How to Use Plastic on My Cage for My Ball Python

If you are having problems controlling the humidity in a ball python cage, one option is to use plastic to keep moisture in. Ball pythons need 60 to 70 percent humidity to be healthy. More costly options include plastic tubs (which cause the snake to become less visible), sealed cage lids (which can be expensive) and humidity boxes (which can lead to health problems). Simply adding plastic to the ventilation holes on a snake cage will help to increase humidity.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic drop cloth, small tarp or plastic wrap
  • Humidity gauge
  • Duct tape or packing tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install a humidity gauge inside the ball python cage. Place the gauge toward the top half of the cage, away from the light.

    • 2

      Remove the cage lid. Wrap 1/2 to 3/4 of the lid with either a plastic drop cloth, tarp or plastic wrap. Use one or two layers of plastic and secure the plastic with duct tape or packing tape. If the cage has one heat lamp, wrap only one side of the cage with plastic and place the lamp on the opposite side. If the cage has two heat lamps, only wrap the middle of the cage lid with plastic, leaving enough space on both ends for the heat lamps.

    • 3

      Monitor the results. Your humidity gauge should read between 60 to 70 percent.

    • 4

      Add or remove plastic to get the desired result. If humidity is below 60 percent, add more plastic, only 2 or 3 inches of ventilation is required to maintain proper oxygen levels. If humidity is above 70 percent, remove some plastic from the cage lid or reduce the amount of water in the cage.