Need help on Humidity please

[KNC7]

Hello! I just started an indoor enclosure for my torts. They were on a tortoise table before. I have rads and sullies..the substrate I use is coco peat. I am having a difficult time going about 65% humidity..is there anything else I can do besides misting regularly?

Thanks,
Kara

 

[Gillian M]

Hello! I just started an indoor enclosure for my torts. They were on a tortoise table before. I have rads and sullies..the substrate I use is coco peat. I am having a difficult time going about 65% humidity..is there anything else I can do besides misting regularly?

Thanks,
Kara

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Are the enclosures made of glass? If so, please allow me to say that glass is NOT recommended for torts; as they do not understand the concept. They'd keep trying to get out, and this would cause stress.

(Sorry; I do not mean to let you down/upset you. I am only trying to give you advise).

 

[BrianWI]

I have no issue with glass. Never had a tort or turtle with an issue. In fact, I prefer glass for many reasons, like keeping in humidity without mold, swelling or bowing. Plus I can see my pets.

Air flow kills humidity. I can't see from the pics, but how many spaces are there for your warm humid air to escape?

 

[KNC7]

Hi Gillian,

It's plexiglass and I put a sticker in the bottom and I'm adding another layer so they cannot see through.

Thanks!

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Are the enclosures made of glass? If so, please allow me to say that glass is NOT recommended for torts; as they do not understand the concept. They'd keep trying to get out, and this would cause stress.

(Sorry; I do not mean to let you down/upset you. I am only trying to give you advise).

 

[KNC7]

I have no issue with glass. Never had a tort or turtle with an issue. In fact, I prefer glass for many reasons, like keeping in humidity without mold, swelling or bowing. Plus I can see my pets.

Air flow kills humidity. I can't see from the pics, but how many spaces are there for your warm humid air to escape?

Hi Brian,

Thank you for replying. I have a 3 rows of holes in the back. I closed off 2 rows since I think there is a lot of airflow. the thing is I had a open tortoise table before and was able to keep humidity at 70% so you can imagine how confused I got when it's closed and less humid. I don't know if it's the marine plywood that's removing the humidity? I don't know what else to do but mist the enclosure and dampen some of the coco peat. I was wondering if you have other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[BrianWI]

It can depend on how the air moves, humidity of room, etc. I would close all leaks up, all vents and see what you get. Then you can slowly introduce air flow bak.

 

[Gillian M]

Hi Gillian,

It's plexiglass and I put a sticker in the bottom and I'm adding another layer so they cannot see through.

Thanks!

Well done! Keep up the good work.

 

[Gillian M]

I have no issue with glass. Never had a tort or turtle with an issue. In fact, I prefer glass for many reasons, like keeping in humidity without mold, swelling or bowing. Plus I can see my pets.

Air flow kills humidity. I can't see from the pics, but how many spaces are there for your warm humid air to escape?

Couldn't that be "the exception to the rule?"

 

[KNC7]

It can depend on how the air moves, humidity of room, etc. I would close all leaks up, all vents and see what you get. Then you can slowly introduce air flow bak.

Thanks Brian! Will try that out!

 

[KNC7]

Well done! Keep up the good work.

Thank you! And I keep my torts in the enclosure only at night. During the day, they are mostly outside..so this is just for the night hours when I want to be sure they're safe from the elements.

 

[BrianWI]

Couldn't that be "the exception to the rule?"

I don't think so. I have seen a lot of people who use glass w/o issue. I think it probably has more to do with the individual tort or circumstances than as a rule. Mine comes up to the glass very close and looks at me when hungry. She stops short of touching it, never claws at it or anything. She certainly seems to understand it. Same with the boxies. In fact, they scratched more in the rubbermaid tub they had before (although it was smaller so that may be a factor).

Should run a poll, maybe we would see more.

 

[Tom]

Couldn't that be "the exception to the rule?"

No. Glass tanks are not a problem and never have been. Many of us here have been using them for a wide variety of species for decades with no issues.

 

[Gillian M]

I don't think so. I have seen a lot of people who use glass w/o issue. I think it probably has more to do with the individual tort or circumstances than as a rule. Mine comes up to the glass very close and looks at me when hungry. She stops short of touching it, never claws at it or anything. She certainly seems to understand it. Same with the boxies. In fact, they scratched more in the rubbermaid tub they had before (although it was smaller so that may be a factor).

Should run a poll, maybe we would see more.

Great to hear that! I read it time and once again that "glass" is not recommended."

Oh yes: a poll would be interesting. Would love to see its results.

 

[Tom]

Hello! I just started an indoor enclosure for my torts. They were on a tortoise table before. I have rads and sullies..the substrate I use is coco peat. I am having a difficult time going about 65% humidity..is there anything else I can do besides misting regularly?

Thanks,
Kara

Kara, I see two main possibilities.
1. Too much airflow.
2. Inaccurate hygrometer.

If you eliminate these two possibilities, then look at substrate thickness and dampness. If your substrate is too thin or too dry, it would make it difficult to maintain humidity.

 

[KNC7]

Kara, I see two main possibilities.
1. Too much airflow.
2. Inaccurate hygrometer.

If you eliminate these two possibilities, then look at substrate thickness and dampness. If your substrate is too thin or too dry, it would make it difficult to maintain humidity.

Hi Tom!

Thanks for your response. I don't think it's the hygrometer since both hygrometers for top and bottom practically have the same reading. I will try to lessen the airflow and add little by little. Substrate is pretty thick because I filled up the entire concrete mixing tub (my base) with substrate, I'm just worried about getting it too damp for the torts to be on so I'm trying sponges on top of hide boxes and misting..will try moistening substrate more and lessening airflow.

 

[BrianWI]

Am I correct to assume you are using those small digital hygrometers? I have a few, all are with a couple percentage points of accurate.Temp is better than 1 degree C accurate.

 

[BrianWI]

Any room airflow, like fan or ac?

 

[KNC7]

Here the image of hygrometer (please note that temp is in Celsius)

 

[BrianWI]

I believe those are accurate to 5% in that range, 8% in the 80-100% range. So I would believe them.

 

[KNC7]

Any room airflow, like fan or ac?

Hi Brian, that's the thing no AC or fans inside that room. I'm really confused as to why I cannot seem to get humidity up..but will try closing off the holes like you and Tom suggested and moving on from there.