LittleLove
Active Member
Hello everyone, I was just wondering if I should get a humidifier for Freds enclosure. 
Humidity
- Thread starter LittleLove
- Start date
No, they should not be used
If Fred is a young one, he needs a closed chamber enclosure and then you dampen the substrate and that with the proper enclosure you should get the correct humidity.
If Fred is a young one, he needs a closed chamber enclosure and then you dampen the substrate and that with the proper enclosure you should get the correct humidity.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
You may have covered this in another of your threads, but remind me, is he in a closed chamber now? That is the only efficient way to keep humidity where needed, humidifiers can cause them potential respiratory issues
LittleLove
Active Member
Well I don't know if you would call this closed. I don't think it is
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The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
You are right, it is not. You would want all the lights and heating elements inside the enclosure and minimize any unnecessary ventilation to keep the humidity in.
These kind of tortoise houses aren't really good, since they would only be suitable for adult tortoises, but are too small for even the smallest of species as adults.
There are two ways of approaching this. First is trying to mod your current enclousure towards a closed chamber, second is getting an entirely new one. The first method might not always work, it is harder but sometimes cheaper. We can help you with both.
Here is @Littleredfootbigredheart s amaizing thread with photo examples of different closed chamber options:
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
tortoiseforum.org
Ask away any questions you have!
LittleLove
Active Member
Thank you very much, I appreciate itYou are right, it is not. You would want all the lights and heating elements inside the enclosure and minimize any unnecessary ventilation to keep the humidity in.
These kind of tortoise houses aren't really good, since they would only be suitable for adult tortoises, but are too small for even the smallest of species as adults.
There are two ways of approaching this. First is trying to mod your current enclousure towards a closed chamber, second is getting an entirely new one. The first method might not always work, it is harder but sometimes cheaper. We can help you with both.
Here is @Littleredfootbigredheart s amaizing thread with photo examples of different closed chamber options:
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
Ask away any questions you have!
LittleLove
Active Member
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
I would start by looking, if there are any greenhouse toppers that would fit the dimensions of your enclosure. In the meanwhile you could use something like aluminium foil to cover the mesh part around the lamp. Also, a pond liner or something similar is needed to protect the wood on the floor and the walls from higher humidity.
LittleLove
Active Member
So cover the open part with foil, and then what about the light. The one in black covered one Is a ceramic light. Also can I just use a plastic bag.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
It may be tricky because your bulb is a certain height that it isn’t resting on the mesh, so there’s not really an efficient way of ‘sealing’ around the fitting with foil, and I’m hesitant to say rest your bulb on the mesh if you already have the right basking temperature, so as a temporary means cover as much as you can with foil whilst leaving a gap for the light, this won’t fix the humidity issue but will help slightly for now, cover it completely at night. Then definitely look into some sort of topper to put over the entire enclosure, hopefully the visual thread gives you some ideas
It won't work. The heating and lighting needs to be contained inside the enclosure, and this type of enclosure isn't tall enough inside for that. You need to buy or build something different.D
So if I keep the one I have now, what kind of cover do you suggest?
Daffodil
Active Member
Tom, I have a similar problem where my glass vivarium is only 18" high, not tall enough to fit the lighting inside. I'm contacting Mark about a better enclosure, but in the meantime, would it work to get a 6x3x3 greenhouse topper and just put my 4x2x1.5 enclosure w/ lights, etc., inside that?
The answer is yes it will work... sort of...
The green house does help, but it doesn't work as well as a proper closed chamber like the one from Mark or any of the other makers. The greenhouse tent is relatively cheap and quick, and it does get the equipment inside, but it doesn't insulate as well, doesn't look very nice, and some people (me) don't like that plastic smell. I think its a great solution for someone who got bad housing info and bought the wrong type of enclosure and wants to provide better living conditions for their baby tortoise quickly and cheaply.
Daffodil
Active Member
Thanks, Tom. Yes, it would only be a stop-gap measure until the Smart Enclosure is ready. I think I'll try it. Can always use the topper later to grow greens outside for Aggie.
LittleLove
Active Member
Thank you so muchIt may be tricky because your bulb is a certain height that it isn’t resting on the mesh, so there’s not really an efficient way of ‘sealing’ around the fitting with foil, and I’m hesitant to say rest your bulb on the mesh if you already have the right basking temperature, so as a temporary means cover as much as you can with foil whilst leaving a gap for the light, this won’t fix the humidity issue but will help slightly for now, cover it completely at night. Then definitely look into some sort of topper to put over the entire enclosure, hopefully the visual thread gives you some ideas
