Humidity question for my fellow Colorado citizens

**Mike FYF** · 07-09-2011, 01:41 AM

I've noticed ther are a few of my fellow coloradians on this forum. It's been raining a lot lately and the humidity is still ~40%, and were lucky it is that high. I have been misting five time a day and using a fogger in my larger tanks for my adults and struggling to keep humidity at >60%. I'm just wondering how my local crestie enthusiasts keep their humidity at optimal levels? Even if you aren't from CO I'd love input/tips/tricks. Thanks in advance!!

-mike

**LilStickyFeet** · 07-09-2011, 01:56 AM

I live in the Fort Collins area and I don't seem to have TOO much of an issue with humidity. If I mist really well in the evening and again in the morning the humidity stays about right...drying out to about 50% during the day.

What sort of terrariums do you have? I know that my 10-20 gallon tanks dry out a bit quicker than the Exo-Terras and ZooMeds...I think because the screens have more surface area. I've put damp or moist paper towels over parts of the screen before and that will usually keep in more humidity...that or plastic wrapping part of it!

Also, if you have the A/C or fans running that will dry everything out even faster, so that is something to keep in mind. Still, during the day the humidity levels are supposed to drop some, so keep that in mind!

**LunaVandal** · 07-09-2011, 04:13 AM

I live in the DTC area and haven't had too much of an issue with humidity levels. I mist in the morning to about 70% or so and by the time evening rolls around it dries out to about 50-55%. I do find I have a more difficult time keeping the higher humidity levels at night, for a longer amount of time (probably due to the AC/fans on) I do a heavier misting at night to about 90% or so but also put a small humidifier in front of their terrariums to keep the levels up for longer until the water runs out in the humidifier (which then allows time for things to dry out a bit). In the mornings it's usually down to about 50%, I've never had the humidity levels go below 45%. Both my guys (girls?) are in Zoo Meds, which I do believe helps due to the smaller amount of screen like Lilstickyfeet mentioned. One of mine has paper towels as substrate and I do have to mist his/hers down a little bit more than my other one who has Eco Earth substrate.

Hopefully you'll find a solution that helps! The humidifier I have helps immensely and was really inexpensive. I do have to say though, that the recent rain/storms have been nice!

**Mike FYF** · 07-09-2011, 10:42 AM

Thanks guys! Yea I think I just need to buy a humidifier. I have two exo-terra 18x18x24s and the younglings are all in KKs. The rain storms have been nice except for the one lastnight... It was like a freekin hurricane and of course I left my windows down and sunroof open on my car. Today is gonna be fun cleaning!! Haha.

**reptile65** · 07-09-2011, 08:03 PM

I live in Westminster. I mist twice a day and have never had any shedding problems with my geckos. I think misting 5 times a day may be a bit excessive. Remember that you do want the cage to dry out a bit in between mistings. You don't want the cage to be constantly soaking wet.

**AltitudeExotics** · 07-10-2011, 09:40 PM

We really don't worry about humidity. Cresties don't *need* humidity, it just helps them. We only mist once every other day to be honest. We use sterlite tubs so they do hold the humidity really well, but still. We have water dishes as the main source for drinking water, and most have lay boxes to help with humidity. But we never have shedding problems. I think humidity is another one of those things people tend to worry to much about.

**Tauni** · 07-10-2011, 09:46 PM

I am not in CO but in Utah we are really dry too. I spray heavily at night and lightly in the morning and to help humidity I have a rag that I get wet and ring out and place on top of his cage every night. Been doing that for quiet a few months and he's been shedding out great every time, so it seems to work for me at least =]

**crvan77** · 07-11-2011, 09:25 AM

i live in Aurora, i havnt had much trouble with humidity but its the heat ive been havin trouble with. the last few weeks it been sooo HOT and then the afternoon has been rain everyday. So what ive been doin is usin a cold damp rag on top covering about half or less of the top of the cage. This will help cool it down as well as bring up your humidity to about 40-45%. Ive even found my cresties have been usin the rag as a basking spot but for cooling down when the tanks get in the 79 degree range. Hope this helps!

**AltitudeExotics** · 07-11-2011, 11:28 AM

The heat hasn't been to bad for us, but we let our reptile room get pretty warm. We only turn the AC on if it gets to 83 degrees.

**crvan77** · 07-11-2011, 07:34 PM

ya the mornings are fine but i have my geckkos in my room(cant wait till i get my reptile room!) and it faces the west so most of the afternoon heat comes into my room so ac is a must for not only them but for me too lol it will easily get 85 in there by the evening