Humidity/temperature question here. We are into our first furnace season with our crestie. Our house runs around 40%, so other than the initial morning misting (spray bottle), she's drying out down to the 40s and low 50s during the day. I know it's important to let the level drop during the day, I'm aiming to maintain an avg of 50 to 60% during the day, then mist her in the evening for higher humidity as well as water availability . Her temp is also hovering around 70 to 72. So to deal with the lower temperature I've added a low heat lamp, which seems to be helping, except it dries the tank out even more. So I got a cool mist humidifier and hooked it up via a hose. I've set a timer to turn it on for 10mins every hour (10 on, 45 min off). It's on its lowest setting but within a few minutes the reading is up to 83% then drops to mid 60s within 5 to 10mins after shutting off. With the heat lamp going it's settling back down to the low 50s by the time the humidifier turns back on, which I'd imagine without the humidifier would just drop back to the 40s. Then the cycle continues. So it's not really a constant humidity level, but it avgs to be about right.... I think.
Is this ok? Like, I work full time so can't be misting her throughout the day, and with needing to add heat that dries the tank out, I need the extra moisture. The thermometer and hydrometer probes are in the middle of the tank. I did have a cover covering half the lid to help but it wasn't enough. Now with the grow light and the heat lamp I can't cover the lid. I'm also trying to keep the substrate moist for the plants and springtails/isopods asthey were drying out and numbers dwindled, should I just actually water the substrate every few days, like with a watering can?
Any advice? Am I doing ok? There's no heat or humidity issues in the summer, just while the furnace is running.
In the picture you can see the fogging doing it's thing. The heat lamp is at the top right, you can see her in the bottom left protected if need be from the heat. She has been making a habit of sleeping down there, I assume as the ground is more humid. Side note, little bugger hangs out under that log all day, then on top for the evening ready to pounce on me as soon as I open her door. I think I'm going to have to move the log lol
Is this ok? Like, I work full time so can't be misting her throughout the day, and with needing to add heat that dries the tank out, I need the extra moisture. The thermometer and hydrometer probes are in the middle of the tank. I did have a cover covering half the lid to help but it wasn't enough. Now with the grow light and the heat lamp I can't cover the lid. I'm also trying to keep the substrate moist for the plants and springtails/isopods asthey were drying out and numbers dwindled, should I just actually water the substrate every few days, like with a watering can?
Any advice? Am I doing ok? There's no heat or humidity issues in the summer, just while the furnace is running.
In the picture you can see the fogging doing it's thing. The heat lamp is at the top right, you can see her in the bottom left protected if need be from the heat. She has been making a habit of sleeping down there, I assume as the ground is more humid. Side note, little bugger hangs out under that log all day, then on top for the evening ready to pounce on me as soon as I open her door. I think I'm going to have to move the log lol
Last edited:
For instance by adding a cup or so of water hy droton absorbs water, thereby evening out humidity throughout the days & nights. You don't want your hy droton "swimming" (or being able to see unabsorbed water), because then mold could be a problem.