Humidity levels

[Casseylane]

Hello- 1st thread, longtime observer. Any recs on humidity levels for leopards? The right level and how to maintain. Getting nervous going into winter months...

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Cassey!!

I think its time for us to start re-iterating that moisture in the habitat in order to prevent pyramiding is only during the first year of the tortoise's life. So if your leopard tortoise is older than a year, the moist habitat is not that important anymore.

If the tortoise is older than a year, I just pour a pitcherfull of water over the habitat and mix it up with my hands. The lights then dry out the top layer, leaving it semi-moist underneath.

I don't provide any kind of moisture, outside of a waterer, for tortoises old enough to live outside, and I put mine out when they get to be about 4" front to back.

 

[Casseylane]

Should I be concerned about shell rot?

 

[Neal]

Somewhere between 50 - 80% seems to work out well.

I don't think I've heard of any case of shell rot with all the people on the forum keeping their tortoises in a high humid environment.