Written by u/totallyrecklesslygay and u/tacomadude94 for r/ballpython

Misting/spraying is generally ineffective, as it only spikes humidity temporarily. In most cases, if you're spraying frequently enough to maintain humidity, your surfaces in the enclosure will be constantly wet. This can cause scale rot.

Auto misters/humidifiers/foggers have the same issue with constantly wet surfaces causing scale rot, but they also have the added risk of causing respiratory infections due to the bacteria buildup that occurs in these devices and the near impossibility of sanitizing them.

To measure humidity, you should be using a digital hygrometer. It should be located near the substrate on the cool side. You need to measure the temperature on both sides of the enclosure, but note that the humidity reading on your hot side will be lower than the cool side. When we say 70-80%, we take that measurement on the cool side. The analog stick-on gauges that are commonly sold at pet stores are notoriously inaccurate and the adhesive can severely damage your snake’s skin.

To safely maintain the required 70-80% humidity:

-Use a species appropriate enclosure. For a ball python, this means one without a screen top. If you have a screen topped enclosure, you can cover 90% of the screen with HVAC tape to try to hold the humidity in.

-Maintain a minimum of 4" of quality substrate- a top soil / mulch / sand blend in a 60/30/10 ratio is my preferred option.

-Pour water directly into the corners of the enclosure to soak the base layer while leaving the surface dry. If you're using enough of a quality substrate, then you can start with a quart in each corner and go from there. Stirring the substrate afterward can help distribute the moisture better, allowing for easier evaporation.

-Placing an additional water dish on the hot side can help in quarantine situations. Something large and shallow works well.

-Add bunches of sphagnum moss around the enclosure and dampen these as necessary.

-If your snake is exhibiting symptoms of dehydration (cracked eye caps, stuck shed, pinched skin) you can employ one of these two methods to help alleviate those symptoms in the short term. Note that these should be used in addition to the advice listed above, not as a replacement.