Humidity

[nicolehh11]

Any tips on keeping the humidity level stable? I currently have my Hermann's in a large rubbermaid type tub and the top is all open. I have a "humid" hide for him but he doesn't get in there too often. He gets a bath every or every other day and he will get in his shallow water dish. With it being winter and the heater running it can get pretty dry in here.

Substrate is a top soil and I have some timothy hay in there that he likes to sleep under (which I think I'll be taking out since he's been having some eye irritation. It's either that or his lighting which I am changing as well).

 

[wellington]

If you have a coil uv bulb get rid of it, bad for tort eyes. Also are you spraying a couple times a day the substrate to keep it moist but not dripping wet. The hay is drying. The last thing, cover at least half to three quarters of the enclosure to hold in humidity. Good luck

 

[nicolehh11]

Thanks Wellington! I took everything out today and poured in water and turned all the soil, I've been spraying twice a day but I don't think it is enough. I feel bad, he LOVES hiding under the hay but I'm going to keep it out for awhile. I have the coil UVB which I've turned off until my MVB comes in.

Do you think it would be good if I took the lid of that tub, cut out a large hole for light to get in, if that would still help with humidity?

 

[ascott]

Wellington is giving you good information here on how to help increase/retain humidity...also yes a lid modification will help as you outlined....just make certain the plastic does not come in contact with the light dome at all...

 

[cueboy007]

If you have a coil uv bulb get rid of it, bad for tort eyes...

Bad for tortoise eyes? Which types bulbs are you referring to?

I have a similar setup, but I keep a humidifier running all the time, and the ambient humidity is around 50%, I also spray their substrate, besides, hermann's don't really care about low humidity, as long as it's not too high, since they are from arid areas of mediteranean.

 

[Jacob]

You want to cover the enclosure to keep the heat and humidity in.
the coil bulbs are harmful for the torts eye, most people that use a uv light tend to go towards
a mvb light, you can check out the zoomed power sun 100w.
Keep em hot and humid, and the trick to humidity is to spray the whole enclosure, substrate and even your torts shell
several times daily with the lights on.

 

[cueboy007]

I thinking I'm missing something here, why is compact fluorescent bulb bad for tortoise eyes? Anyone has done a study on this that I missed?

Last time I heard about bulbs bad for eyes was that batch from MegaRay.

 

[nicolehh11]

I have the coil UVB bulb turned off until the Power Sun 100watt comes in next week. Since turning that light off, his eyes are back to normal again!! So that tells me right there it was the bulb. I originally thought the timothy hay may have been irritating his eyes, but he LOVES to sleep underneath it so I put a small amount in today. Cueboy007, from what I've heard/read, the coil UVB bulbs put off too much UVB and makes it very painful on their eyes.

About the humidity, I will get the lid out that came with the tub and make some modifications on it. I'll cut out a hole big enough for the light to get in and that should hopefully help with my humidity levels. I'll update once I have that done!

 

[EddieW]

I to am in a similar situation trying to keep the humidity up in my red foot enclosure. Am considering either a fogger or a warm air humidifier, will let you know if either is worth the buy.