Humidity seems a little too high.

[proBie3]

So the humidity in Echo's terrarium seems too high. I use the zoomed thermometer/humidity thing lol.. anyways its a little over 50 on the cool side and about 38 on the warm side...

Any tips on how to lower the humidity?

I may have had too much water in his water bowl, so tonight I only put a little in there.

 

[SC Geckos]

If its one of those cheap little dials I would not pay attention to what it reads. I have never checked the humidity in any of my leos tubs. I hope you are not using that to monitor your temps too. If you are you need to get a digital thermometer with probe to measure the surface temps. What substrate you are using?

 

[Ozy]

I also never check my leo's humidity.. I just have a humid hide in there with some eco-earth in it. Otherwise her viv is the same humidity as the rest of the house. *shrug*

 

[proBie3]

Yes I use the cheap little dials... I also have the thermometer strips as low as possible on each side of the tank... As for substrate I am using the repti-carpet.

 

[proBie3]

Also, I have been meaning to get a digital thermometer, I have just been spending stupid amounts of money trying to find the right lighting fixtures for it, I finally found the right set up.. Right now I use a heat pad underneath, and I have a regular light during the day for the extra lighting since the room isnt all that lighted during the day, and I have a red heat light on while I am awake for my viewing pleasure, and since I am in minnesota I sometimes will keep it on all night just because the temperature may drop at night so we dont use our furnace much yet.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Also, I have been meaning to get a digital thermometer, I have just been spending stupid amounts of money trying to find the right lighting fixtures for it, I finally found the right set up.. Right now I use a heat pad underneath, and I have a regular light during the day for the extra lighting since the room isnt all that lighted during the day, and I have a red heat light on while I am awake for my viewing pleasure, and since I am in minnesota I sometimes will keep it on all night just because the temperature may drop at night so we dont use our furnace much yet.

I'm personally not a fan of red lights. Contrary to popular belief, reptiles can see the red light (http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptile-health/reptile-natural-artificial-light.aspx). I had one that I used only on cool nights, and I could definitely tell the difference in my leo's behaviour when I had it on compared to when it was off. I bought a ceramic heat emitter and it works just as well but seems to bother him less. Of course, you're welcome to keep it if you like. It's just some friendly advice from my personal experience.

Anyway, the dials and strips are known to be off, sometimes significantly. I know both of mine were off by about 6 degrees when I got a digital. I dunno about the hydrometers, but I'm sure it's pretty much the same.

~Maggot

 

[proBie3]

Thanks for the advice, so far when the red lights come on, he seems to be pretty active, so I havent had any issues with it quite yet.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Thanks for the advice, so far when the red lights come on, he seems to be pretty active, so I havent had any issues with it quite yet.

Well I didn't really notice until I switched. But like I said, it's totally your call. I'm just anal. XD

~Maggot

 

[proBie3]

Yeah, I suppose lol I just like having it for my viewing pleasure, and like I said I usually just have it on while I am awake. I get paid tomorrow so I will plan to head to petsmart or petco tomorrow, how is the heater on light? I do intend to pick one up for cold nights, since I don't really like wasting the red bulbs much anyways cuz they tend to burn out fairly quickly.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Yeah, I suppose lol I just like having it for my viewing pleasure, and like I said I usually just have it on while I am awake. I get paid tomorrow so I will plan to head to petsmart or petco tomorrow, how is the heater on light? I do intend to pick one up for cold nights, since I don't really like wasting the red bulbs much anyways cuz they tend to burn out fairly quickly.

Sorry, what do you mean how the heater is on light?

~Maggot

 

[proBie3]

Oh sorry, i mean is the heater good on light, or is it just a heater?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Oh sorry, i mean is the heater good on light, or is it just a heater?

A ceramic heat emitter is just a heater. It doesn't produce any light at all.

~Maggot

 

[proBie3]

Oh thats what I figured. I am planning on getting one anyways. Good for the cold nights when we don't have the furnace running.

 

[SC Geckos]

You should invest in a UTH with a thermostat instead of using lights and emitters to tey and properly heat the enclosure. With the UTH on a thermostat, If it gets a little cool in the house the thermostat will still provide the correct temp for the warm side of 90 - 93 degrees, in turn will naturally warm the rest of the ambient air in the enclosure creating your heat gradient. This way you don't have to mess around with all that other mess.
How cool does it get inside your house in the winter?

