humidity problems in closed chamber

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My redfoot tortoise Kona is 8 months old. I want to give her a good start in her indoor enclosure. I can’t seem to keep the humidity up while the lights are on in my closed chamber enclosure. At night, when the lights are off, the humidity goes to 88-95% but this isn’t the case at daytime, when the lights are on. The humidity won’t stay at a high percentage, usually around 55-60%. The temperatures are at around 78-85 degrees F. I use aluminum foil and a plastic sheet to keep in the heat and humidity. The lights seem to dry up the water very quickly. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!
 

aqualungs

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My redfoot tortoise Kona is 8 months old. I want to give her a good start in her indoor enclosure. I can’t seem to keep the humidity up while the lights are on in my closed chamber enclosure. At night, when the lights are off, the humidity goes to 88-95% but this isn’t the case at daytime, when the lights are on. The humidity won’t stay at a high percentage, usually around 55-60%. The temperatures are at around 78-85 degrees F. I use aluminum foil and a plastic sheet to keep in the heat and humidity. The lights seem to dry up the water very quickly. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!

Yea heat will dry things out for sure. The biggest contributor and what hold my humidity the most is three tropical plants. So much, that I only must the plants to keep humidity in the upper 90s. Maybe that would help? I know when the plants need watered because I drop into the 80% humidity
 

Tom

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You have too much ventilation. Covering open tops doesn't work very well, as you are seeing. Buying or building a closed chamber will solve this issue for you.
 
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Do you think that if I were to cover the entire top in plexiglass and add a few plants, it would work well enough to keep up the humidity high?
 

aqualungs

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Most plants are simply going to die.
Especially in a smallish enclosure where not only is the correct lighting an issue but so is trampling.

Right I should have expanded on that. I have a taller enclosure that allows me to keep plants in pots. It allows the light to expand. T5s put out quite a bit of output. I used to grow coral of all types under a 4 bulb hood. At that time people said T5s were no good .. then they said leds wouldn’t grow coral. Anyways with the plants not in reach of my torts, 86 temps, the plants have done well. Pothos, Draecena are a couple that are doing well for me the last 6 months. IMG_2725.JPGIMG_2894.JPG
 
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Okay, thanks. I will get a plexiglass that can slide into my 40 gallon breeder to completely seal off the enclosure to keep in the humidity and heat.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Okay, thanks. I will get a plexiglass that can slide into my 40 gallon breeder to completely seal off the enclosure to keep in the humidity and heat.
That's going to be kind of tough. You'll need to find a way to attach your uvb light and heat source and drilling plexiglass doesn't usually work without cracking it. Something like this would be much easier and probably more effective for youc322b89b-a2b8-42ce-9d47-f3a00330eef2_1.6ab8fb4adc192d38d182be7df43dd9ec.jpeg
 

aqualungs

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That's going to be kind of tough. You'll need to find a way to attach your uvb light and heat source and drilling plexiglass doesn't usually work without cracking it. Something like this would be much easier and probably more effective for youView attachment 280477

You’ll need a step drill bit to punch clean holes through plexi, if you go that route. The issue will be your heat lamp. That’s a lot of scoring. The simple fix would be go the route Toddrick reccomends. It’s inexpensive and buys you time to plan for a larger enclosure.
 

Kipley

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Right I should have expanded on that. I have a taller enclosure that allows me to keep plants in pots. It allows the light to expand. T5s put out quite a bit of output. I used to grow coral of all types under a 4 bulb hood. At that time people said T5s were no good .. then they said leds wouldn’t grow coral. Anyways with the plants not in reach of my torts, 86 temps, the plants have done well. Pothos, Draecena are a couple that are doing well for me the last 6 months. View attachment 280474View attachment 280473
I have plants in terra cotta pots in my enclosure. The pots keeps them up out of the way, and the terra cotta help increase the humidity as well. The pothos and spider plant have enough cascading over the pot to provide shelter. So far they haven't been nibbled on.
 

Blackdog1714

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I have plants in terra cotta pots in my enclosure. The pots keeps them up out of the way, and the terra cotta help increase the humidity as well. The pothos and spider plant have enough cascading over the pot to provide shelter. So far they haven't been nibbled on.
Excellent cover and blocks the sight line from one end to the other.
 

aqualungs

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I have plants in terra cotta pots in my enclosure. The pots keeps them up out of the way, and the terra cotta help increase the humidity as well. The pothos and spider plant have enough cascading over the pot to provide shelter. So far they haven't been nibbled on.

Yes That’s right terra cotta absorbs and give off humidity. Good point!
 

Sue Ann

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My redfoot tortoise Kona is 8 months old. I want to give her a good start in her indoor enclosure. I can’t seem to keep the humidity up while the lights are on in my closed chamber enclosure. At night, when the lights are off, the humidity goes to 88-95% but this isn’t the case at daytime, when the lights are on. The humidity won’t stay at a high percentage, usually around 55-60%. The temperatures are at around 78-85 degrees F. I use aluminum foil and a plastic sheet to keep in the heat and humidity. The lights seem to dry up the water very quickly. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!
I put a layer of spagnum moss of the bottom and then cover with orchid bark soil , fine. Seems to hold in the moisture for me.
 

Tom

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I put a layer of spagnum moss of the bottom and then cover with orchid bark soil , fine. Seems to hold in the moisture for me.
Long fibered sphagnum moss will be eaten and its an impaction hazard. The peat type sphagnum moss can cause their plastron to become infected and rot. I wouldn't use either of these in a tortoise enclosure.
 
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Long fibered sphagnum moss will be eaten and its an impaction hazard. The peat type sphagnum moss can cause their plastron to become infected and rot. I wouldn't use either of these in a tortoise enclosure.

I use coconut husk chips. With the plants, this combination seems to be working for me to keep up the humidity. Do you think this is a good substate to use with a redfoot?
 

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