Misters!!

[unnaturallycam]

I currently own a baby Sulcata tortoise, that I adopted about a week ago from a rescue. The rescue’s owner and I both acknowledge that my baby tortoise has some pyramiding from his previous owner who abandoned him. I’ve done tons of research, and I understand humidity can play a huge part in how the shell develops. I first started off with a spray bottle, because I saw someone online use it for their baby. I also thought I was saving some money. However, after numerous pumps from that spray bottle. I went to petco and invested in a big mister bottle. Eventually, we got worried how fast the humidity would drop. We’d often have to rush home to see if Widget had enough humidity. So that’s when we bought an automatic mister! It’s absolutely perfect. I recommend getting one from the get go especially if you have a hatchling or baby who needs humidity. Widget loves it when the misters go off. Overall, it’s something I totally recommend.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I currently own a baby Sulcata tortoise, that I adopted about a week ago from a rescue. The rescue’s owner and I both acknowledge that my baby tortoise has some pyramiding from his previous owner who abandoned him. I’ve done tons of research, and I understand humidity can play a huge part in how the shell develops. I first started off with a spray bottle, because I saw someone online use it for their baby. I also thought I was saving some money. However, after numerous pumps from that spray bottle. I went to petco and invested in a big mister bottle. Eventually, we got worried how fast the humidity would drop. We’d often have to rush home to see if Widget had enough humidity. So that’s when we bought an automatic mister! It’s absolutely perfect. I recommend getting one from the get go especially if you have a hatchling or baby who needs humidity. Widget loves it when the misters go off. Overall, it’s something I totally recommend.

Hello!

What kind of enclosure do you have?

Usually, you don't need any additional misting/spraying with a properly set up "closed chamber" enclosure.. Just to pour a cup of water in substrate once in a week or so.

 

[unnaturallycam]

Hello!

What kind of enclosure do you have?

Usually, you don't need any additional misting/spraying with a properly set up "closed chamber" enclosure.. Just to pour a cup of water in substrate once in a week or so.

I have a 40 gallon tank right now with plants and moss. The humidity is now perfect with the misters.

 

[Ink]

Moss can cause an impaction if your tortoise eats it. I would remove the moss.

 

[COmtnLady]

FYI ~

Misters, foggers, sprayers, and some humidifiers put droplets into the air, rather than humidity. It is best to avoid them unless it is outdoors on a hot day.

The droplets are too large and make it difficult for your tortoise to breathe, plus there is no way for your tortoise to get away from them in the enclosed chamber. That kind of water in the air can cause respiratory problems.

The droplets also land on the surface of the substrate keeping it damp, which can foster fungal growth on the plastron. It is easy enough to treat, but its easier to just not use the mister, fogger, sprayer, etc., in the first place.

And, as the wetness evaporates off of the substrate surface it creates a cooling cycle, which makes keeping your temperatures even, or at the level you need, quite difficult.



Best method to maintain humidity -

Keeping the lowest inch, or about a fourth of the substrate, very-damp-to-wettish, allows the moisture to gently and continually evaporate up through the upper layers of substrate. It keeps your humidity even with very little effort. Any time the gauges show a percentage or two of drop, you just pour a cup or two of warm water into the corners (Not all over the surface). Pour two cups, wait a couple hours or longer to see how much that brings the humidity up, then add as needed while checking each time (it is easier to add than to try to remove). Each enclosure, where you are located, and each season is different, so there isn't a hard and fast rule about how much how often, but once you are used to your own system it is FAR easier than droplet methods.




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[Alex and the Redfoot]

I have a 40 gallon tank right now with plants and moss. The humidity is now perfect with the misters.

If it's something similar to ZooMed glass terrariums then placing a plastic storage container on top of mesh panels or just wrapping mesh with tin foil will help greatly to maintain humidity and stable temperature.