how to get my humidity up? help?

[Mariah Ingram]

A little information before I ask my question. I have an 18x18x24 exo terra enclosure, the tank has 2 sheets of glass resting on the screen top to hold in moisture with about an inch on an end on both sides for a cross breeze. On the back and top of which i have a hood that has 2 26w bulbs for my plants. I plan on getting some leucs 3 or 4. my temp range is between 72-80F on a daily basis never over 80 for long though. My substrate from the top down: spaghnum moss> eco earth >mesh stuff>hydoballs. I water/mist my plants twice daily for 20seconds and then have a humidifier/mister turn on for 10mins 6 times daily.

Okay question time... I can't seem to get my humidity to stay up! I can get it to hover around the 90-92% for about an hour and then I find it drops back down to 78-85% most of the time. I've looked everywhere for an answer and have not a clue where I'm going wrong. would a photo help? Any advice would help me please and thank you!

[dmallia]

if you would like to have the humidity over 90% every time you need to close the air gaps of the top front and leave the back one with the gaps and the hood over or leave the humidifier/mister for a longer time.

[Monza geckos]

I would say get a fogger but if too expensive try misting more often or using a medium to keep up the humidity eg moss coco husk is a great spongey substrate or plantation soil both great

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

I highly recommend that you get a zoo med hygrotherm HT-10 controller to take care of things.
Zoo Med HygroTherm Humidity and Temperature Controller from Amazon US
I don't know why but when I get a search on the Canadian Amazon they wanted $160 Canadian(way too expensive)

I also highly recommend the zoom that retpi-fogger, even though people have had problems with it in the past I have had two of them for almost a full year with no problems other one had a bad fan and that was very easy to fix.

you just have to use distilled water in them.

[helm96]

So my recommendation is to take the lid and remove the screen. After long exposure to a high humidity environment I have heard of a lot of issues with the screen rusting. On my Zoo Med enclosures I have removed the screen and had a piece of glass cut and siliconed it to the top. The gaps around the doors and the vent below the doors will give all the ventilation that is needed. If you are still running low on humidity you could block the vent below the door partially or fully. I would not worry about ventilation you will get enough ventilation from around the doors. If you go with the fogger, I have 2 of the Zoo Med Repti-Foggers and they are great. I have had one for over 2 years and the other is about a year old.

[Mentat]

What Will said ! Bye, bye screens and replace with custom cut glass or polycarbonate sheets. The latter has the advantage of easier drilling and adapting a humidifier hose. Then check after couple days and if more humidity needed, partially to fully cover front vent (black electrical tape top works OK). Good luck and pics please !

[deranged chipmunk]

You can pretty much all but seal the tank up when it comes to darts. They don't require ventilation as much as other frogs do. They will get enough ventilation when you open the doors to feed on a daily basis. That should get your humidity up into the high 90's easily.

[Mariah Ingram]

Did as I was told and went out and sealed the top up. With my mister, me hand misting for the plants and the sealed up top I keep a steady 86-93% humidity.


Frogs, fish and soon to be ferrets!

[cisco522]

im still a newbie at this frog thing but y should squirt some mist in the cage
protect the frogs

[Mariah Ingram]

Well I'm currently running my tank and making sure everything is good to go before I get little ones. I hand mist so I can get in there and have a look around, check up on everything. I'll continue even after I get frogs though. since frogs absorb through their skin that's how they "drink" so an extra good dosing of what they'll think is rain will be good for them. I also have live plants so I need to make sure they're well watered.

I'm certainly not the most qualified here on the forum but this is what I've gleaned from others.


Frogs, fish and soon to be ferrets!

[frogfreaks]

Okay question time... I can't seem to get my humidity to stay up! I can get it to hover around the 90-92% for about an hour and then I find it drops back down to 78-85% most of the time. I've looked everywhere for an answer and have not a clue where I'm going wrong. would a photo help? Any advice would help me please and thank you!

A little late to this thread, but 78-85% is plenty humid.

[flybyferns]

A little late to this thread, but 78-85% is plenty humid.

Mariah ,

I agree with Glen & Laura,
I would not worry about the humidity at 85%.
But , most definitely watch those temps.
A temp sustained above 80F is lethal for your darts.
If it's 80F in one area of the tank it could be higher in another?
Little inexpensive thermometers (that are easy to move around the tank) are an important investment.

Petco Thermometer with Suction Cup at PETCO
I use these, they are terrific. Cheap ! Stick it right in the substrate / easy to move around / and very accurate

Keep us posted ! Can't wait to see your new Leucs !

[Mentat]

im still a newbie at this frog thing but y should squirt some mist in the cage
protect the frogs

Hello and welcome to FF! Too many guns ; we are frog loving friendly people here. Hand or automatic misting (misters or foggers) are used to raise humidity but sometimes lowering ventilation is part of equation too. Jump into the introduction section soon and tell us about you and your frogs, thank you !

[Mariah Ingram]

I've since taken off the screen and replaced it with 2 glass pieces that I sealed with silicon. I also usually only use my mister that turns on 6 times a day for 10mins at a time. It's working wonderfully! Also don't worry about the way my hose is I was waiting for my silicon to dry so it's a little askew.


Frogs, fish and soon to be ferrets!