Night time humidity question

[Alexander1]

I have a veiled around 3-4months old, he's in a reptibreeze screen cage, I live in Chicago so the winter and indoor air is very dry. I found using and ultra sonic humidifier is the only thing that keeps my humidity at levels I believe to be ok 60-80% during the day. My question is overnight, the reptile breeder I bought this Cham from told me I should turn off the humidifier at night because he might get sick and get a RI.. From being too cold I guess. Is that true? Over night humidity levels drop substantially and it worries me. They get around 30-40% any help is appreciated

 

[Brassaxe]

I've kept many types of lizards and many different cages. Everything from screen cages to vivariums with lizards on top and fish at the bottom. I'de say humidifiers do bring about a certain degree of danger regarding RI. Mostly in my opinion because a humidifier raises the humidity but does not allow the moisture to dissapate naturly. If you have a drop of water in dry air it evaporates quickly, but in humid air it takes longer. This gives bacteria more time to utilize and live in that "stuck" water. So you always want the humidity to cycle. Allowing stagnant moisture to dry up and then be replaced by new moisture. Almost like the atmosphere is "breathing". At night its worsened because now you have no infrared light to warm surfaces and evaporate moisture. A good example is plants.. Plants watered at night have a much higher tendency of getting fungal infections.

I'de say you could probably just cover the cage at night. Its more of a worry to keep them hydrated than to have picture perfect humidity.

 

[Alexander1]

Thanks a lot for your very informative answer, I greatly appreciate it

 

[APailthorp]

A caresheet for quads that I'm using has:

they also prefer a distinct 5 to 10 F night time temperature drop accompanied by an increase in the relative humidity

I'm running a humidifier constantly right now, the cage is airy enough and if I don't the humidity gets too low.

I may include some dry hours, but I think I'll make them late afternoon, and have the humidity come back in late evening into morning.

 

[Devokid]

I have no idea why this is ever raised as a concern. Veiled chameleons are a desert chameleon, and as a result, do much better in low humidity. Humidity levels of around 30% is about right for these guys. I live in Utah and never try to raise humidity levels. Pumping the cage full of water all the time can lead to infections and other issues. Humidity always seems to be an issue that causes people a ton of stress, but trying to adjust it usually ends in a much worse situation than if you just left it alone. I would not do anything to try and change the humidity levels, just make sure that it has enough water to drink, and it will be just fine.

 

[Devokid]

A caresheet for quads that I'm using has:
I'm running a humidifier constantly right now, the cage is airy enough and if I don't the humidity gets too low.

I may include some dry hours, but I think I'll make them late afternoon, and have the humidity come back in late evening into morning.

Quad care is quite different from veiled. Quads, like Jacksons, prefer cooler temps with high humidity levels as they are from the tropical mountains. Veileds are from dry, hot, deserts. What is good for one is not necessarily good for the other.

 

[happy]

I have noticed that a shed comes a lot easier with higher humidity. So there is a vast area located in Yemen. its not one localized location. and depending on where you are looking, humidity can range from 0% to 75-80%.

as a good example:

Now, Aden is rignt on the ocean.

if you do look at the desert portion of Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, according to Google, the humidity is 15% as i write this, and average humidity is (http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Yemen/Sanaa/climate-profile.aspx) around 32%. Sanaa is behind the mountain range, almost desert.
So.... What can we take from this? that humidity requirements are somewhere between 15 and 75-80 per cent.
so, can we describe exactly the region that veileds come from? the Arabian peninsula. so, probably closer to the ocean/sea, possibly higher humidity. in the mountain ranges, so probably a bit more rain fall.

just my .02

 

[junglefries]

I have noticed that a shed comes a lot easier with higher humidity. So there is a vast area located in Yemen. its not one localized location. and depending on where you are looking, humidity can range from 0% to 75-80%.

as a good example:

Now, Aden is rignt on the ocean.

if you do look at the desert portion of Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, according to Google, the humidity is 15% as i write this, and average humidity is (http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Yemen/Sanaa/climate-profile.aspx) around 32%. Sanaa is behind the mountain range, almost desert.
So.... What can we take from this? that humidity requirements are somewhere between 15 and 75-80 per cent.
so, can we describe exactly the region that veileds come from? the Arabian peninsula. so, probably closer to the ocean/sea, possibly higher humidity. in the mountain ranges, so probably a bit more rain fall.

just my .02

Now everyone will fully understand their hardiness. If anyone ever has a chance to read up on the various conditions there, you should. Quite interesting the way they learn to survive in the different areas and their methods of survival. Especially, the field veils.

 

[happy]

that's part of what i find so enthralling about chameleons... their ability to adapt so readily, within reason.