Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello tortoise friends, I just got a great new cherryhead redfoot and am looking for advice on how to keep the tank humidity at an appropriate level for her. It is a standard 20 gallon tank (please no critics, the sides are covered and she is little...)

I am using cypress mulch and I have a little plant in there as well as a 6x8" pool of water. Unfortunately, the humidity dips to about 65 unless I mist the tank (right after misting it goes up to about 80). I am using an dome lamp with a 100w UVA/UVB bulb.

Some answers to these questions along with any of your own pearls of wisdom are welcomed and appreciated:

--One person said to use one of those heaters that slides underneath the tank, but I have read conflicting opinions on their safety for the health of the tortoise. Any users/anti-users with input?

--A person also said to try covering a portion of the top of the tank, but do they make half-covers or do I need to go out and find a piece of wood?

Thanks...

I don't think it's necessary to maintian high humidity throughout the entire enclosure. Redfoots can be found in both forests and grasslands, and from what I've read are comfortable with a wider range of humidity.

Try to create a humid hide box. Some people use a plastic tub with a hole in the side that has moss or mulch that you spray regularly. Or some people glue a sponge to the roof of the hide and keep that damp.

The key to a good environment for a tortoise is variety. You offer the tortoise a range of heat and humidity so that it can choose its own comfort zone. Just as the enclosure is warmer in some spots than in others, it should also be more humid in some areas than others. Let it be dry in some areas, damp (humid hide box) in others, and wet (water bowl) in some.

Get a piece of plexi with holes cut for the light fixtures. This will help hold humidity and heat.

In my opinion, the ambient humidity in homes coupled with the heat lamps is too low for even most desert reptiles. We don't realize that our houses are nearly bone dry. If I were to keep a redfoot (and this is just me), I would try to keep the ambient humidity up, and also offer a humid hiding spot with very high humidity. It's important that redfoots have some humidity, or else you will end up with some pyramiding.