How to Increase the Humidity in a Snake Cage

When we think of pet care, the things that we usually think of first are feeding, grooming and medical care for our pets. For all snakes, especially tropical snakes, the humidity level in the cage is also a major consideration. If a pet lives in air that is too dry, it will become dehydrated. Too much humidity can cause illness. Read on to learn how to increase the humidity in a snake cage.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make sure that the snake's enclosure is kept in a room that has a healthy humidity level. Maintaining a steady, healthy level in the cage is more difficult if your home tends to have dry air.
2. Provide a cage made of glass or one that is lined with plexi-glass for an ideal enclosure to maintain a healthy humidity level for your pet snake. Hygrometers, instruments that measure the humidity within the pet's enclosure, are available at pet stores. Follow the recommendations on the hygrometer label for the ideal humidity for your pet snake.
3. Monitor your pet when it begins to shed. When your pet snake begins to shed its skin, it may spend a lot of time soaking. During shedding, most snakes need to have the cage humidity raised to about 60 percent.
4. Be sure to keep a dish of clean, fresh water in the snake's cage at all times. If the cage is large enough, you may want to add a large dish so your pet snake can soak. Keeping two dishes of water in the cage will help raise the humidity.
5. Place the water dish near the cage heater to increase evaporation and raise the humidity. With the increase in evaporation, you will want to check the dish often to be sure that it is always full.
6. Mist your snake's environment by spraying fresh water on the sides, but not the floor, of the cage. Then wipe the water off the sides with a paper towel. A humid residue will remain in the air.
7. Make a private "bathroom" for your pet in a plastic dish if the cage is still dry. Cut a front and back door in the bowl. Then place wet paper towels on the bottom and seal the lid in place. Your snake can crawl in to have a few private, relaxing, humid moments.