Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a legless lizard that needs a medium to low humidity level and a substrate that it both good for burrowing and is unlikely to be harmful if swallowed (it presses its food against the ground before eating). So I'm using moist Bed-a-Beast mixed with calci sand. Unfortunately, the Bed-a-Beast takes a long time to dry so I have to let it dry in the vivarium with the lizard, but this raises the humidity level.

Is there a quick way to dry the substrate? I need it to retain some moisture because I was told that if it's completely dry, it can hurt the reptile if swallowed. Is there another way to lower the humdity level? Or is there another substrate that might be better for this animal?

--Kim

keep the heat up, make sure there is adequate ventilation, and a sure fire way to dry it out quickly is to have a fan (for terrariums) to circulate the air with the the air from the room.
i have a problem with low humidity and i need to get it up. and the only thing that i didnt try is to cover up the top of the enclosure. im no expert but if wat im doing results in low humidity that might be ur advantage.
wat r u doin that has the humidity up? u could help me with my problem.plus where r u? cuz im in wisconsin and the humidity here sucks cuz it is bloody dry here.

I'm in San Antonio, TX. It's been in the 80s lately so I haven't been heating the house. I've noticed that having a space heater on in the room lowers the humidity by about 30% (from 46% to 16%). The wet substrate raises the humidity by about as much. Today, it was 46% in the kingsnake's vivarium (w/ aspen), while it went up to 83% in the lizard's vivarium, which is in the same room. That was about 8 hours ago. It stayed at 78% for most of the day. Now it's down to 68%, but the substrate still feels very wet. The Bed-a-Beast coconut fiber definitely holds moisture well.

My lizard is very active and adventurous, so if I put a fan in her vivarium, she could get hurt by it. Or does this terrarium fan go on top of the lid, like a light? Where are they sold? I'll try turning on the ceiling fan and see if that helps.

I'm also going to start mixing the substrate the day before and letting it dry over night. Unfortunately, today, I had to change it quickly, and it's certainly possible that could happen again, due to a parasitic infestation for example (what I'm dealing with now).

--Kim

the fan is about the size of a computer fan u can find them for sale at doctors' foster and smith. and it sits on the lid even if it was in the cage ur reptiles wouldnt get hurt by it cuz it has covers on it front and back. u jus need to clean it cuz u think ur room or the cage is clean then u check the filter cover and u find out how nasty the air is but i get u cant have everything perfect. wait i might try a small ionizer next to the cages to see if that makes the air quality better. im gonna go test that and see if that works ne way u seem to have the same problems i do. i my beardie cage it is a fabulous 60% humid (not good for them) but in my basilisk cage it is 45% (not good either) i dont think switching cages would make it work cuz it could jus change with them to and then ur stuck on the solution. ne way goodluck to u.