Humidity Help

Joined
Jul 17, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
nicasio CA
Hi! I have an outdoor run for my eastern Hermans tortoise, but he can't always use it, and has to open time in his tortoise table. I've been spraying his house but I can't find a good hygrometer. I bought two off of amazon, and tested them out by spraying around them, but the electric one read at 2 percent, which I don't think is possible since I was spraying right around it. If anyone could tell me some good hydrometer brands I would appreciate it so much. thanks!
 

Srmcclure

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
1,791
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma city
Hi! I have an outdoor run for my eastern Hermans tortoise, but he can't always use it, and has to open time in his tortoise table. I've been spraying his house but I can't find a good hygrometer. I bought two off of amazon, and tested them out by spraying around them, but the electric one read at 2 percent, which I don't think is possible since I was spraying right around it. If anyone could tell me some good hydrometer brands I would appreciate it so much. thanks!
Therm pro is what I use for mine. They work amazing for me.

Open tops are SO HARD to keep humidity and heat... you might try and cover it and see if that gives you better readings. I know they don't need as much humidity as my leopard, but having a closed chamber doesn't mean you have to have lots of humidity either. Plus it has really helped keep my electric bill lower because my heating elements aren't constantly on. It only pops on a couple times a day and it stays 84° with 90% humidity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tom
Joined
Jul 17, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
nicasio CA
Therm pro is what I use for mine. They work amazing for me.

Open tops are SO HARD to keep humidity and heat... you might try and cover it and see if that gives you better readings. I know they don't need as much humidity as my leopard, but having a closed chamber doesn't mean you have to have lots of humidity either. Plus it has really helped keep my electric bill lower because my heating elements aren't constantly on. It only pops on a couple times a day and it stays 84° with 90% humidity.
Thank you! do you think some plexiglas will work to cover it?
 

Srmcclure

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
1,791
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma city
Thank you! do you think some plexiglas will work to cover it?
It depends on how your enclosure is set up. Uvb won't go through plexiglass to your tortoise either unfortunately... i would do a search on here for closed chambers. There are TONS of threads on how ppl converted their setup into one or cheap ways to make/buy a whole new one ?
Mine is just a grow tent tweeked a bit and it works great! Other ppl have used those great big Christmas totes ? there are a bunch of really cool ways to do it!
 

GBtortoises

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
Messages
3,618
Location (City and/or State)
The Catskill Mountains of New York State
If your tortoise is outdoors, on the ground and it has drinking water available at all times, as well as shelter areas (on the ground) that they can cool off in and the enclosure is not in the direct sunlight all day long, spraying the enclosure a couple of times a day will be fine.
84-90% humidity is much too humid for anything but tropical species. Hermann's tortoises and other Mediterranean species should be maintained at 50-75% with the low to mid 60's being ideal. Occasional higher humidity is fine as long as it is not constant or there is no air exchange. But it should not be the norm for the tortoise.
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
nicasio CA
It depends on how your enclosure is set up. Uvb won't go through plexiglass to your tortoise either unfortunately... i would do a search on here for closed chambers. There are TONS of threads on how ppl converted their setup into one or cheap ways to make/buy a whole new one ?
Mine is just a grow tent tweeked a bit and it works great! Other ppl have used those great big Christmas totes ? there are a bunch of really cool ways to do it!
I use a UVB strip light so I was thinking plexiglas on either side of it to let in the light but also keep in the heat. Thank you!
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2018
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
nicasio CA
If your tortoise is outdoors, on the ground and it has drinking water available at all times, as well as shelter areas (on the ground) that they can cool off in and the enclosure is not in the direct sunlight all day long, spraying the enclosure a couple of times a day will be fine.
84-90% humidity is much too humid for anything but tropical species. Hermann's tortoises and other Mediterranean species should be maintained at 50-75% with the low to mid 60's being ideal. Occasional higher humidity is fine as long as it is not constant or there is no air exchange. But it should not be the norm for the tortoise.
Thanks for the reply! What do you think about plants in a tortoise table to keep up humidity?
 

Dbrocato2

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
242
Location (City and/or State)
Taunton, MA
If your tortoise is outdoors, on the ground and it has drinking water available at all times, as well as shelter areas (on the ground) that they can cool off in and the enclosure is not in the direct sunlight all day long, spraying the enclosure a couple of times a day will be fine.
84-90% humidity is much too humid for anything but tropical species. Hermann's tortoises and other Mediterranean species should be maintained at 50-75% with the low to mid 60's being ideal. Occasional higher humidity is fine as long as it is not constant or there is no air exchange. But it should not be the norm for the tortoise.
Is this true for hatchlings also?
 
Top