Heat and humidity issues

[Tort4u2love]

Hi I'm new to the tortoise forum my name is Carrie and I have had a russian tortoise before but I'm getting a new hatchling leopard tortoise next week. I'm trying to set up his temporary enclosure that is made out of a 50 gallon Rubbermaid tub (39x24x18). I know this is too small but it'll only be for a few weeks until I can get the my 4x8 closed chamber wooden enclosure built.

Here are my numbers my humid hide is about 92 93 degrees in about 80 percent humidity. My basking area is between 125 and 130 with 45 percent humidity. My hot and runs between 100-108 with 70 to 75 percent humidity. My coolant is running about 85 to 90 with 55 percent humidity. I need to keep them all regulated just not sure how to do that. Here is my enclosure.

humid hide, water dish, black slate rock for basking and eatting, blue cool hide, large plant to hide in. I have a 125 solar glo mvb over basking area (12-15"), and a 100 heat bulb over water/ humid hide (10-12").

I could take the lid off and raise the lights but then I'd lose the humidity ... any suggestions welcome. I have read all of Toms post and many others ...I thought I understood how to regulate the temps & humidity but its proving to be very challenging. Thanks in advance!

 

[mainey34]

Hello and welcome...i think you are making this more complicated then it should be. Your basking temps. Are too high. Humidity levels need to come up. You can try the humidifier method. Use the search tool. Or someone may chime in. I've not had this problem. Is the lighting on the lid safe? Have you tested it for long periods? Otherwise i think it looks good to me. You will figure it out.

 

[Vegas_Leopard]

Lower your lamps wattage, a 125W and 100W are too high. This is the reason why your humidity is low and temperature is really high. 125-130 degrees is overkill. You can keep your 125W Solar Glow, but use a ceramic heat emitter plugged into a thermostat. It's very easy to regulate temperatures and turns on when the temperature is lower than what you set it for and off when the temperature is met. I'd recommend this for the best results.

 

[Tort4u2love]

Thanks! I will get a CHE and a thermostat tomorrow. I appreciate both comments