Beginner’s Guide: How to Maintain Humidity for Your Ball Python
Proper humidity is essential for a ball python’s health, particularly for hydration, respiratory health, and successful shedding. Ball pythons require 50-60% humidity for daily maintenance and 70-80% humidity during shedding. If humidity drops too low, it can lead to dehydration, incomplete sheds, and other health issues.
Here are the best ways to maintain humidity in your ball python’s enclosure:
1. Use the Right Substrate
Your substrate choice plays a major role in holding humidity.
✅ Best Substrates for Humidity:
• Coconut Husk (ReptiChip, Eco Earth, CocoBlox) – Absorbs and retains moisture well.
• Cypress Mulch – Naturally holds humidity and resists mold growth.
• Reptile Soil Mix – A combination of soil, sand, and clay helps maintain a naturalistic humidity cycle.
🚫 Avoid Dry Substrates: Aspen, paper towels, and sand do not retain moisture well and can cause humidity to drop.
2. Add a Large Water Bowl
• Place a large water dish in the enclosure, preferably over the warm side, to create natural evaporation.
• Use deep but stable bowls to prevent tipping.
• Change water daily to prevent bacterial buildup.
3. Use a Humid Hide
A humid hide helps provide a high-humidity microclimate inside the enclosure.
✅ How to Make a Humid Hide:
• Use a plastic or enclosed hide on the cool side of the enclosure.
• Fill it with damp sphagnum moss or coconut fiber to retain moisture.
• Keep the moss slightly damp, not soaked, and replace it weekly to prevent mold.
4. Lightly Mist When Needed
• Use dechlorinated or distilled water in a spray bottle to mist the enclosure lightly.
• Best times to mist:
• In the morning or evening to mimic natural humidity cycles.
• When your ball python is in shed to help loosen skin.
• Avoid over-misting, as excessive moisture can cause mold and respiratory issues.
5. Cover Part of the Screen Lid
Glass tanks with mesh tops allow too much moisture to escape, making it hard to maintain humidity.
✅ How to Fix This:
• Cover 50-75% of the mesh top with aluminum foil, acrylic, or plexiglass to trap humidity.
• Leave space for proper airflow to prevent stagnant air.
🚫 Do NOT completely seal the enclosure—this can cause poor ventilation and mold growth.
6. Adjust Room Conditions
If your home environment is naturally dry, you may need to adjust external conditions.
✅ Increase Humidity in the Room:
• Use a room humidifier to raise humidity levels, especially in winter.
• Keep the enclosure away from vents, heaters, and AC units, as they dry out the air.
7. Monitor Humidity with Accurate Tools
A digital hygrometer is essential for keeping track of humidity levels.
✅ Best Placement:
• One hygrometer on the cool side
• One on the warm side near the substrate
🚫 Avoid dial or analog hygrometers—they are often inaccurate.
8. Maintain Proper Ventilation
While humidity is important, good airflow is also necessary to prevent mold, bacteria, and respiratory infections.
✅ Balance humidity and ventilation:
• If mold forms, increase airflow by adjusting the lid or adding a small ventilation hole.
• If humidity drops too low, adjust coverage of the lid or mist more frequently.
Final Thoughts
By using proper substrate, a large water bowl, humid hides, and controlled misting, you can easily maintain the right humidity levels for your ball python. Consistent humidity ensures proper hydration, helps with smooth shedding, and keeps your snake healthy long-term.
With the right setup and monitoring, your ball python will thrive in its environment!