Humidity (Relitive Humidity or Dewpoint)

[wdbyrd]

Hi I have a hatchling Sulcata Tort in a closed tub enclosure. Substrate consists of 90 %Coco fiber and 10% reptibark. It is moisture but not wet. The relative humidity is 80% temp is 81F on cool end but the dewpoint is 75%. Which measurement should I be looking at? I have a push wifi sensor that allows me to track these 24/7 through an app.

 

[wellington]

The humidity

 

[wellington]

Be sure the temp doesn't go below 80, and there is a basking area with an incandescent flood bulb that reaches 95-100.

 

[Markw84]

Hi I have a hatchling Sulcata Tort in a closed tub enclosure. Substrate consists of 90 %Coco fiber and 10% reptibark. It is moisture but not wet. The relative humidity is 80% temp is 81F on cool end but the dewpoint is 75%. Which measurement should I be looking at? I have a push wifi sensor that allows me to track these 24/7 through an app.

Dew point is a reading in degrees not percentage.

To answer your question - They are both related and a function of the Temperature. 80% RH with a dew point of 75° means your temperature is 81.8° So that is the low end you will want as we suggest 80% RH and 80° both as minimums. When daytime temps in the enclosure gets 90°, and the dew point stays at 75°, you will find your relative humidity has fallen to 61.6%.

The dew point is simply the temperature calculation of where with the current amount of moisture in the air that is being measured will reach 100% RH. So if your enclosure is a good closed chamber type enclosure, the amount of moisture in the air (dew point) should remain fairly constant. That means the relative humidity will go up with cooler temperatures and down with warmer temperatures. As a result, you will want to watch the relative humidity and ensure it always stays above 80% - even as the enclosure heats up. This also means the area under the basking light - being the warmest area - is also the area of highest IR. So there is your most critical pyramiding cause. Normally you will need at least 90% RH in the enclosure to ensure the basking area does not get too dry and desiccating.