Humidfier angst

pawsplus

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Ugh. Trying to get a better humidifying system for my redfoot's indoor enclosure ahead of the winter. I have long relied on spraying everything down with an industrial sprayer several times a day and want to get a humidifer. I really do NOT want to have to rig a human humdifier--trying to find the right size hoses and all sounds like a royal pain.

So I bought this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V39ZYJB/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

For the first few hours I loved it. Love the fact that I don't have to move it to refill it; love the double hoses (b/c I have a large enclosure); love the built-in timer; love the fact that my humidity went way up w/out much work on my part.

But then it started leaking. Between the tank and the bottom part. I can put a tray under it and then I have to worry about checking that all the time so it doesn't leak all over the wood. Does anyone have this one? I checked to make sure there are no obstructions, as the Amazon questions suggest. I don't see any reason for it.

So I am thinking about returning it. But most of the other ones don't have the timer (which is OK--I can add one) and none of them seem to have the double hoses. I looked at this one but cannot find a place to get a splitter or extra hoses for it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CO9582Y/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Any assistance welcome!
 

Minority2

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Ugh. Trying to get a better humidifying system for my redfoot's indoor enclosure ahead of the winter. I have long relied on spraying everything down with an industrial sprayer several times a day and want to get a humidifer. I really do NOT want to have to rig a human humdifier--trying to find the right size hoses and all sounds like a royal pain.

So I bought this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V39ZYJB/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

For the first few hours I loved it. Love the fact that I don't have to move it to refill it; love the double hoses (b/c I have a large enclosure); love the built-in timer; love the fact that my humidity went way up w/out much work on my part.

But then it started leaking. Between the tank and the bottom part. I can put a tray under it and then I have to worry about checking that all the time so it doesn't leak all over the wood. Does anyone have this one? I checked to make sure there are no obstructions, as the Amazon questions suggest. I don't see any reason for it.

So I am thinking about returning it. But most of the other ones don't have the timer (which is OK--I can add one) and none of them seem to have the double hoses. I looked at this one but cannot find a place to get a splitter or extra hoses for it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CO9582Y/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Any assistance welcome!

I personally don't advocate using humidifiers for the very same reasons that you've personally experienced; leaking, refilling, durability issues, unreliability, and the need for an additional extra electric-powered device hogging up space. It's also not very effective because only one area is being sprayed down and the foggy wetness that comes with using one of those devices probably isn't something the tortoise wants. while being in a confined space.

Is your indoor enclosure an open design? Because a closed chamber enclosure wouldn't need to be sprayed down multiple times per day. Would solve a lot of your troubles if you'd convert your enclosure to a closed chamber if you haven't already.

The cheapest method to raise humidity in any enclosure is to pour a large jug of water into the substrate. Ensure that you're pouring enough water to soak the bottom layer of the substrate while keeping the top relatively damp. You can hand mix the substrate as well if you wish. I've done so in the past and suggested others to do so but it really isn't all that necessary if you make sure the water is evenly distributed throughout the enclosure. That will usually keep a closed chamber enclosure above 80% humidity for multiple days to a week if the tortoise owner is thorough. For an open enclosure, you'll probably still need to do it every day to every other day. But at least the method is cheap and saves on money.
 

pawsplus

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It is an open tortoise table. Been using it for years and it's too large to entirely enclose. I can keep the humidity at an acceptable level via spraying and keeping the substrate wet, which I do. I was just trying to make my life easier LOL.
 

Minority2

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It is an open tortoise table. Been using it for years and it's too large to entirely enclose. I can keep the humidity at an acceptable level via spraying and keeping the substrate wet, which I do. I was just trying to make my life easier LOL.

How large is it? A $20-30 16 ft x 20 ft waterproof tarp could easily cover any indoor enclosure of any size. Doesn't have to pretty to work. And if you're talking about making your life easier, a top for your open tortoise table does exactly that.
 

pawsplus

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I'm not gonna tarp it. I live here too and a giant tarped thing in my dining room is not happening LOL. Not to mention that I couldn't even interact with her. We will just keep on doing what we have been doing successfully for 22 years I guess!
 

Minority2

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I'm not gonna tarp it. I live here too and a giant tarped thing in my dining room is not happening LOL. Not to mention that I couldn't even interact with her. We will just keep on doing what we have been doing successfully for 22 years I guess!

