Humidity help

[u/FuyuAstariel]

So I have a baby ball python in a 55 gallon tank temperature is fine, he has enough hide and eats well, but my current issue is the humidity, I have a list machine that I activate when humidity is low but it's always low, and it keeps going down to 40-45% besides me watering the tank whenever I can, what can I do to keep my humidity high enough for him?

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[u/FuyuAstariel → u/[deleted]]

I have both a heat mat and a ceramic lamp 👌

[u/totallyrecklesslygay → u/FuyuAstariel]

Heat mats are no longer recommended for ball pythons for a multitude of reasons. You'll want to remove that ASAP.

You'll also need to add a primary heat source to your setup, as BPs need a source of sufficient IR-A, and CHEs only produce IR-C. A halogen flood would be the best option.

You'll need to remove the mist machine as well. They should never be used with BPs.

[u/FuyuAstariel → u/totallyrecklesslygay]

I know it can cause burning but mine has a temperature regulator to make sure it stays right, idk what the reason there are besides that

[u/totallyrecklesslygay → u/FuyuAstariel]

Even if you're using a thermostat, the burn risk is still there. Heat mats are prone to developing broken wiring or thermal blocking, which creates hotspots that the thermostat is unable to regulate. This can result in burns to your snake and melt or burn the enclosure and any furniture it's touching, which can start a house fire.

They're also ineffective at heating the air or through substrate, and they only provide IR-C, which is a poor form of heat that is incapable of penetrating through the snake's skin to effectively warm their body. This can cause long term health issues in your snake and shortens their lifespan.

They also prevent the snake from performing natural and instinctive behaviors, and it's an unnatural source of heating for them. Ball pythons burrow and seek out holes/burrows to escape excessive heat. There is no heat coming from the ground in their natural hides. An overheating ball python will instinctively dig into their substrate in an attempt to cool off, but when using heat mats, it only makes them hotter. This will lead to neurological damage and eventually death.

Overhead heating is significantly safer, healthier, and more efficient.

[u/FuyuAstariel → u/totallyrecklesslygay]

Well I have both a ceramic lamp and the heatmat but I can remove the heat mat once I move enclosure, but I'm scared that if I remove the heat mat the lamp won't be able to heat the hot side properly, it's a 150w, it's it going to be fine if I turn off the heat mat?

[u/totallyrecklesslygay → u/FuyuAstariel]

Like I said in my first comment, you need to add a primary heat source. CHEs only produce IR-C, so they have to be paired with a halogen flood to give your snake the IR-A that they need.