Humidity issue

[EasternGirl]

Well now I am having a humidity problem again. I have decided it must be this Delaware weather...it can be 65 degrees outside one day and then 19 degrees outside the next this time of year...and it is making the humidity in my house go up and down. I guess the brief increase in the humidity in my enclosures was due to the warmer temps and rain here last week...but now the temp has dropped significantly outside and the humidity in the tanks has dropped as well. I can't seem to get Cee Cee's humidity over 30%...even with misting and covering the lid 3/4...and she is getting ready to shed. Since she had that problem shed last time, it is concerning me a bit.

[guidofatherof5]

Put a shed box in the enclosure with a hole in the side so she can come and go.
The lid will keep the humidity very high in the box only.

[EasternGirl]

Can you post another link to your shed box video please? I can't remember which thread it was in. Thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

[EasternGirl]

Thanks Steve...I'm going to try that for her! The video was great.

[Invisible Snake]

I wanted bump this because I wanted to know if there was a consensus of the ideal humidity for garter snakes?

And if it depends on the garter snakes, what would be the ideal humidity for albino checkereds?

[Steveo]

I wanted bump this because I wanted to know if there was a consensus of the ideal humidity for garter snakes?

And if it depends on the garter snakes, what would be the ideal humidity for albino checkereds?

ideal: humid enough to not cause shedding problems :P

I always try to think about where in the world my snakes come from. My desert/cali king hybrid is just fine with the dry Denver air (average humidity is probably in the 25% neighborhood), but my sinaloan milk snakes are from the west coast of Mexico and need extra moisture to to shed cleanly. My wandering garter spends half of her time fully submerged in her water dish, so I'm not sure what she'd need if she didn't.

[ConcinusMan]

I wanted bump this because I wanted to know if there was a consensus of the ideal humidity for garter snakes?

And if it depends on the garter snakes, what would be the ideal humidity for albino checkereds?

Put a shed box in the enclosure with a hole in the side so she can come and go.
The lid will keep the humidity very high in the box only.

good advice. Don't be too concerned over the ambient humidity if it is beyond your control. If you can't keep it at 40-70 percent then garters adapt by taking advantage of micro climates. I have found that very young garters especially, including albino checkereds, (some wild checkerds live in very dry, arid climate desert oasis') can have trouble shedding, and can even die from failure to shed. In spite of low relative humidity, garters get through it by finding a moist place to hide. An area of moist substrate to bury into, a damp hide (for example, a "shed box") etc.

I would take Steve's advice. Create an enclosed hide (preferably not near the basking, or hottest area) with damp paper towels, moss, newspaper, etc. inside. In spite of low humidity in the air of the tank, this will give the snake the moist micro climate it needs, as it needs it.

Scale rot and other skin issues.

Agreed. But high humidity alone (65-75%) won't cause those issues. Constantly damp substrate underneath them, causing bacteria growth, with no dry areas for them to retreat to, will.

[chris-uk]

Around 50% will probably be the consensus... how much variation is acceptable seems to be what is more open to debate.

[EasternGirl]

I would agree with Chris...I try to keep my humidity at least around 50%...which can be tough during the cool months. Luckily, now it has been staying around 60% in all of my tanks. I try to mist a lot...and I am extra careful to make sure it stays up in my albino checkered's enclosure...I mist in there a lot and also keep a moist hide in there at all times for him because he has a history of problem sheds. With the humidity up lately...he had his first good shed a few days ago.