Can you really call it successful if you're constantly having problems? lol
 

pawsplus

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Can you really call it successful if you're constantly having problems? lol
Huh? Where did I say I was having problems? I have a healthy 22 year old redfoot I raised from a hatchling. I'm having no problems. I was just looking to make life a little simpler, but I can see that these machines do the opposite, so I will just stick with what I am doing. Successfully. :)
 

jeannettep

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I have been using these humidifiers and hooked up to an inkbird that turns it off when the humidity is the level I specify. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4PD3BZ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I bought the 1st one April 2019 and I use a zero water filter because our water is really hard here and I didn't want problems. I had to rinse out the base 1x due to bad water here. If you go this route, don't just dump the little tray out in the bathtub because a small spring went down the drain. Since I like to keep our leopard where we can interact with her and she's young needs high humidity, I got a second one last April. One runs on the inkbird regulator, the old one runs all the time. I like running them on low so I don't have to refill as often, keeps the humidity more regulated, doesn't cause drips. The only time it does have a drip out the tube is if I purposely put one on high because I want a drip to water plants I put in the habitat, but that would be the new one on the regulator. I don't know what the spring was for. I haven't noticed any issues to speak of, but if it runs out of water it will rattle if I turn it back on immediately after I refill the tank. So I refill and turn on the next day or 2 and it's fine. What I found was the shorter the tube was expanded, the better it did. But this is probably because the tank sits below the habitat. Probably would to better if I put it in a different location, don't know.
 

Tom

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It is an open tortoise table. Been using it for years and it's too large to entirely enclose. I can keep the humidity at an acceptable level via spraying and keeping the substrate wet, which I do. I was just trying to make my life easier LOL.
Nothing will make your life easier than switching to a closed chamber. So easy to maintain heat and humidity. No spraying. No humidifiers. No wet substrate. Uses way less electricity... Just better in every way.
 

pawsplus

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Nothing will make your life easier than switching to a closed chamber. So easy to maintain heat and humidity. No spraying. No humidifiers. No wet substrate. Uses way less electricity... Just better in every way.
Well, it's just not practical at this point. And I like being able to interact when I walk by in the wintertime. I don't mind the work. I just thought that a gadget to do it would be nice. Turns out it didn't work. So I'm OK with that. :)
 

Diane Berner

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Well, it's just not practical at this point. And I like being able to interact when I walk by in the wintertime. I don't mind the work. I just thought that a gadget to do it would be nice. Turns out it didn't work. So I'm OK with that. :)
I live in dfw too and I keep my 6 year old redfoot in an open habitat. I just use a human humidifier in the room she's kept in.
 

pawsplus

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I live in dfw too and I keep my 6 year old redfoot in an open habitat. I just use a human humidifier in the room she's kept in.
I did that when Beasley was younger, when she was in a separate room at my other house. Where she is now there is no way to close off the room. If I can't at least direct the fog into the enclosure, it just peels the paint off the ceiling LOL. That room has a low, sloping ceiling. I just wish the human ones let you direct the fog better, but none of them seem to.
 

Diane Berner

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I used to worry more about this until a tv show exotics vet told me not to "chase the humidity". He said just do the best you can. Also the vet keeps redfoot.
 

Diane Berner

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I used to worry more about this until a tv show exotics vet told me not to "chase the humidity". He said just do the best you can. Also the vet keeps redfoot.
P.S. I also soak my tortoise 3-4 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.
 

Hamiltondood

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you should get one of those huge outdoor greenhouses, like this. you could walk inside it to interact with her, you might be able to add a misting system as well. you might as well build an outdoor enclosure if you get this though. you also could add plants and lots of shade.
 

Hamiltondood

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How does the tortoise get uva/uvb through plastic?
havent thought about that.. maybe you could bring her outside for a few hours a week (this works if you have no indoor uvb). most redfoots tend to stay in the shade rather than just basking out in the open.
 

pawsplus

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you should get one of those huge outdoor greenhouses, like this. you could walk inside it to interact with her, you might be able to add a misting system as well. you might as well build an outdoor enclosure if you get this though. you also could add plants and lots of shade.
I have a 10x40 foot outdoor enclosure. She is out 12 hours a day 5 months a year. I'm talking about the WINTER.
 

Hamiltondood

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I have a 10x40 foot outdoor enclosure. She is out 12 hours a day 5 months a year. I'm talking about the WINTER.
oh haha, mustve misread it. might as well get a closed enclosure than. it'll help with the humidity and you wont need a humidifier. if you dont want to have a tarp-ed up enclosure in your dining room, maybe move it in a separate room? you could also buy a pretty big closed enclosure with sliding glass so you can interact with her, just cover the glass with paper and you should be fine.
 

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