Need advise please

[Kdfarrell]

So this is my first reptile ever I got my leopard gecko today he's juvenile about 3 inches long. I honestly thought I had everything set up right when I got him but I've run into an unforeseen problem with the humidity levels in my tank they're getting above into the mid 60s and I was under the impression they shouldn't be above 40 unless he's shedding when I left to get him this afternoon they're were in the upper 50s so I put on a dehumidifier before I left now it's midnight and this poor little guys at 60+ I have a 10 gallon tank with a small zilla brand UTH I have a screen top and his water dish is 2inches wide at its longest point and less than an inch maybe 1/2 inch deep it's also not quite filled to the brim I do have a hide on the cool side of the tank with moistened moss as well idk if if that's a majorly contributing factor any advise on how to get the humidity down would be awesome I've spent the past hour trying to find answers on google and people on this site seemed knowledgable please help

Thank you
Ken

 

[wicked gecko]

Are you using a dial guage? If so I'd grab a digital one first. You can put rice in a stocking or safe container so Leo isn't able to eat any accidently. Also be sure to have your uth hooked to a thermostat because they can get way to hot without one.

 

[Keeboard]

Do you have a cool and warm hide as well?

 

[acpart]

I don't worry about humidity too much. I'm in New England with no AC and in the summer it gets hot and humid. We all do fine. As long as you're not misting the tank and the rest of your husbandry is correct, the gecko should be fine.

Aliza

 

[Abigail1]

You might buy another hydrometer to compare to the one you have. I had the same problem, with the humidity levels at 65-70% no matter what I did, and ended up realizing that my hydrometer just didn't work. If both hydrometers read similarly, you can just return the new one and no harm done. In the event that the hydrometer is reading accurately, you can set up a room dehumidifier in the area you've placed the gecko's habitat, and just close the door so that the humidity doesn't seep in as much. You can also fill a sock with dried rice and hang it in the enclosure. Rice is super absorbant. I haven't tried the rice thing myself, so I can't guarantee that it works, but I've read that it can.