False Bottom BP?

[ZooRex]

Alright, at the moment my yearling ball python is on the higest shelf in the petroom. I've noticed repeatedly that it gets rather hot up there (heat rises) and is usually in the upper 80's/lower 90's. Because of this it gets very dry, very fast. I know that they're from western Africa and it isn't exactly a rainforest, but I don't think it should be bone dry eithor. I was wondering if a false bottom would help with the humidity and cool down the enclosure a bit. What do you guys think? Thanks ~ Rex

 

[titus]

It's more of a misconsecption that BP like a dry habitate I would describe theres as Sub-tropical, Idea humidity is 65-75% day and 80-90% night during the rain season and about 10% lower in the dry. Northwest Africa does get more rain fall than the sothern areas. An BP's live mainly in Termite mounds that are made for humidity and mild temps. Best would be to bring your temps. down slightly and mist more often. If you can't be there to mist the cage a mistting system would not be a bad investment.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

usually in the upper 80's/lower 90's. Because of this it gets very dry, very fast. I know that they're from western Africa and it isn't exactly a rainforest, but I don't think it should be bone dry eithor.

You definitely need to do something--if the whole enclosure is that hot, you are cooking this snake, and they will get very sick and have a ton of shedding problems without good humidity. (They live in burrows stolen from their prey rodents, and it's generally cool and damp underground.)

 

[ZooRex]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll be sure to take action today. So far there have been no bad sheds. The only shed problem I ever had with a BP was years ago (different snake), he couldn't seam to shed in one peice so I hightened the humidity so much he developed jungle rot:wall:. But over time he recovered nicly and is doing well today. Anyway I'm also thinking of instaling a fan up on the top shelf to help move the air around and cool it off a bit along with a fasle bottom, and a plastic covered screen. Thanks again ~ Rex

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Just don't cover the whole screen, because about 1/4 of it being uncovered with a fan going should be perfect ventilation.