 

[proBie3]

You should invest in a UTH with a thermostat instead of using lights and emitters to tey and properly heat the enclosure. With the UTH on a thermostat, If it gets a little cool in the house the thermostat will still provide the correct temp for the warm side of 90 - 93 degrees, in turn will naturally warm the rest of the ambient air in the enclosure creating your heat gradient. This way you don't have to mess around with all that other mess.
How cool does it get inside your house in the winter?

Yeah I am using the UTH but without the thermostat.. I will be getting that too.. But I am in minnesota and it gets pretty dang cold if the furnace isnt going... I dont know about this place cuz we just moved in but right now temps at night outside are mid 30's and during the day anywhere from 60 to 70 degrees.

We currently don't use the furnace unless it does get really cold for economic reasons, so right now using a light is almost needed I think...

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You should invest in a UTH with a thermostat instead of using lights and emitters to tey and properly heat the enclosure. With the UTH on a thermostat, If it gets a little cool in the house the thermostat will still provide the correct temp for the warm side of 90 - 93 degrees, in turn will naturally warm the rest of the ambient air in the enclosure creating your heat gradient. This way you don't have to mess around with all that other mess.
How cool does it get inside your house in the winter?

UTHs don't lower humidity as effectively as CHEs and lights, though, I don't think.

~Maggot

 

[SC Geckos]

UTHs don't lower humidity as effectively as CHEs and lights, though, I don't think.

Thats true but why are you guys so concerned with the humidy 38% warm side and 50% cool. 50% is a slightly high but not alarming by any stretch. Plus I think it is still being checked with the little dial hygrometer. I live in the south where the humidity is crazy all through the summer 70 -80%+. My house stays at about 55-60% humidity the whole summer and I have never had any issue. Plus humidity issues are NEVER a problem in the winter time even down here. Most houses get so dry in the winter that humidity needs to be added. I would focus on getting a thermostat and a thermometer to get your temps right and something accurate to check it, then see where you stand.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Thats true but why are you guys so concerned with the humidy 38% warm side and 50% cool. 50% is a slightly high but not alarming by any stretch. Plus I think it is still being checked with the little dial hygrometer. I live in the south where the humidity is crazy all through the summer 70 -80%+. My house stays at about 55-60% humidity the whole summer and I have never had any issue. Plus humidity issues are NEVER a problem in the winter time even down here. Most houses get so dry in the winter that humidity needs to be added. I would focus on getting a thermostat and a thermometer to get your temps right and something accurate to check it, then see where you stand.

I honestly don't remember details about this thread because I have goldfish memory, but I thought he already had a UTH, and he's already agreed to get more accurate thermometers (or already did?). I'm just saying if he wants to lower humidity, I'd suggest CHEs. I think they're a good thing to have around anyway in case it gets ninth circle of Hell cold.

~Maggot

 

[SC Geckos]

I honestly don't remember details about this thread because I have goldfish memory, but I thought he already had a UTH, and he's already agreed to get more accurate thermometers (or already did?). I'm just saying if he wants to lower humidity, I'd suggest CHEs. I think they're a good thing to have around anyway in case it gets ninth circle of Hell cold.

lol!
Yeah he does have the UTH but nothing to regulate it which is a very important item that he needs to get squared away first and for most. I would not worry about the humidity. As far as the CHE, I would only worry about the potential for an additional source of heat if the house is getting down into the low 60's.

We currently don't use the furnace unless it does get really cold for economic reasons, so right now using a light is almost needed I think...

I understand the whole money problems thing, but if you are having an issue with the cost of heating your own house, It doesnt sound like it was the best time to purchase an animal to take care of. It's not really any of my business but you put it out there so.....

 

[Embrace Calamity]

lol!
Yeah he does have the UTH but nothing to regulate it which is a very important item that he needs to get squared away first and for most. I would not worry about the humidity. As far as the CHE, I would only worry about the potential for an additional source of heat if the house is getting down into the low 60's.

I understand the whole money problems thing, but if you are having an issue with the cost of heating your own house, It doesnt sound like it was the best time to purchase an animal to take care of. It's not really any of my business but you put it out there so.....

He already owns the gecko. Plus the fact that he's trying to save money by not using the furnace a ton doesn't mean he can't afford to take care of his reptiles. Just means he's not an idiot.

~Maggot