watersorb

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
Has anyone used Watersorb to increase humidity in enclosures? This is a food grade crystal that is mixed into soil to increase water absorption. I read about it on a turtle forum, but am wondering if anyone has tried?

I'm trying to close my system, but there is still a gap around lighting that loses sooooo much moisture during daytime. At night, I cover this with a moist towel. Works wonderfully at night, but trying to level out the daytime dry out.

My current substrate is 3 inches Natures care, organic topsoil, and forest floor cypress mulch. Humidity drops to less than 20 daytime under my MVB.

Thanks tons for any help!
 

dmmj

The member formerly known as captain awesome
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
19,695
Location (City and/or State)
CA
never used it. Food grade? Does that mean it can be mixed with food? What's its original purpose what was it intended for?
 

Shaif

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
438
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsburgh, PA
Used for gardening and increasing the moisture in the soil. The lady who posted about it said that her turtles never ate it, but I'm still a little concerned also. Even if it is good grade, meaning that it can be ingested by humans safely, what if it expands in a tiny tort's belly?

I feel like I'm chasing down any way to keep moisture in.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Used for gardening and increasing the moisture in the soil. The lady who posted about it said that her turtles never ate it, but I'm still a little concerned also. Even if it is good grade, meaning that it can be ingested by humans safely, what if it expands in a tiny tort's belly?

I feel like I'm chasing down any way to keep moisture in.
I would try it, just not in the substrate. Put it in its own pots that he can't reach or tip over
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Used for gardening and increasing the moisture in the soil. The lady who posted about it said that her turtles never ate it, but I'm still a little concerned also. Even if it is good grade, meaning that it can be ingested by humans safely, what if it expands in a tiny tort's belly?

I feel like I'm chasing down any way to keep moisture in.
Why do you want to keep moisture in? The idea is to let moisture out so it can increase humidity. The moisture just needs to be replaced as it evaporates. If your substrate moisture is evaporating too quickly it means you have too much ventilation and need to address that.

I would not use those water crystals where a tortoise has access to it.
 

Pearly

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
5,287
Location (City and/or State)
Central Texas, Austin area
I think that those superabsorbent things are to keep things around them dry, and that would defeat our purpose. We want all that moisture in the air our torts breathe
 

JoesMum

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,606
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
By food grade what's meant is that plants grown in it are safe to eat.

It does not mean that it's safe to eat the material itself.

No I wouldn't use it in substrate in case it got eaten by the tort
 

New Posts

Top