whats the secret to maintaining humidity???
- Thread starter watersam
- Start date
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
A couple of ideas...
Your hygrometer is affected by where it is placed. If too close to the lights it will dry out quickly and maybe give you a reading too near the basking heat.
Your hygrometer isn't very accurate or is "stuck" on one reading. Test it by putting it near the shower while you use it. Then watch to see if it reacts to the rise and drop of the bathroom humidity level.
If there's some air flow in your room (like a large room that might be a little drafty) and the room itself is dry, the cage will dry out pretty fast even if your mister goes off multiple times a day. What's the humidity level of the ROOM? Is the entire cage mesh? Do you have anything over any of the sides to help hold in moisture? A clear vinyl shower curtain draped over back and sides can really help.
Another approach to cage humidity is trying fewer but longer misting sessions a day, but add an ultrasonic humidifier to the routine to help maintain some humidity between misting sessions. This can help a lot, and you won't have to flood everything with the mister running all the time. For example, run the mister in late morning until the cage plants are soaked. Watch the humidity gauge level drop over the next couple of hours to see how quickly it gets too dry. Run the humidifier to raise the level again. Then when the cage gets too dry by mid afternoon, another misting cycle. It takes trial and error, but a combination of the 2 units can stabilize the cage pretty well without flooding.
Your hygrometer is affected by where it is placed. If too close to the lights it will dry out quickly and maybe give you a reading too near the basking heat.
Your hygrometer isn't very accurate or is "stuck" on one reading. Test it by putting it near the shower while you use it. Then watch to see if it reacts to the rise and drop of the bathroom humidity level.
If there's some air flow in your room (like a large room that might be a little drafty) and the room itself is dry, the cage will dry out pretty fast even if your mister goes off multiple times a day. What's the humidity level of the ROOM? Is the entire cage mesh? Do you have anything over any of the sides to help hold in moisture? A clear vinyl shower curtain draped over back and sides can really help.
Another approach to cage humidity is trying fewer but longer misting sessions a day, but add an ultrasonic humidifier to the routine to help maintain some humidity between misting sessions. This can help a lot, and you won't have to flood everything with the mister running all the time. For example, run the mister in late morning until the cage plants are soaked. Watch the humidity gauge level drop over the next couple of hours to see how quickly it gets too dry. Run the humidifier to raise the level again. Then when the cage gets too dry by mid afternoon, another misting cycle. It takes trial and error, but a combination of the 2 units can stabilize the cage pretty well without flooding.
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
I would invest in a good hygrometer too, if the one you have is not very good then it could be saying any number of incorrect readings.
I use some from Acuweather, which are available at Lowe's/Walmart type stores, and takes temperature and humidity. I paid $4 for mine on sale but they shouldn't be more than $15ish. It has a probe, so I put the probe up by the basking spot to get a basking temperature, and the unit closer to the ground, where it takes another temperature reading (ambient) and humidity.
You don't have to get this one but look around, there are really good options out there for relatively little money. And once you have accurate readings of everything it gives you a better idea about what to do next.
I use some from Acuweather, which are available at Lowe's/Walmart type stores, and takes temperature and humidity. I paid $4 for mine on sale but they shouldn't be more than $15ish. It has a probe, so I put the probe up by the basking spot to get a basking temperature, and the unit closer to the ground, where it takes another temperature reading (ambient) and humidity.
You don't have to get this one but look around, there are really good options out there for relatively little money. And once you have accurate readings of everything it gives you a better idea about what to do next.
BubbleTheChameleon
New Member
I too have an automatic mister, however, it sounds like what you have your settings on isn't good. I suggest setting it to go off every hour for five minutes. Also set it to stop at 10:00 pm and start again at 7:00 am to keep it level. You don't need live plants, but do keeps some moss and wood chips/dirt/mud in the terrarium at all times. It's convenient! My little Bubble gets the moisture he need without it getting too high, or too low.
frankpayne32
Avid Member
I'm not a big fan of all screen cages for keeping chameleons indoors. The RH is very often too low. The fact that captive chameleons drink so much is an artifact of captivity. IMO, many chameleons kept inside in screen cages are always on the borderline of dehydration, especially in northern drier latitudes. That's why they need to drink so frequently and so much to prevent from going over that line. Chameleons kept in mostly solid sided enclosures don't drink, or need to drink, as much.
A cool mist humidifier will help raise the RH in the room which will help in your situation with your cage though.
A cool mist humidifier will help raise the RH in the room which will help in your situation with your cage though.
Iluvheidi
New Member
Hello, I would like to see your setup. It sounds like you live in a very dry place? 5 minutes for 15 hours sounds like a ton of water. Also there are alot of people that have had issues with substrate. Its a health hazard for the chameleons. Live plants are recommended. They work well and depending on what chameleon you have if they decide to take a bite it wont hurt them. but plastic or silk will likly cause problems. 15 hours of lights and mistings sounds like a long time to keep the chameleon up and botherd. I hear alot of people keeping their chams on a 12 12 schedule but since mine are in a big window I just adjust the timer for mistings and lights to the current natural daylight. MAYBE 12-13 hours of light but baskin bulbs are on 8 hours of the time and misters go off for 1 minute for every 2 hours. What im saying is your setup sounds like its for extreamly dry areas. I live in the pacific northwest and my humidity is ovbioulsy different.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
You can do several things:
Run the humidifier in the room, but aim it directly at the cage.
Or, create a direct connection between the humidifier spout and the cage using pvc pipe or flexible pool tubing. Attach the tubing or pipe to the spout (there are several brands of humidifier that have a spout with the same diameter as household water pipe...check around the forum for some brand and model suggestions), run a length of pipe through the mesh of the cage near the top, and let the fog pour down onto the cage foliage. Control the fogging cycles with a multiple setting timer.
