Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im having trouble reaching humidity levels for 2 juvie A.capra. I have them in a 20g glass tank for the time being, Im getting started building a custom enclosure this weekend.

Now, I have a layer of soil, cypress mulch, moss, 2 small live plants, and LARGE water dish with an air hose (no stone).

They are drinking, swimming and eating fine.... yet I feel theyre dehydrated because of the 50% humidity.

I also mist 3-4x daily, drenching the enclosure.

Any tips on raising the humidity levels and do they have to be 70-80% CONSTANTLY???

Thanks!

These lizards don’t live in constant high humidity, they need to be dry once in a while.

In nature they get dry every day if weather permits, they evolved special scales that channels water away from them so they can dry faster.

Dehydration is more often a problem caused by high energy heat device, these take away all moisture from the air.

My lizards are kept in the range 40%-80% and do well.

Skin shedding requires a dry period, if at constant humidity this membrane remains flexible and the shedding process is retarded, the membrane shrinks as it dries allowing it to peel of the scales as it no longer fits.

Therefore keeper who constantly spray might see there lizards in prolonged shed, these lizards don’t bask as much and other physiological problems will materialise.

Simply covering your cage screen at night will allow higher saturation, uncover in the morning and you have a more natural hydration cycle, keep an eye on your hydrometer and see how much water needs to be added once a week.

Why captive lizards in shed do not bask much!

Scales are designed to be reflective, this allows lizards to bask without over heating as most rays are deflected off the body, when covered with old shed this ability is lost.

Nature provides multiple opportunities for lizards to do these things, we as keepers must learn how to provide for them.

I was also having problems keeping the humidity level up in my enclosure. I have recently added a waterfall which has really helped! This alone keeps the humidity up around 50-60%. I still do have to mist to get it higher but if I forget it's not a huge deal this way. Plus, my dragon drinks more now than he did with just a bubbler in his dish.