings are notorious for rotting or growing mold if any water is spilled on it.

Tank Setup

Finally, you can change the tank humidity by simply moving your tank or changing the setup.

If the enclosure is placed directly beneath an air vent, or is located next to a window that gets direct sunlight, it can make the enclosure too dry. This will cause the humidity to drop. You should put your snake’s enclosure in a corner that is not beside a window or radiator.

Now let’s talk about tank setup.

There are a variety of ways to increase humidity from a setup perspective:

Place a large 6″ water bowl in the enclosure with a heat pad underneath it. This will cause the water to evaporate and will increase the overall humidity in the tank.

Use a glass or solid top instead of a screen-top. Alternatively cover 75% of the screen with tin foil. Screen lids allow for a lot of air circulation that can lower the air moisture inside the cage.

In the rare case you see pools of water around the enclosure, your ball python’s humidity is too high. Humidity much above 70% can quickly lead to a respiratory infection.

To reduce the humidity, you should increase the tank’s ventilation.

Increasing ventilation can be achieved by either switching your enclosure’s top to a screen lid, or putting holes in the walls of the enclosure. The simplest way it to just swap the glass top for a screen top.

You can also increase tank temperature and temporarily remove the lid, but this is a short term solution for extreme humidity levels above 80%.

Ball Python Temperature

Snakes are ectotherms, this means Ball Pythons cannot regulate their own body temperature. They rely on their environment for heat to gain energy to move and digest food.

Because ball pythons cannot regulate their own body temperature, they must regulate it by moving between warmer and cooler areas. They can only do this if the enclosure is properly setup with a temperature gradient. If they become too cold, they can simply move to the basking spot, or vice versa by moving to a cold hide to cool down.

This is why having a heat gradient in your ball python’s tank is important.

Tank Temperature

Ball Python Temperature Range Basking Spot Ambient Cool Side Night Min 88°F 81°F 76°F 75°F Max 92°F 83°F 80°F –

We generally talk about a heat gradient in three parts:

Basking spot (i.e. hot spot). Ambient temperature. Cool side.

The hot spot is the side of the enclosure your snake will use to warm up and bask. The basking spot should measure 88 to 92°F and is the only side of the tank you should be heating. The basking spot should not exceed 95°F as it can cause your snake to overheat.

Ambient temperature is the temperature in the middle of the tank, between the hot spot and cool spot. The ambient temperature should measure 82°F, although a degree or two above or below this is acceptable. The most important thing is that this temperature should always be cooler than your hot spot and it should not dip below 75°F.

The cool spot in your enclosure is where your snake will go to cool off. The cool spot should measure at around 76 to 80°F.

Tank temperatures will fall at night as you turn off the heating and lighting. This naturally occurs in the wild too. A 5°F drop is perfectly acceptable, just do not allow the temperature to dip below 75°F. Deliberate temperature drops should only be used if you are planning to breed a ball python.

Hide Temperature

As you may have read in our ball python care guide, your snake is going to need two hides.

Place one hide on the hot side, and one on the cool side.

Your hot hide should be about 90°F, and your cool hide should be about 78-80°F. Ball pythons in the wild are generally not seen basking in the open. Make sure your hides are well hidden in the tank too.

Now that you know what the temperature gradient should be, we can talk about how to achieve it.

Heat Sources

To achieve the right temperature for a ball python you will want to establish a heat gradient and day and night cycle. You should also only be heating one third of the enclosure where the basking spot is.

The most common heating systems for beginners are under tank heating pads or ceramic bulbs.

Under Tank Heating Pad

Under tank heating pads (i.e. heating mats) should be placed under one third of the tank. This will create a temperature gradient as the hot air will naturally cool as it travels to the cooler side of the tank.

Keep the mat under the bottom of the tank, not inside the tank. The bottom of the enclosure, plus the substrate, create enough of a barrier to avoid burning the snake. If you decide to use a heating mat, you should carefully check your snake’s belly for the first week for areas of excessive redness.

The other option is to use a ceramic bulb.

Ceramic Bulb

The biggest issue with ceramic bulbs is that they heat the air as well as the ground. It is easy to overheat the entire tank, so you need to make sure that it only heats one third of the tank. This can be especially hard for ball pythons kept in smaller 20-gallon tanks.

If you use a ceramic bulb, you will want to screw it into a fixture that hangs over the tank. Avoid placing any heat sources directly inside the tank. This increases the risk of your snake burning itself.

Whenever you use a heat source you should connect it to a thermostat. This will regulate the tank’s temperature and shut off the heat source if it malfunctions or raises the temperature beyond a limit.

To make sure a heat gradient is properly established in the tank you should set up the enclosure for at least two nights before introducing your ball python.

Summary

Your ball python’s enclosure is one of the most important husbandry aspects for its overall health and happiness. A good setup can add 10 years to your snake’s lifespan.

Regardless of the morph, Ball Python humidity should range from 55% to 60%.

If you need to increase humidity, your best options are misting the tank daily, moving the snake’s water bowl over the under tank heat mat, changing the substrate to cypress mulch or cover 75% of the screen with tin foil. If you need to decrease humidity, you should increase ventilation in the tank by swapping a glass top for a screen top.

Ball Pythons thrive in warm, moist habitats. Their basking spot should be 88 to 92°F and the cooler side should range from 76 to 80°F. A heat gradient allows them to thermoregulate, as they would in the wild. Heating mats are ideal for smaller tanks to establish a temperature gradient.

How do you heat your tank? Let us know in the comments!

So you have finished reading the how to keep humidity up in a ball python tank topic article, if you find this article useful, please share it. Thank you very much. See more: humidifier for ball python, where to put humidity gauge in snake tank, ball python humidity level, how to raise humidity in snake tank, temperature for ball python, how to increase humidity in corn snake tank, ideal temp and humidity for ball python, ball python humidity 70

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