Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I moved my CWD from a 40 gal tank to a 48"X24X24 melamine critter condo with sliding glass doors and rear ventalation. I have a sweater box swimming area with a submerged heater, and I have a water fall on the opposite side of the enclosure. The substrate is sphagnum moss that I soaked to expand it. I also mist the enclosure because she seems to enjoy it and likes to drink the water droplets. I also have some plants in the enclosure that need watering. I am keeping my temps around 85-90 degrees in the basking spot.

With these changes, the cage is very humid. You can feel it when you open the glass doors, and you can smell that damp moss. Can this be unhealthy? Is too much humidity bad for CWD's? Do I have to worry about mold?

Thanks for you time and advice,

Mark

Yes, it is too humid. It will grow mold and fungus, and your dragon could get jungle rot.

I used to use computer fans to increase ventilation.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
1 little girl born 2/2/06
2 male RES, born 1999
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

Thanks, Dsgngrl,

So it's the ventilation that needs tweeking? What did you use for a power source for your computer fans? Should I stop misting? What should the humidity level be?

Thanks again,

Mark

I usually aimed for about 70% humidity. I used to mist the dragons because they liked that sometimes, but it the tank is that wet I wouldn't mist everything.

As far as the power for the fans, heh, my husband handled that part of it. Any little fan will do though. You don't want to let your tank get stagnate and moldy. In the wild the air is constantly moving and things don't just sit and stay soggy.
-----
A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
1 little girl born 2/2/06
2 male RES, born 1999
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

i don't really think a WD tank can be too humid. i have had problems with moss in the past (sheet moss) and when I first put it in the cage it molded for about two weeks really strong and then it all died. this has happened a lot in my tanks. i think it comes in originally on the moss and then dies off becasue the surroundings arn't what they need to live. i'm not sure though. if your dragon starts acting weird though decrease humidity. as long as they have at least one dry spot they should be fine. because if it's wet (not so much humid) there's more of a chance it will get bacterial stuff, b/c it lives in water and if the dragon's constantly wet...good luck! do you have any pics? i have a 14" WD and want ideas for tanks. thanks.