Humidity Troubles Continue..

[burnd4life]

So I’m still having trouble keep my Tegu’s humidity levels anywhere near 70%. He currently lives in a 3’ x 2’ x 2’ wooden enclosure with a glass front/door (He’s only 6-8 months). It has a 150 watt ceramic heating element attached to a thermostat (cuts off at a little over 100 degree F), and a 15 watt UVB Bulb on a 12 hour timer. His substrate is good deal of cypress mulch. I’ve taped off some of his 4”x6” screened openings on the sides and was using a fogger on a timer that got him into the high 50s and 60s until it died yesterday after maybe a month. I do mist the enclosure while he’s eating, but I don’t get home until late so I’d like some misting system that will work during the 12 hours that I’m not around. Since I’m going to have to invest in something else soon I was wonder if anyone had any suggestions. How are people in Northern California keeping their humidity up?

Fogger I was using if you’re curious

[Nessie]

Looking forward to hearing some answers to this. I have a 4x2x2' custom enclosure, wooden, with glass slidding doors and glass sides and it always seems so dry in there. I tried covering the top screen about 80% and that helped alot but brought the temps up too much. I mist daily by hand but will have to come up with something else when he is in his 8x4x4' enclosure as I'll have to be there all day!

[Pikey]

i've always used a 2gallon pump spray w/ a wand, but would make a "Humid-Hide" to help. try keeping your heat light/source over the water dish that usaly will raise the humidity by 5-10%

[Tegugurl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6frnDpR84 this is a video of what i did for my tank. my tegu is in a 6x4x4 enclosure... it was cheap and the hum gets to 80%. hope this help

[burnd4life]

Thanks for the advice! So the water goes to the hot side until I can MacGyver a humidifier or buy a Repti Fogger.

[HernandosMom]

Is the wood on the inside sealed? It might be acting like a big sponge.

I have a very large diameter (about 18-20"), shallow dish of water right under the hottest heating light. Hernando hangs out in there sometimes. My Repti-fogger also empties right over that and sometimes he sticks his head in the little bits of fog and breathes the luxurious air. In his prior enclosure, he had a glass floor so we used an under-the-glass heating pad (ExoTerra, I think) connected to a thermostat, with the sensor right on the glass bottom, and a ceramic lounging pond on top of it.

Your tegu will be ready for a larger enclosure soon. I've been considering one by Hoffman Reptiles in Concord. He has worked out a system that does an incredible job of holding humidity. It has to do with the placement of the vents. I stuck my hand in a frog terrarium and it was like my hand had gone to Houston for a few seconds. When he opened up the back of the display case that holds his tegu, I could see water vapor wafting out! This is with no fogger, just a bowl of water inside (I think they also spray a few times a day, but still...). He sells the units in modules, and I figured 2 or 3 would make a good size home. I don't know what he seals them up with. Have you seen them?

[burnd4life]

Is the wood on the inside sealed?

No, actually it isn't which could be a lot of my problem. I put the water bowl under his heating element and got the humidity up to 57%, but will be getting a new fogger soon.

Your tegu will be ready for a larger enclosure soon.

Yeah, he will get a new one in a couple months. I'm planning on building one with some help from my GF's dad, he's a carpenter. We have been working on some ideas for stackable units so I can have 2 enclosures on top of my Tegu’s for my other Reptiles. Although, I’ll definitely checkout Hoffman Reptile for ideas if anything.

[Tegugurl]

when i use the humidifier for mylnor i just add hot water to it. and it is aimed over his water bowl. leave it on and i get a 80% all day. his tank is all sealed thou too

Thanks for the advice! So the water goes to the hot side until I can MacGyver a humidifier or buy a Repti Fogger.

[Pikey]

Yeah the unsealed wood would be the main culprit right now it is being a sponge & the sooner you can get a new cage built the better other wise it could lead to mold/mildew/wood rot which can make your tegu & urselfs quite sick

(i worked on a bathroom with mold & was sick for 3 days just from the spores. Mold is some nasty stuff)

[HernandosMom]

ll definitely checkout Hoffman Reptile for ideas if anything.

If you go to Hoffman's, tell them HernandosMom sent you. They are very kind (although I was a little shocked at what they're using for mulch).