Humidity Problems

[Greatlakescity14]

Hi everyone! Im having some trouble with humidity....
I have my baby in a 40gallon plastic tub with a small greenhouse top to make it a closed chamber.

At night, the humidity is around 98-99 but the temps are in the 70s. Is this dangerous?

During the day, the temp on the warm side is around 86 degrees and the cool side sits around 81 degrees. Humidity is super strange during the day.... anywhere from low 60s-high 80s.

My hermanns is just a hatchling so I want to ensure that itll be okay.

Thanks!!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi everyone! Im having some trouble with humidity....
I have my baby in a 40gallon plastic tub with a small greenhouse top to make it a closed chamber.

At night, the humidity is around 98-99 but the temps are in the 70s. Is this dangerous?

During the day, the temp on the warm side is around 86 degrees and the cool side sits around 81 degrees. Humidity is super strange during the day.... anywhere from low 60s-high 80s.

My hermanns is just a hatchling so I want to ensure that itll be okay.

Thanks!!

Hello!
Temperatures and humidity look okay.

Can you tell a bit more about the current setup: substrate (type and depth, how often do you add water/spray it), what basking lamp do you use now, where humidity sensor is placed?

 

[Greatlakescity14]

Hello!
Temperatures and humidity look okay.

Can you tell a bit more about the current setup: substrate (type and depth, how often do you add water/spray it), what basking lamp do you use now, where humidity sensor is placed?

The substrate is coco coir, about 3ish inches deep. I was spraying it like 5-6 times a day because I bought a greenhouse topper that was too big so I was having the issue of the humidity being too low. With the smaller greenhouse topper, I spray about 3-4x a day. I am using the arcadia 75watt golden sun basking bulb and the humidity sensor is placed on the back wall of the enclosure towards the bottom of the tank, right above the substrate. I have one on each side of the enclosure!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

The substrate is coco coir, about 3ish inches deep. I was spraying it like 5-6 times a day because I bought a greenhouse topper that was too big so I was having the issue of the humidity being too low. With the smaller greenhouse topper, I spray about 3-4x a day. I am using the arcadia 75watt golden sun basking bulb and the humidity sensor is placed on the back wall of the enclosure towards the bottom of the tank, right above the substrate. I have one on each side of the enclosure!

Great, thank you!

If you have 60% humidity near the basking lamp and 80% at the "cold end" - it's good.

When you spray the substrate - you'll get humidity spikes. Just keep coir moist by pouring water (1-2 cups) once in a week or two (but avoid waterlogging). And don't forget to hand-pack the substrate - this helps to keep coir evenly moist and reduces mess.

 

[Greatlakescity14]

Thanks so so much!! I appreciate it

 

[COmtnLady]

This is a copy of substrate advice to maintain humidity easier. It was for another new member who was setting up from the start, but may help you get a feel for what the concept is. Because coco coir is so messy, I like to have a layer of bark chips over it, but that is just personal preference.

Since you already have several inches of coir in place, I would make an observation hole somewhere towards the middle of the enclosure. (Easiest way, stick your finger down to the bottom of the enclosure and see how far up your finger the water comes after a half hour or so.) I would slowly pour about a quart of warm water into the corners and observe how long it takes to get to the observation hole. It may take much more water depending on the size of your enclosure, but go slowly because its considerably easier to add a bit more water than to try to remove too much water. You want about an inch of water in that lowest level so about up to the first knuckle on your finger. It will evaporate up through the other layers and create a slow-release steady humidity in the enclosure. Pay attention and when the humidity starts to drop a bit add more warm water in the corners only to bring it back up to the right level. In no time you'll have a feel for how often it needs replenished.



The original post:

I buy the coco coir in the 3-brick packages which are a little cheaper and store more easily than the loose type. I also do NOT buy the loose stuff because it is harder to get it soaked the first time , plus there is a "dusty" factor when you try to get it damp (that can cause you to cough like a fool for a bit - think what dusty coco coir does to the poor tortoises who are trying to live on it!). It also takes up a lot more space to store it in that form.

Then I use a very clean, definitely does not have any soap or other type of residue, five gallon bucket (I have two five gallon buckets dedicated to only tortoise substrate, nothing else).

Fill it about half-to-2/3 full of warm water and submerge one of the bricks. Allow it to soak until it has completely fallen apart, with no hard lumps left. You may have to add more water if it expands above the waterline.

Hand-wring-out as much of the water as possible and pack it tightly into the bottom of the enclosure. Begin at one end and work your way to the other end, so that you can see if you got enough of the water out. You don't want standing water visible, especially not when you are finished.

Pack the coco coir about three inches deep.

Next put a two to three inch layer of Orchid Bark/Fir Bark on top and pat it down - this doesn't have to be packed as firmly, but pat it down until it feels even and solid. Some use Cyprus Mulch instead, which is just as good, but I don't care for the swampy smell of the Cyprus Mulch.

Close your enclosure up tight and let it acclimate for several hours, then measure the humidity and heat. If it is too humid when you check, vent it until it is in the range that's best for you tortoise with the lid closed. If not humid enough (usually 84% and 84F for hatchlings of all species) add more water in the corners.

Once its stable, put your tortoise into its new home.

 

[jaizei]

This is a copy of substrate advice to maintain humidity easier. It was for another new member who was setting up from the start, but may help you get a feel for what the concept is. Because coco coir is so messy, I like to have a layer of bark chips over it, but that is just personal preference.

Since you already have several inches of coir in place, I would make an observation hole somewhere towards the middle of the enclosure. (Easiest way, stick your finger down to the bottom of the enclosure and see how far up your finger the water comes after a half hour or so.) I would slowly pour about a quart of warm water into the corners and observe how long it takes to get to the observation hole. It may take much more water depending on the size of your enclosure, but go slowly because its considerably easier to add a bit more water than to try to remove too much water. You want about an inch of water in that lowest level so about up to the first knuckle on your finger. It will evaporate up through the other layers and create a slow-release steady humidity in the enclosure. Pay attention and when the humidity starts to drop a bit add more warm water in the corners only to bring it back up to the right level. In no time you'll have a feel for how often it needs replenished.



The original post:

Are you suggesting having an inch of standing water at the bottom?

 

[COmtnLady]

Are you suggesting having an inch of standing water at the bottom?

Not standing water. But since GreatLakesCity14 is starting with the substrate already in place, making the lowest inch wet and letting it "relax" into the whole system will get to the same place as if 3 inches of hand-wrung-out coir had been put into place.