Humidity issues closed chamber Redfoot

[Ilimburg]

Hey guys! My new enclosure is about done 8’X 2’ and I can’t get humidity above 60 in it for my red foot? I got the substrate wet before stirring it up and have added substantial water into the corners but the humidity won’t break 60!! Any more tips? It’s very well sealed but I live in the mountains my house’s humidity is only 15%!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Oh wow this is looking fantastic! How long has the heating been running for? How deep a layer of substrate you managed to get? Is there lining underneath so there’s no possibility for moisture escaping?

 

[Ilimburg]

Oh wow this is looking fantastic! How long has the heating been running for? How deep a layer of substrate you managed to get? Is there lining underneath so there’s no possibility for moisture escaping?

Thanks! It’s been about 24 hours,
4-5” or so,
Yes!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I will say I’ve not encountered anyone with that low a humidity in their home before, I’m wondering if that’s somehow contributing here, let me tag these guys, they’ll likely have some suggestions @Alex and the Redfoot @Tom @Markw84 @ZEROPILOT

Temps are always most important and yours are checking out great by the looks! Hopefully with a tweak we can get humidity a bit higher, I’ve seen Tom mention the use of installing small fans in the ceiling of an enclosure to help in directing the humidity downward, I haven’t tried that myself personally though, if not super sealed and there’s any air exchange with the fan and outside air, it could cause problems.

Let’s see what the guys thinkconsidering your home is just 15%, 60% is pretty good so far! I’m sure we can figure out boosting it.

I bet she’s loving it so far!!

 

[Ilimburg]

I will say I’ve not encountered anyone with that low a humidity in their home before, I’m wondering if that’s somehow contributing here, let me tag these guys, they’ll likely have some suggestions @Alex and the Redfoot @Tom @Markw84 @ZEROPILOT

Temps are always most important and yours are checking out great by the looks! Hopefully with a tweak we can get humidity a bit higher, I’ve seen Tom mention the use of installing small fans in the ceiling of an enclosure to help in directing the humidity downward, I haven’t tried that myself personally though, if not super sealed and there’s any air exchange with the fan and outside air, it could cause problems.

Let’s see what the guys thinkconsidering your home is just 15%, 60% is pretty good so far! I’m sure we can figure out boosting it.

I bet she’s loving it so far!!

Great! Yeah she’s so much more active than I’ve seen in years all over the place!

Yeah Colorado is crazy dry especially at 9,000’ in elevation

 

[Tom]

Either there is too much ventilation, or the gauge is wrong, or the gauge is too close to the heating equipment.

 

[Ilimburg]

Either there is too much ventilation, or the gauge is wrong, or the gauge is too close to the heating equipment.

Maybe ventilation? I’ll check but I doubt it. I’ll also try moving the gauge although it’s only about 2” above her level

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I would check substrate temperature. Either with a temperature gun or put a probe in a dry place like the food dish for an hour. If heat panels are too high (or set to low-power brooder mode), substrate remains cold and this reduces evaporation and because air temperature is higher you see low relative humidity.

 

[Ilimburg]

I would check substrate temperature. Either with a temperature gun or put a probe in a dry place like the food dish for an hour. If heat panels are too high (or set to low-power brooder mode), substrate remains cold and this reduces evaporation and because air temperature is higher you see low relative humidity.

Okay thanks! I’ll look into that. I’ll mess around with some things and report back!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Okay thanks! I’ll look into that. I’ll mess around with some things and report back!

Yes please do! Don’t worry, every new set up can take some working out and fine tuning, no matter what, this is a HUGE improvement! You should be so proud!

 

[Ilimburg]

Yes please do! Don’t worry, every new set up can take some working out and fine tuning, no matter what, this is a HUGE improvement! You should be so proud!

Thanks! I’m very happy with how it worked out! In the meantime would hand misting help?

Maybe try coconut coir under the repti-bark?

