Humidity is one of the most important metrics in your ball python cage. Improper humidity levels will interfere with shedding, hydration and general well-being of a ball python. In this post, you will find information on ideal ball python humidity level, humidity problems (humidity too low or high), and tips on increasing, lowering and maintaining humidity levels.
What is ideal humidity level for ball pythons?
Ideal humidity level for ball pythons is between 55-80%. Anything below 55% will cause dehydration, shedding issues and even respiratory infection, while over 80% – bacterial/fungal growth in a cage, scale rot and more.
It’s a great idea to keep humidity at around 55-70%, and then a bit higher, up to 80% during ball python shed period. You can do this by just adding some moist sphagnum moss in a humidity hide.
60-70%, and even up to 80% humidity in a ball python tank is fine, as long as the cage is not actually WET. Ball pythons develop respiratory infections due to lower humidity more often, as it leads to drying and cracking of their mucous membrane.
How to maintain humidity for a ball python?
Maintaining constant humidity in a ball python cage is very important. However, sometimes it might be hard to keep it constant. Factors that will affect humidity in a ball python cage will include cage material, room humidity, ventilation, substrate and more.
To maintain humidity for your ball python, make sure to use appropriate substrate, control ventilation, and make cage modifications if necessary. Make sure to have 1-2 hygrometers in a cage like this, to see humidity levels. Some thermometers come with hygrometers, too.
Ball python humidity too low? Increasing humidity
If you are having issues maintaining higher humidity in a ball python cage, you can make some adjustments that will help you.
Try to avoid using foggers or misters in a ball python tank, as they will keep humidity high all the time. This can cause scale rot and bacterial/fungal growth. Only when humidity is too low and you can’t increase it, you then can consider using a fogger/mister.
Tip 1: Covering parts of a screen top
If your ball python is in a glass/another material cage with a screen top, you need to cover a part of it to prevent too much ventilation. To do that, you can use a cloth, foil or another non-porous cover to prevent too much air from escaping.
Tip 2: Adding a humidity hide
Make sure to have a humidity hide in a ball python cage. Humidity hide should be same as normal hide, so that your ball python feels same level of security in both of them.
You can add some moist sphagnum moss or similar in there to bump up humidity. That’s especially true when your ball python is shedding. A great humidity hide, for example, is this 3 in 1 shelter cave that can be used for shedding purposes especially.
Please note that ball pythons need enclosed and tight hides to feel secure. Make sure it only has one opening. Sometimes, a ball python can spend a whole day to few in a moist hide when shedding.
Tip 3: Reviewing substrate
Please review your substrate if humidity levels are not stable. If you cannot maintain humidity with above steps, you can also change substrate that you are using. Humidity retaining substrates include cypress mulch, tropical soil mix, coco fiber, bark (somewhat).
If you have one of the above substrates but still have issues with humidity, you can increase the height of substrate. You can increase the depth to 4″ (10 cm) to up to 6-7″ (15-18 cm) in larger tanks.
Then, you can soak parts of substrate with water (not just misting, as it will evaporate too quickly). Don’t soak substrate in dry hides. Soak parts of substrate properly, so that water evaporates gradually and doesn’t cause sudden spikes and drops in humidity.
Tip 4: Adding a water dish
Make sure to have a large water dish that is deep enough and can fit your ball python if needed. A large water dish like this will allow your ball python to soak when needed and will help with hydration. Make sure it’s large enough so that it doesn’t tip over.
Place a water dish in the middle or on top of a heating element. Water in a dish will help with humidity levels – water will evaporate, causing humidity to rise. Water for ball pythons should be warm – around room temperature or 80 F (26.6 C) is optimal.
Generally increasing the size of a water dish should help with humidity. However, if your ball python is also soaking too often, it could signal dehydration, high cage temperatures and even mites.
Ball python humidity too high? Lowering humidity
Tip 1: Allowing more ventilation
Allowing more ventilation in the cage can help decrease humidity levels. Ventilation and fresh air is very important in any case. But if humidity levels are too high, more ventilation will help get rid of stagnant air and moisture buildup.
Depending on which cage material you have, you can add extra ventilation holes/outlets as necessary. Proceed gradually, as too much ventilation can cause a very sharp drop in humidity.
In a plastic tub cage, drill few very small holes and add more later if necessary. Even opening a lid for some time will help humidity drop faster.
What is more, you can place a fan near the enclosure, so that it helps with air flow/circulation. You can adjust the distance and the speed of the fan depending on how humidity levels change.
Experiment from further away at lower speed and increase if necessary. Even a ceiling/room fan can help with humidity in a ball python cage.
Tip 2: Changing substrate type and depth
If humidity levels get too high in your ball python tank, it might be time to review your substrate choice. If you have adjusted your ventilation or cannot do it, you can review your substrate.
In case of higher humidity levels, you can switch to drier substrate. These include aspen, paper towels – you can even keep using your current substrate without adding too much water to it.
Please note that some substrates can get dusty when dry (such as coco coir and even aspen). You can also use two different substrates on two sides of your ball python cage.
A good thing to do if you are struggling with high humidity in a ball python cage is to let your substrate dry out a bit before using for the first time. Coco coir or cypress mulch tend to drastically increase humidity once you add it for the first time.
To avoid that, you can leave the substrate in an open tub/on a paper/bag for 1-2 days (sometimes mixing), to let the moisture evaporate.
Another thing to consider is to decrease depth of substrate. This might help with controlling humidity levels in the cage. Leave only 1-3″ (2.5-5 cm) of substrate, or bit more if your ball python cage is large.
In case when you use drier substrate, you might want to only leave a humid hide with some moss to help with shedding.
You can read more about best substrate options for ball pythons in this post.
Tip 3: Change to smaller water dish or leave less water
The main goal of water dish in a tank is to allow your ball python to drink. If humidity levels get too high in the tank, you can choose a smaller water dish for your ball python. Also, don’t fill it with too much water, as it causes evaporation and higher humidity levels.
Tip 4: Constant temperatures
One of the most important aspects in a ball python cage is constant temperatures. Temperatures must even stay steady at night, and only allow a small drop.
Some ball python owners make an error of allowing temperatures to drop at night, by turning off heating sources. Make sure that this doesn’t happen, as it will lead not only to higher humidity, but other health complications.
A heat source connected to a thermostat (under tank heater, ceramic heat emitter or similar) can be left to heat the cage at night. Ideal night temperatures for ball pythons are 80-83 Fahrenheit (26.7-28.3 Celsius).
You can read all about heating and light for ball pythons in this post.
Summary: ball python humidity
Make sure to use a hygrometer like this to check humidity levels in your ball python’s cage.
If humidity levels are in optimal range (55-70%, up to 80%) and the cage is well-ventilated, without any wet substrate, it should be fine. Avoid wet surfaces, wet substrate and too much moisture in the tank.
Make sure to clean any poop as soon as possible, and it will cause contamination, especially in a water dish. Bacterial growth is something that you must avoid.
You can read more about ball python shedding and humidity in this post.