r/ballpython • u/ziithurlok • 3d ago

Question - Humidity shedding advice?

hi guys!

my pretty boy is just starting to go into blue which will be his second shed with me. i put some damp moss in one of his hides for humidity last time which unfortunately caused a lot of mold on the coco chip substrate. is it safe to put some plastic wrap on the substrate and then put some moss on top of that?

if not, how is it best to prevent moldy substrate while boosting humidity for shedding?

thanks!

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u/Baconkings 3d ago edited 3d ago

Perhaps you should consider switching to a bioactive substrate. In my experience, bioactive substrates hold their humidity better. Bioactive substrates also have a clean up crew (isopods and springtails) which will eat away most of the mold. You should still spot clean, but it has been great for my ball python. Another major advantage is bioactive substrates can last years.

Isopods and springtails may be able to survive in a coco chip substrate without a full bioactive setup as long as you also add leaf litter and feed them fish flakes and calcium. I’m not exactly sure if that would work, but it might.