How to Use Plastic to Bring up the Humidity on a Cage of a Ball Python

Native to open forests and grasslands of Western and Central Africa, ball pythons (Python regius) are mostly a terrestrial species living on the ground and taking shelter under rocks and in burrows, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. A common problem for these snakes in captivity is improper shedding, where pieces of the skin or eye caps do not come off during a shed. This is usually caused by an environmental problem, having too low humidity levels; this can be easily corrected by the snake's owner.

Things You'll Need

  • Moss
  • Hide out
  • Potted plant
  • Plastic wrap
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put damp moss inside the ball python's hideout or burrow. This will provide moisture inside the tank to create humidity.

    • 2

      Put a live potted plant such as ivy inside the vivarium on the same side as the hideout. Living plants also help increase the humidity in the tank.

    • 3

      Cover the half of the cage with the plant and hideout with clear plastic wrap and leave the other half open for ventilation. To mimic the snake's wild habitat, you need a gradient of humidity levels. Ken Felsman of Kingsnake.com recommends the ambient humidity in the tank be kept at about 60 percent and the hide box about 70 to 80 percent.