what about usuing a humidifyer?

[sara]

O.K. here is a questioin i have not seen asked, so I am gonna ask. I live in wyoming. the spring is wet and cold. summers get pretty warm and dry. But what about winter? My bert is housed inside, but goes out a couple hours a day for play time. (weather pending)
My question, can i use a humidifyer for the winter? the house heater is on all winter and it gets pretty dry in here. can i use a humidifyer in his room to help keep up the humidty? I have only had him for a month and we are still "learning".
Bert is a red foot , about 3 yrs old? 7" in leangth. I just found some cypress mulch I was told is very good to use. I have in in a tortoise table, so keeping it humid has been a chore. he has a soaking dish at one end and a water dish at the other.I mist it 2-3 times a day.
oh one other thing. he wont poop in his habitat, but will when i take him outside. what am i going to do durring winter ? i am hopeing he will poop indoors!

 

[Missy]

I have thought about that and think it could not hurt. Im sure someone will give you a proper answer. As for pooing, do you soak him? My tort Tank always poos in his bath water. You could use sgagnum moss or a wet sponge in his hide for extra humidity. Coconut choir is another good thing to add to the mulch, it holds moisture pretty good. Misting is still a good idea too. When I fill Tanks water bowl I overflow it to clean it and water his mulch at the same time.

 

[sara]

I have thought about that and think it could not hurt. Im sure someone will give you a proper answer. As for pooing, do you soak him? My tort Tank always poos in his bath water. You could use sgagnum moss or a wet sponge in his hide for extra humidity. Coconut choir is another good thing to add to the mulch, it holds moisture pretty good. Misting is still a good idea too. When I fill Tanks water bowl I overflow it to clean it and water his mulch at the same time.

your "tank" sounds like a real chacter from all i have been reading about him!
I soak Bert 2 times a week and am always getting him with a spray bottle. He hates it. Always goes and hides afterward. I did finally locate cypress mulch, gonna change that over from a soil peat mix.
when bert does poo, it looks fine. not dry. (only a true tort lover would understand our intrest in their poo, others just think we may be a bit nuts).
now about the moss. I got some shagnum moss, wetted it and put it around his water and a couple other places. But he started eating it! well, i got a little worried and took it out cause i didnt want it to plug him up. is it safe for him to eat? little bugger seems to like to eat just about anything!

 

[ekm5015]

I think using a humidifier in the winter is not only ok...but a good idea. The heat can really dry out the air, especially in a tort table with no top.

Make sure you are keeping the substrate moist and put a few plants in the enclosure to keep it more humid. You could also try making a top for your enclosure, preferably out of plexiglass. It will help keep the humidity up.

 

[Missy]

Tank is a character but Lana is a handful Since your little booger eats the moss maybe try attaching a sponge to the roof of his hide and keep it wet and that will make a humid hide.

 

[Tom]

EKM is right. Use a humidifier and cover at least part of the top. BUT keep him warm round the clock. Don't let him get a chill with all that moisture.

My sulcatas always eat everything I put in with them too. I can't use real or fake plants and I've gotten away with the sphagnum moss so far, but I watch it carefully.

Glad to hear about the shell spraying. In a few years, you'll be really glad you did it.

 

[sara]

EKM is right. Use a humidifier and cover at least part of the top. BUT keep him warm round the clock. Don't let him get a chill with all that moisture.

My sulcatas always eat everything I put in with them too. I can't use real or fake plants and I've gotten away with the sphagnum moss so far, but I watch it carefully.

Glad to hear about the shell spraying. In a few years, you'll be really glad you did it.

Bert has his own "room" its the warmest one in the house. I closed off the vents so the cool air from the air conditioner wont get in. But i wonder if it can get too warm in there. the temp stays between 72 and 80. He seems to be o.k. with it, but he does like to stay under his basking lamp all day too. but at night when it goes off and the warming lamp comes on he must get warm enough cause then he goes into his hide.
I guess its comon for these guys to eat anything from what you say. Just gotta love em!

---

I think using a humidifier in the winter is not only ok...but a good idea. The heat can really dry out the air, especially in a tort table with no top.

Make sure you are keeping the substrate moist and put a few plants in the enclosure to keep it more humid. You could also try making a top for your enclosure, preferably out of plexiglass. It will help keep the humidity up.

I have alot of plants in Berts room, but none in his enclousre. I am not sure whats safe, and being he likes to take a bite out of everything, i am concerned about anything poisonus. I know alot of house plants are. what do you use?

 

[Tom]

EKM is right. Use a humidifier and cover at least part of the top. BUT keep him warm round the clock. Don't let him get a chill with all that moisture.

My sulcatas always eat everything I put in with them too. I can't use real or fake plants and I've gotten away with the sphagnum moss so far, but I watch it carefully.

Glad to hear about the shell spraying. In a few years, you'll be really glad you did it.

Bert has his own "room" its the warmest one in the house. I closed off the vents so the cool air from the air conditioner wont get in. But i wonder if it can get too warm in there. the temp stays between 72 and 80. He seems to be o.k. with it, but he does like to stay under his basking lamp all day too. but at night when it goes off and the warming lamp comes on he must get warm enough cause then he goes into his hide.
I guess its comon for these guys to eat anything from what you say. Just gotta love em!

Check out the care sheet here: http://www.turtletary.com/ for specifics on redfoots and their temps. Terry K is an active forum member, a friend, and he's been raising healthy, smooth redfoots for many years.

 

[sara]

I think using a humidifier in the winter is not only ok...but a good idea. The heat can really dry out the air, especially in a tort table with no top.

Make sure you are keeping the substrate moist and put a few plants in the enclosure to keep it more humid. You could also try making a top for your enclosure, preferably out of plexiglass. It will help keep the humidity up.

i didnt think about putting a partial lid on. duh me. thats why i really like this forum. Everyone is so helpful and has ideas i didnt think of!