Humidity Problems

[SycoSquirl]

Hi guys, ever since I got my boy a new bigger cage I have had a lot of problems with keeping humidity up. I have literally tried everything I can think of. I have the back and 2 sides wrapped in a shower liner, have 2 live pothos, and an umbrella plant, mist 2ce a day, and have a fogger that is set to high that comes on every 20-40 minutes throughout the day. The constant humidity is about 40% and it spikes to only 45%, ive gotten a brand new gauge thinking my old one was just broken, but they both read the same and when put next to my dads weather station (which has a humidity reader both inside and outside our house) which read the same humidity in his office, which was 60% but for some reason I cant keep my room about 40%. I have a ceramic heat lamp, a 100W bulb, and a UVB bulb. I also have a tarantula across the room with a red heat lamp and I keep my room door closed during the day to give them their privacy from other in the house. I do live in southern California right now which has been having humidity probelms with the drought. But I will be back in New Mexico in August which will have humidity problems as well so I need to figure this out before then. (the guage is placed on the opening door to my L reptibreeze btw, maybe I need to move it into the back of the cage?)

 

[ChiefRedman]

What kind of fogger are you using ? You can go to walgreens and get a cheap humidifier for around 20$ or more depending on how much you are willing to spend . Grab some PVC pipe and run in directly from the humidifier straight into the cage .

 

[SycoSquirl]

its a reptifogger, set to high

 

[Devokid]

What type of chameleon is it? If it is a veiled, I would stop using the fogger. I would also not worry about the humidity at all. Take a look at the weather in Yemen, your humidity is higher than it is there. As long as it has water to drink and live plants, I would not worry about humidity. If it is not a veiled, then you could try putting the cage in a room that has less ventilation and/or is smaller.

 

[junglefries]

Humidity of 40-65% is ok. However, shed problems can arise from 40% or lower. Take your reptifogger and add a 1/2 " up tube to the base using a female coupling. Run the pvc uptube to the top. Hook an 90° elbow piece to the uptube. Run a piece to middle of cage. Put a t connector. Run another piece of pvc each way for desired length. Put a 90° elbow at each end angled to spray across the cage. This will double your coverage area. Works insanely great and will cost about $3-5 total. I mist my chams with squirt bottle 4-6 times a day. Anytime it dries, i respray.

 

[SycoSquirl]

What type of chameleon is it? If it is a veiled, I would stop using the fogger. I would also not worry about the humidity at all. Take a look at the weather in Yemen, your humidity is higher than it is there. As long as it has water to drink and live plants, I would not worry about humidity. If it is not a veiled, then you could try putting the cage in a room that has less ventilation and/or is smaller.

Yes I have a male veiled, 3-4 years old, he has the fogger as a way to also help with providing water because my dripper I have barely holds water for 30 minutes, the system is hard to adjust the frequency of drips and when i get it right, about 20 min later it stops working >.< At night the humidity does drop to about 30-35% do you guys think that is a bit bad or no since he is a veiled?

 

[Devokid]

Yes I have a male veiled, 3-4 years old, he has the fogger as a way to also help with providing water because my dripper I have barely holds water for 30 minutes, the system is hard to adjust the frequency of drips and when i get it right, about 20 min later it stops working >.< At night the humidity does drop to about 30-35% do you guys think that is a bit bad or no since he is a veiled?

I would say that in and of itself, 30% humidity is not bad. However, you do need to have a way for him to drink. I would get a Tom's aqua lifter pump and set up an auto drip for him. This will give him access to all the water he needs. Keep an eye on his urates. As long as they are white, you are good. I have found that having high humidity leads to a higher chance of developing respiratory infections, so I tend to keep things on the drier side. Misting as soon as it dries is too much water. Not even my Jacksons get that much.

 

[SycoSquirl]

I would say that in and of itself, 30% humidity is not bad. However, you do need to have a way for him to drink. I would get a Tom's aqua lifter pump and set up an auto drip for him. This will give him access to all the water he needs. Keep an eye on his urates. As long as they are white, you are good. I have found that having high humidity leads to a higher chance of developing respiratory infections, so I tend to keep things on the drier side. Misting as soon as it dries is too much water. Not even my Jacksons get that much.

the way my hand mister works though it really isnt all that much water, but I definetely need a drip system for my guy, his urates are white still so he is getting enough water but i would like to provide a better dripper for him incase he wants to drink when i am gone at work and such

 

[Devokid]

the way my hand mister works though it really isnt all that much water, but I definetely need a drip system for my guy, his urates are white still so he is getting enough water but i would like to provide a better dripper for him incase he wants to drink when i am gone at work and such

Yep, that is why I am a huge believer in automated water systems. I use a weak pump coupled with a cheap timer. This allows for a constant drip that can come on while you are not there to do it.