Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since it's gotten colder and we've had to run the heater, the humidity in my house has decreased. I find that I am having to mist the inside of my AFT's tupperware humid hide several times a day to keep it humid. I use cage carpet for substrate but have moss in the humid hide that I keep dampened. Anybody have any other tips? Thanks!!

>>Since it's gotten colder and we've had to run the heater, the humidity in my house has decreased. I find that I am having to mist the inside of my AFT's tupperware humid hide several times a day to keep it humid. I use cage carpet for substrate but have moss in the humid hide that I keep dampened. Anybody have any other tips? Thanks!!

I use an aquarium filter bag filled with vermiculite. I can dampen it as much as I need, vermiculite can hold a lot of water if necessary. I have it taped to the roof of the hide. I like this method a lot because it eliminates problems of loose material like moss, it doesn't harbor mold, and it makes the hide even more snug inside, which I think the gex appreciate.
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Chris

1.0.1 Coleonyx variegatus
1.0.0 Gekko vittatus
1.0.0 Eublepharis macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Terrestrial? Who you calling terrestrial?!!

Thanks for the suggestion I'll try that, because of the mold I'd been changing the peat moss every other day, your idea will save me time and money!! Any suggestions on where to purchase vermiculite? The pet store we use doesn't carry it.

>>Thanks for the suggestion I'll try that, because of the mold I'd been changing the peat moss every other day, your idea will save me time and money!! Any suggestions on where to purchase vermiculite? The pet store we use doesn't carry it.

You can get vermiculite at garden supply places, an 8 quart bag cost me about 5 bucks and will probably last me the rest of my life, lol. I also use it dry for my crickets, seems like it helps keep the smell down.
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Chris

1.0.1 Coleonyx variegatus
1.0.0 Gekko vittatus
1.0.0 Eublepharis macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Terrestrial? Who you calling terrestrial?!!

I've actually used vermiculite for the substate in the humid hide for a couple years now. Like noted it holds humidity very well for a much longer time time and makes a nice soft warm bedding for my AFT's. I personally wouldn't keep any animals on it until their at least sub adults and good sized though, I've never had any issues and use it for my Leo's too.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.15 Tokays
1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

My gecko is over 6 inches long, almost 7 inches and very chubby. I will give the vermiculite a try inside the humid hide as a substrate, and maybe I'll tape some in an aquarium bag to the roof too - might help keep him from toppling his hide all the time. Almost every morning I find him laying in the spot where his humid hide is supposed to be but he's turned it on it's side or upside down.

sounds like it likes to climb or the inside of the humid isn't getting warm enough so he moves it to lay directly on the heat source.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.15 Tokays
1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

I think he likes to climb on top of it, he's definitely a climber. Anything we put in his enclosure, he'll climb onto - water bowls, logs, etc. Whenever we pick him up to clean the cage, he tries to climb up the front of our shirts. In fact, when I got him from the pet store, all the other geckos were under the log, he was on top of it. I don't think he knows he's supposed to be a terrestrial gecko!

thats funny, i have a male leo who likes to climb and use anything he can to elevate himself to escape so i cant put anything very tall in with him.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.15 Tokays
1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

>>I've actually used vermiculite for the substate in the humid hide for a couple years now. Like noted it holds humidity very well for a much longer time time and makes a nice soft warm bedding for my AFT's. I personally wouldn't keep any animals on it until their at least sub adults and good sized though, I've never had any issues and use it for my Leo's too.
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>>My posts and replies are my experiences only
>>1.2.15 Tokays
>>1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
>>1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
>>0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

I've used the vermiculite as a substrate, too, I just don't like the way it gets scattered around by the gecko's activities. Plus my bandeds are very small, the possibility of impaction always concerns me.

My bandeds also like to climb, Bogey managed to jump 5 inches from a high vine to the edge of the tank, pull himself out, and roam around the house for a week before I found him. I wised up and put on a screen lid, now I often see him clinging upside down to the screen. He seems to think he's genus Gekko instead of Coleonyx, I suppose.

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Chris

1.0.1 Coleonyx variegatus
1.0.0 Gekko vittatus
1.0.0 Eublepharis macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Terrestrial? Who you calling terrestrial?!!