HUMIDITY!!!

I have recently purchased a Cherry Head RF. I have gotten my ambient temps up to 85 - 90 degrees F. My humidity is in the area 45 to 65 %. I have a fogger turned up but its dripping constantly and soaking the substrate. I dont want a soaked substrate so I've combated this issue by putting the fogger outlet over the water dish and draining the water dish every so often. My question is I am currently running a sterlite storage bin. I have the lid and was going to try and cut the lid in half and cover the tub as well as get a thermostat. Will I do better? What are some tips for HUMIDITY?

As you are finding out, it's nearly impossible to maintain high humidity in an open enclosure. There are many images here on TFO of different ways to use the plastic lid and still be safe from having the plastic melt, many people use aluminum foil to close the gaps between the plastic lid and where a hole is cut for lighting.

You can also place a smaller plastic tub with lid in the larger enclosure, cut a hole in the smaller plastic tub on the side, and partially fill it with moist moss (sphagnum), and then the tortoise will often spend time in that higher humidity retreat.

I agree like everytime I would research or look something up it would be very vague. I'm glad I didnt invest in a tortoise house. Open air just doesnt work for these forest torts. Like I have my fogger running full blast with a two CHE hanging over the enclosure temps are around 90 and a little lower. But I'll never be able to obtain a higher humidity with closing it off.

I have to wait til my thermostat get here tho. I dont feel safe closing it in without a thermostat to regulate things.

Yes the easiest way would be to cover the tote. Once you get it covered you can just pour some water in the substrate and mix it up. Then put a layer of dry substrate over it. You won't even need the fogger at that point. My hatchlings enclosure stays 85-90% and I don't even add water anymore. Also live plants will help with humidity too.

Toddrickfl1 said:

Yes the easiest way would be to cover the tote. Once you get it covered you can just pour some water in the substrate and mix it up. Then put a layer of dry substrate over it. You won't even need the fogger at that point. My hatchlings enclosure stays 85-90% and I don't even add water anymore. Also live plants will help with humidity too.

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Agreed, once I did this it became exponentially easier to maintain the needed heat and humidity in my redfoot's enclosure, even through the cold New Hampshire winter.

Jamie

Thanks everyone I really appreciate it. I'm just learning as I go trying to be a responsible tort owner. I want him to thrive not just survive.

I just saw a setup where the guy cut a hole in the container lid and zip tied a baking pan to his lid. Then he cut a hole in the pan and threaded the CHE through the pan. Pretty good way but I need to get my thermostat first.

Toddrickfl1 said:

Yes the easiest way would be to cover the tote. Once you get it covered you can just pour some water in the substrate and mix it up. Then put a layer of dry substrate over it. You won't even need the fogger at that point. My hatchlings enclosure stays 85-90% and I don't even add water anymore. Also live plants will help with humidity too.

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Question. When you have it covered how many air holes for ventilation are needed if any?

Cherryman304 said:

Question. When you have it covered how many air holes for ventilation are needed if any?

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None, opening it to feed and soak provides plenty of air.

Well it WORKED!! I got my thermostat today. I set it on 90. It stays right around 87 degrees. But it wasn't even an hour after setting it up like this he was out eating. So happy right now.

So glad to hear it!

Jamie

Me too. I changed the setup and just left him be as I try not to interfere except when trying to feed or soak. But I was just going about my business. A friend of mine came over and I cracked the top so he could see him and low and behold hes right there on his slate eating his greens.

Cherryman304 said:

Well it WORKED!! I got my thermostat today. I set it on 90. It stays right around 87 degrees. But it wasn't even an hour after setting it up like this he was out eating. So happy right now.

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Cool, what did you use to cut the metal pan?

Just drilled it a bunch of times then took a pair if side cuts and clipped the majority out. Then just took a burr bit and grinded the hole the rest of the way. I used an o-ring that was inside the flukers lamp for size so I could do away with the dome and replaced it with the cooking pan. Then all I did was drill two holes in the long side of the pan to zip tie it to the top that I have cut out.

Cherryman304 said:

Just drilled it a bunch of times then took a pair if side cuts and clipped the majority out. Then just took a burr bit and grinded the hole the rest of the way. I used an o-ring that was inside the flukers lamp for size so I could do away with the dome and replaced it with the cooking pan. Then all I did was drill two holes in the long side of the pan to zip tie it to the top that I have cut out.

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Great idea

The metal was suprising soft. I used a non stick pan for heat dissipation. I was gona get foil tape from lowes to tape the sides of the plastic lid. I went with regular foil for the off chance the glue from the adhesive on the tape create some fumes or gas when it gets hot.