Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im geting some conflicting Caresheets when it comes to ackies and the proper humidity levels in there habbtats.

One tells me that it needs to be pretty low,, another says about 50% and another says not really to worry about the humidity but to make sure the substrate is Semi moist others say just use dirt and a sand mix..

Im useing a Dirt (( which i spent time going and collecting out and about here outside reno which I then mixed with sand its pretty fine stuff the problem is that it doesent hold water vary well and when you try to add water it just turns into this clay like mud which hardens later as it drys out into hard dryed dirt which i then have to crumble back down into the fine stuf again

Im also have a [bleep] of a time keeping my humidity levels up I live in reno Nevada and everything around here is super dry Ive been trying to use a hand held mist'er now and then but I find if i need to keep the humidity levels at 50 i have to mist the thing like once an hour.

If i dont mist the Tararium stays around 30% humidity is this too low ? and how can i remidty the problem I do have a water bowl inside which is supposed to help but i keep it on the cool side of the tank so that the water is not hot hot from the heat lamp camped over it. the aquariums staying around 82 degrees on the cool side around 84 degree's on the hot side with around 80 degree's under the hide spots and alittle lower in the sand being around 79 degrees. a basking spot around 19.5- 120 degree's (( thats not abient just the temp under th lamp for basking))

thank you
Justin.

Stop getting stuck around mindless numbers. Jeez. Toooo many numbers in there.

Sure we need to monitor (no pun) temps and humidity levels in some manner, but to try to affix your lizards conditions to one number (50%)or some small range is ridiculous.

You wont have nearly as much trouble (actually almost none) by simply providing a range to work with and waiting to see what the results of your range are. From there you can adjust.

I wouldn't doubt that a range in my enclosures from the vicinity of 0% humidity to 100% is present. Obviously the higher levels in the more moist sections of their burrows and the lesser near the basking sights.

Also, I saw your post below regard soaking - once you get your humidity down you won't have to worry about soaking. It may take some time sure, it did for me, but your just making it too hard on yourself right now, give a nice range and work from there.

Remember cage construction directly effects all of this. (IE solid top vs screen debate and what not)

Cheers,
Mike.

Your Right of course Im just paranoid.. there spendy and this is my first one so like any nervious parent you just want everything to be perfect. without some sort of mister however i think the humdity lvels are going to just stay at around 30%.

thanks for your help

Justin

There is no perfect, not yet. A mister is not likely to do you any good. If you have a deep substrate (12in or more) that should be all you need to maintain humidity. I have about 18-24 inches in all of my enclosures and that works well for me.

Therefor with that much dirt, a mister is useless, think gallons. So a couple gallons a month seems to provide a the range I am looking for, it will be different for you, but only you will find that out.

I can simply tell you give them a range, your cage and you will dictate how to provide that range. The easiest way I have found thus far it what I have just described.

Cheers,
Mike.

Sounds like your dirt sucks, and you probably have too much venting. It isn't too hard to keep moisture levels up with limited venting. With screen tops, vents, exhaust fans or whatever, it dries out fast.

I would start with a better soil, and look to significantly limit any venting.

I never measure humidity levels, the gauges are horribly inaccurate anyway. It should range to well above 50% though, I would think.

Best of luck.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Venting was the issue stupid ass scrren top. anyway I covered that teperrarally with cardboard untill I can run down and get some plexie glass cut. even the cardboard covering up all the venting the humidity went from 30... to 60 and is hovering stable around 60% my yellow seems much more happy and is busy hunting down crickets now instead of looking like someone wacked him with a Shovel on his heat rock.

I had a question for you actually though about the soaking havent had him long but I soaked him this morning for about 30 minutes in a little tank i have I used a wash cloth not paper towl and set him down on that,, He took a good long drink wen i first put him in it.. but as i waited for time to go by it looked like he got the hickups.. or something I was reading that when lizards get wet the water travels up the indents in the scales to there mouths.. was his yawnin slightly/hicuping or rather the hopening and closeing of his mouth his way of drinking the water that was colecting round his mouth or is there something else I should watch out for.?

you where SOOoooooo right... so I picked up some untreated Topsoil from lows nice healthy airated fresh dirt an threw down about 10 inches of it into my 4x2x2 added alittle water to moisten it not soak it.. and cut out Cardboard of all things to cover my screen top untill i can find someplace local that can cut me plexyglass to the size i need it. covering and the fresh dirt as brought my humidity levels from the crappy 25-30 range to a nice humid 50-55 % what a diffrence in additude and responce from my little ackie.

thank you

Justin.

Definately keep that tank covered. One thing though. Throw that heat rock out and buy a lamp. Belly heat is no good for monitors as it is unnatural and not to mention heat rocks can easily burn your animal.