Frustrated with humidity

Trisha0023

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Hey all,
Just got a 4 month red foot. Love him but am having a very hard time keeping up the humidity. Care sheet told me 60-75% seller says he will be fine at 40%. I can get it above 30 for more than 20 minutes. I have cypress mulch and sparGum moss. Water and plants around . I spray with water and it goes up for a bit but then lights dry things out and it goes back. I moved it upstairs instead of down and still having problems. Seller says this is just what happens in Illinois. Any suggestions? I have the zoo med tortoise table. And what will happen if I can't keep it up? I worry when I'm at work.......
 

Jodie

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You will probably have to enclose it. You can do this many ways. I had a tort table that we built a frame for and covered with plastic. I easily maintain 80% humidity.
IMG_20140907_183133.jpg
 

cmacusa3

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ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1418880195.215903.jpgI have a zoo med and this is what I've done and I have no humidity issues. I cover most with plexiglass except for the end with the light. I have a humid hide in the Corner that stays around 99% humidity inside it with about 84 degrees. The end with the plants hovers around 85-88% and 81-83 degrees. My basking area is around 120 degrees. As you can see I made several modifications to the Zoo Med. You can get the Plexiglass at lowes for $10 for an 18x24 sheet that will cover half the box. I spray it down in the morning and I would suggest lining the bottom with a trash bag, tarp or anything to help hold the moisture. I learned the hard way and had a mess under my box.
 

cmacusa3

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I have that humidifier too but I don't rely on it. Here is another pick with my hide and the moss on top. I have had so much help from everyone on the site and feel like they got me in the right direction ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1418881123.882156.jpg
 

Trisha0023

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Thanks everybody. I am hoping he will be ok with me misting as much as possible until tomorrow. I will try to find a way to enclose him. I can't really buy a whole new set up. I will have to try the pelxi glass. How did you attach the uvb light inside the table?
 

lismar79

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A hummid hide would help too. A small tupperware tote with a hole cut out for the door and fill it with moss. Keep it at the warm end and keep moss moist.
 

cmacusa3

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I used wood screws in the top frame board plus a 2 inch piece of Velcro. It took less than 5 minutes to install. I took out that divider and I stopped using both lids. It was a bummer to buy this tort house and have to change it up this much but I like it much better this way.
 

cmacusa3

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I think the biggest way I got my humidity up was removing all my substrate and lining the bottom.
 

Tyanna

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Pouring water in the corners, a lot of it, and mixing it up. That way, you get the bottom layer moist and it dries out slower than the top & humidity stays longer.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Mine is attached like this. (it may take a moment for the photo) Inside the chamber. Attached with screws to the lid and with air vents for the fixture.
 

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Tom

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You need a closed chamber. An open top allows the cold dry room air to circulate with your enclosure air. Another concern with redfoots is that they are very prone to shell rot when kept in wet conditions. People who are fighting with open topped enclosures tend to get things wetter and wetter in a futile attempt to get humidity up. The solution is to create a closed chamber and only try to regulate temps and humidity in that small space instead of the whole room. It is easy to maintain higher humidity and a relatively dry surface in a closed chamber.

Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
 

Momof4

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I bought a 7 x 3 plastic green house with a zipper front and it creates it's own humidity for days. I use a 6' bookcase and just set it over the enclosure. I use coir for substrate and with it being damp and the CHE it makes it very tropical in there. I don't have pics yet. Let me know if you want one. I think it was $35 online and my 8yr daughter put it together! I use it for my reds nighttime enclosure.
 

Tyanna

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I bought a 7 x 3 plastic green house with a zipper front and it creates it's own humidity for days. I use a 6' bookcase and just set it over the enclosure. I use coir for substrate and with it being damp and the CHE it makes it very tropical in there. I don't have pics yet. Let me know if you want one. I think it was $35 online and my 8yr daughter put it together! I use it for my reds nighttime enclosure.

Great idea.. I'm sure you could even just find a slip cover made for a greenhouse and set it on top, or even just use the green house on it's side as your enclosure. Or a cheaper route would be a shower curtain. TONS of ideas. :)
 

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