Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I started a terrarium last week and I am getting it ready for some dart frogs, but I cant seem to break 79% humidity on a 90 gallon tank with a fogger and a plexi glass top. I was doing some research and then it came to me that I may not have enough plants. Could this be my cause? I have 7 very small plants and a few of them are only a 3" tall. I also dont have any moss yet and I read that they hold a ton of humidity. Any feedback or suggestions would be great.
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Me fail english? That's unpossible

Are you getting condensation on the sides of the glass and top? If so, your tank is reaching 100% humidity at these times. It doesn't seem probable that an enclosure such as you describe doesn't get over 79% with a solid plexiglass lid. I'd check out the humidity gauge. I live in a very dry climate with no humidity problem, even in nursery tanks with very sparse, if any vegetation. Most of my tanks have water features, which would be something you might consider with as large a tank as you have. Water features also help to stabilize the temperature. All my dart frogs seem to enjoy water fountains, very shallow streams or ponds all filled to the brim with smooth pebbles and rocks, or mini-waterfalls. They will hop around in them hunting, or some may even sit under the waterfall drips, depending upon the species. Is there a sump drainage area or a false bottom? You will also be misting daily, along with the humidifier. As this occurs, the excess water will wet the soil, drain off into the sump or false bottom and the humidity will gradually rise. Perhaps your substrate is still a little dry. It can be pretty wet, but still needs good drainage.

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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Yes, the inside of my tank is lined with moisture, I also thought it was a problem with my gauge so I went out and bough another and I get the same reading. I have a shallow reptile feeding dish burried in the soil to make a small pond, a misting volcano, and a waterfall, all are spread throughout the tank. I am using a Bed-a-beast like substrate and I have proper drainage. I am also using 3 40 watt 48" cool white flourescent lights. I even spray mist in the tank twice a day. My temp is usually between 79 and 85. I am thinking of getting a pro-mist system.
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Me fail english? That's unpossible

The temperatures are a bit high for darts. 65 at night to 80 during the day is the general range of tolerance for any length of time. 85 seems a bit high. One usually depends upon room temperatures to keep the tanks at the right temperature. If you live in a hot climate and don't have central air conditioning, consider a cooler for the room they are in. I don't have a lot of experience with lowering temperatures, because that isn't the problem here. The lights will heat up a tank. You may want to raise them farther above it, or turn them completely off in hot weather.

I wouldn't worry about what the humidity gauge says. With the misting and fogging, damp substrate, waterfalls, etc. they aren't going to suffer. The humidity gauge is in one location, probably against one end of the tank midway up. It doesn't reflect what is around the frogs. Your frogs can chose their own location depending upon their needs. If you have condensation on the glass, you have high humidity.

As the plants grow, they will also help to stabilize this.

I like to have bromeliads such as Neoregalia that hold water in the axils. All darts, not just the thumbnails that use them to breed, utilize these axils to rest in and soak.

Your set-up sounds great. Please post some pictures. Except for the somewhat high temperatures to be optimum, I think your're all set.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

I have nearly exactly the same thing going on as skatedork, and your advise makes perfect sense to me! According to my hygrometer, I never get higher than 80% humidity, and more often it sits around 50%, but my glass is always fogged, and I have lots of plants and a waterfall. I never even thought about the fact that the frogs are hopping around very close to the ground where the humidity is higher. Of course I read all this AFTER buying a misting system! =) Oh well, it will keep the humidity up when I'm gone for two weeks this Christmas with no one reliable to mist my terrarium every day! (Don't worry, no frogs in the tank yet).