 

[Ilimburg]

Here’s a better view currently….trying to get more plants but going to be a while for them to be safe. Looking at spider plant and pothos

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Thanks! I’m very happy with how it worked out! In the meantime would hand misting help?

Maybe try coconut coir under the repti-bark?

It’d definitely temporarily boost the humidity but in turn would also bring ambient a few degrees down which would be a shame cause temperatures are perfect. A damp coco coir base could potentially help, wouldn’t hurt to try

Here’s a better view currently….trying to get more plants but going to be a while for them to be safe. Looking at spider plant and pothos

aw fantastic! She must be thinking all her Christmas’s have come at once! Lol

 

[Ilimburg]

It’d definitely temporarily boost the humidity but in turn would also bring ambient a few degrees down which would be a shame cause temperatures are perfect. A damp coco coir base could potentially help, wouldn’t hurt to try

aw fantastic! She must be thinking all her Christmas’s have come at once! Lol

I’ll see what I can find out this week! Like you said at least it’s a huge improvement from before! She’s been so active

Haha I think so!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks! I’m very happy with how it worked out! In the meantime would hand misting help?

Maybe try coconut coir under the repti-bark?

I wouldn't mist and messing with substrate right now.

If everything is set up properly, humidity will rise on its own. If some tweaks are needed - misting will lead you off the track. Substrate change is an unnecessary stress for you and tortoise (rehydrating 100 liters of coir is not a joke ).

What is humidity now?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I wouldn't mist and messing with substrate right now.

If everything is set up properly, humidity will rise on its own. If some tweaks are needed - misting will lead you off the track. Substrate change is an unnecessary stress for you and tortoise (rehydrating 100 liters of coir is not a joke ).

What is humidity now?

Fair points Alex, you could hold off on the coir for now, but if it doesn’t fix itself over time, maybe consider it come refresh time? Though theoretically the orchid bark should get things where needed eventually, maybe it’s a tweak here n there

 

[Markw84]

I love the look of your enclosure. You did a great job. But that design has an inherent problem. I would bet you are loosing too much heat/humidity through a crack along the whole top where the door closes against the top edge. If there is even a 1/16th" gap, that would be enough to prevent the humidity from building in the enclosure over the level you are seeing. Any small gaps at the top of an enclosure is going to make maintaining humidity a problem. Constant loss of air with the heat and humidity that has built, means the heater is working more to maintain heat, which in turn dries things more - a vicious cycle.

Find a way to seal the door when closed. That should solve your problem.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I love the look of your enclosure. You did a great job. But that design has an inherent problem. I would bet you are loosing too much heat/humidity through a crack along the whole top where the door closes against the top edge. If there is even a 1/16th" gap, that would be enough to prevent the humidity from building in the enclosure over the level you are seeing. Any small gaps at the top of an enclosure is going to make maintaining humidity a problem. Constant loss of air with the heat and humidity that has built, means the heater is working more to maintain heat, which in turn dries things more - a vicious cycle.

Find a way to seal the door when closed. That should solve your problem.

This definitely makes the most sense! I can see a slight gap here;

I know taping the seams when closed isn’t the most practical or prettiest option, but for arguments sake, I’d try taping those edges up from the outside and see what happens, if it fixes the problem we can try and put our heads together for a more practical and permanent fix

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Either there is too much ventilation, or the gauge is wrong, or the gauge is too close to the heating equipment.

That was also my observation about the gauge.
Adhesive foam tape would probably work on that gap

 

[Ilimburg]

I wouldn't mist and messing with substrate right now.

If everything is set up properly, humidity will rise on its own. If some tweaks are needed - misting will lead you off the track. Substrate change is an unnecessary stress for you and tortoise (rehydrating 100 liters of coir is not a joke ).

What is humidity now?

Okay thanks everyone! I will get my dad to seal this up better (at college atm) and report back. I am using a orchid bark only substrate and it was pointed out to me that it may be part of the problem

Thank you!