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How can I keep humidity up?

Ppk Oct 08, 2003 01:41 PM

Ok I lowered the wattage of the bulbs from 75 watt floods to 50 watt floods. I also have been misting his soil daily but the top of the soil still gets dry! I covered the top with some ply woodscraps and put a blanket on top to cover any spaces. Should I add about 60 more lbs of soil? Also, I lowered ambients to 78 like I was told to. Another thing, why am I seeing shedded skin, more and more keeps appearing and only his legs, tail, head and parts of his back are getting gray, does he shed skin off daily or something? I dont understand. Also how am I doing, look below to see his tank size (his heat info is incorrect, I have to change it). I feed him thawed large adult mice (once a day 5 times a week) and those other 2 days he gets chicken and turkey. What do you guys think and what should I fix (I know I have to fix humidity and moisture but how?)?
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My Savannah Monitor Jango's Statistics:

Size: 22"
Weight: 2 pounds
Ambient Temps: 88 degrees
Bask Spot Temps: 102 degrees
Night time Temps: 72 degrees
Diet: Thawed 3 inch mice and other meat products
Tank: 6x3x3 Enclosure
Age: 14 Months (his size is small for his age but he is starting to catch up shedding at 2 times a month!)

Replies (11)

bengalensis Oct 08, 2003 02:38 PM

Were gonna have to really think about this one. Lets start here. Where and how big are your vents?

Ppk Oct 08, 2003 02:58 PM

Well, to be honest, I dont have professionaly made vents yet. I just layed down the boards on top of his enclosure. I spread some of them apart leaving some openings (you know for him to breath and all). I have a blanket on top (I couldnt cover the whole area with the boards, the lights would set them on fire since they are not all entirely inside the tank, some of them stick out about a half inch or so) so I cover the top with a blanket and I cut wholes in there. I must say, the humidity has gotten higher since I did this on Friday. I sprayed and remoistened his soil and some parts have stayed moist but some dried up a bit (the areas near the basking spots). I added more and more moisture (spraying water onto the dry parts) and its actually starting to stay moist and I can see drops of water on the glass. He doesnt soak as much either. I also have been noticing shedded skin everywhere but when could he have done this? Do you think things are fine now?
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My Savannah Monitor Jango's Statistics:

Size: 22"
Weight: 2 pounds
Ambient Temps: 78 degrees
Bask Spot Temps: 110 degrees
Night time Temps: 72 degrees
Diet: Thawed 3 inch mice and other meat products
Tank: 6x3x3 Enclosure
Age: 14 Months

bengalensis Oct 08, 2003 03:49 PM

time will tell, right?

crocdoc2 Oct 08, 2003 07:21 PM

I posted this a week or so ago, but you may have missed it.

Rather than try to adapt what you already have, you'd be better off putting even a small amount of money into new light fixtures that will allow a proper top. Get rid of the clamps which are preventing you from putting a top on. Get a single piece of plywood for a top, drill small holes for the lights' electrical cords and hang the lights from the lid (you may need different fixtures), then put vents lower down the sides of the walls. You'll have no issues keeping humidity in.

As far as sloughing goes, monitors do it piecemeal, unlike snakes. Instead of sloughing all of the old skin off in one go, they slough it off bit by bit.

Ppk Oct 08, 2003 07:44 PM

I do like that top idea and I am going to discuss this with my father. I am going to have to see though. As for the shedding, I never knew that, thanks. He is shedding now, its coming off his tail and feet and moving up.
-----
My Savannah Monitor Jango's Statistics:

Size: 22"
Weight: 2 pounds
Ambient Temps: 78 degrees
Bask Spot Temps: 110 degrees
Night time Temps: 72 degrees
Diet: Thawed 3 inch mice and other meat products
Tank: 6x3x3 Enclosure
Age: 14 Months

seablazer Oct 08, 2003 09:25 PM

Oddly enough, I just started to get all the materials for my cage ready... My father who is licensed in plumbing, electrical, and general contracting totally redrew my design...

My problems were the vents... I had them situated at the top...
4"x10" closable vents. He said I'd have humidity issues..

Here was his fix:
Put two small 3" diameter vents on the back(1 at the each upper corner).
Put two 4"x10" closable vents at the very bottoms of the sides. Closable so the air movement can be regulated...

But it's like he said, if the humidity is too low with this setup we will work with it, even if that means pulling a vent and filling in the spot...

SHvar Oct 08, 2003 09:33 PM

All you need is 2-3 inch vents near the middle of the sides. If you put them at the top sides it is too dry, if at the bottom sides you cant get any substrate in the cage without it going ou the vents.

crocdoc2 Oct 08, 2003 09:50 PM

this is my point, entirely. Even a relatively small vent near the top will allow the warm, humid air to escape.

SHvar Oct 08, 2003 09:30 PM

It collects moisture and dries it out also.

SHvar Oct 08, 2003 09:24 PM

Permanently attached with no vents on it (solid plywood, plastic). Then use small 2 inch plastic vents in the back and sides (try 4, then add if you need more, probably not). Use a sliding plexiglas or window front to get in and out of the cage. The cage will hold humidity like you wouldnt believe. The temperature will mysteriously go up everywhere like youd never believe it could, and add dirt the deeper the better (1 ft). I remember you being told this countless times before because you will have these problems. If we warn you of impending problems because you have an obvious mistake, dont think we are messing with you or that we are trying to prevent you from making some revolutionary breakthrough in varanid husbandry. Most of us have made the same mistakes before and some have figured it out a long time ago. Try the 50 watt bulbs mounted from ceramic light assemblies on plywood on a chain mount from the top (that way its height adjustable). I use 45 watt bulbs because the basking light beam should be from the animals snout to vent at least, that way you add bulbs and assemblies easily to accomidate growth.

SHvar Oct 08, 2003 09:28 PM

np
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