New here..need some advice!

[tmalla1]

Hey everyone! Im a beginner at all this and have a few questions..

My terrarium that i have set up is a 12x12x18 by ZooMed
i have a waterfall kit coming through a cork background with a vine and some plants with moss on the ground.
i do have hydroballs on the very bottom then separated by a mesh sheet then with ecoearth on top of that.
Im using a UVB bulb also.

Now my question involves the humidity in my tank. I have a gauge and it is reading 85% humidity and im afraid im going to get harmful bacteria. Is there any way i can check for this? I am really interested in getting a red eyed tree frog and want to be sure my terrarium is perfect.

And it seems that my humidity is very high, is there any way i can bring it down?
Thanks for all the help!

Here are a few pictures for reference! Ignore the blue tape as i just used silicone to install the mushroom ledge.

[flybyferns]

Hello.
Welcome to Frog Forum !!!
Yes, a constant 85% humidity is too high for Red Eyed tree frogs.
You could purchase a temp and humidity gauge w/ a probe?

See the Red Eye Tree frog care sheet here on FF for very valuable information.
(This includes all the information you need, including for temp and humidity ranges)

We could use some additional information:
1- what is the temp?
2- if using heat, what source ?
3. is the top screened. If so, is it covered ?

I use a little fan on a timer on extremely humid days in the summer ( Long Island , NY). However a fan is not typically needed.

Oh ! and by-the-way--- It is very smart to get things all set like this BEFORE you put the frog in

[frognerd101]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

I have been keeping my red eyed tree frog healthy for over a year now and your setup seems perfect, with the exception of the humidity. For a red eyed tree frog, the humidity should be above 60 percent but not exceed 75 percent. One way you can prevent high humidity levels is by adding in a screen top or a terrarium fan. Increasing air flow in the terrarium will reduce humidity. Monitor your humidity levels with a humidity gauge.

Look for signs of mold or bacteria on the substrate. Remove any fecal matter or dead food that could be a sight for bacterial growth. If you see something on the plants, wall or substrate that you feel should not be there, remove it. Also, cleaning your terrarium regularly can minimize bacteria and fungi levels.

Good luck with your new terrrarium.

[tmalla1]

Thank for all the help! I have a temp gauge on it and its at 71-75F. I have a screen cover on top. I currently am not using a heat source other than the UVB bulb that is in the terrarium hood.

I tried searching, but are there any pictures of examples of mold on the substrate anywhere in this forum?

[tmalla1]

I use a little fan on a timer on extremely humid days in the summer ( Long Island , NY). However a fan is not typically needed.

Would yall recommend a specific type of fan for a tank my size?