How dry is too dry? (And how do I fix it?)

[Striving Spark]

So. I know that bearded dragons generally prefer a humidity of at least 30% - but while I can achieve that on the cooler side of the tank, it seems almost impossible on the hot side. I've got a literal humidifier pumping in mist 24/7, and yet even the middle of the tank won't go up past the mid 20s.... At this exact moment it's 22% on the hot side and 32% in the cooler area.

As stated, I have an actual humidifier, plus several plants, and a big shallow bowl of water on the hot side to top it all off, but it's still too dry. I'm honestly reconsidering whether I should put a waterfall in after all, because it's only going to get dryer as we go into summer. That said, I know at least one person is vehemently against it, so.... I'm left unsure what to do.

ETA: Forgot to mention, but it gets down to, like, 12-14% during the hottest part of the day.

 

[Sadie]

So. I know that bearded dragons generally prefer a humidity of at least 30% - but while I can achieve that on the cooler side of the tank, it seems almost impossible on the hot side. I've got a literal humidifier pumping in mist 24/7, and yet even the middle of the tank won't go up past the mid 20s.... At this exact moment it's 22% on the hot side and 32% in the cooler area.

As stated, I have an actual humidifier, plus several plants, and a big shallow bowl of water on the hot side to top it all off, but it's still too dry. I'm honestly reconsidering whether I should put a waterfall in after all, because it's only going to get dryer as we go into summer. That said, I know at least one person is vehemently against it, so.... I'm left unsure what to do.

ETA: Forgot to mention, but it gets down to, like, 12-14% during the hottest part of the day.

I have reached out to the vet tech on the board

 

[Striving Spark]

I have reached out to the vet tech on the board

Appreciated! Part of the tank is reaching the desired humidity at least part of the time, and her urate wasn't orange today or yesterday I don't think so I don't believe she's still dehydrated.... But at the same time, for all that I know the dangers of too much humidity I know very little about having too little. I guess it's not a common issue..? (At night, the cooler half of her tank will get up to 38% or so. The hotter side remains dry even then, though, from what I can tell...)

 

[Striving Spark]

Hmmm. The dehumidifier is - oddly enough - turning on for short bursts. I'm not sure how much I trust the thing, considering how cheap it was, but it claims that I'm reaching 41 degrees in at least that part of the tank and it's turning on to reduce it back to 40. (That said, every other instrument I've got seems to disagree...)

 

[Striving Spark]

Sorry for triple posting, but important update - I've turned off the humidifier for now. It's been spraying near constantly, and I'm a bit worried about giving her a respiratory infection, low humidity or no.... (She doesn't go directly into the mist, that I've seen, but I don't know enough to be anything less than paranoid.)

 

[Sadie]

Sorry for triple posting, but important update - I've turned off the humidifier for now. It's been spraying near constantly, and I'm a bit worried about giving her a respiratory infection, low humidity or no.... (She doesn't go directly into the mist, that I've seen, but I don't know enough to be anything less than paranoid.)

Sadly too little humidity will give RI's - if your using a digital probe hygrometer and the probe is placed on the back center wall of the tank it will give accurate humidity for the whole tank - go by that - you dont want humidity over 70% and under 20% or so - mine have gotten down to 17% and the dragons were fine - the humidifier should be on he outside of the tank next to it spraying air into the room - you could even get a humidifier for the room sitting on the floor away from the tank - but I would only do that if your humidity is down to next to zero in the room - I would not fret over it and I would not over do w/ trying to get it perfect - we have dragons in Florida and they seem to do just fine along w/ ones in Nevada etc

 

[Striving Spark]

Sadly too little humidity will give RI's - if your using a digital probe hygrometer and the probe is placed on the back center wall of the tank it will give accurate humidity for the whole tank - go by that - you dont want humidity over 70% and under 20% or so - mine have gotten down to 17% and the dragons were fine - the humidifier should be on he outside of the tank next to it spraying air into the room - you could even get a humidifier for the room sitting on the floor away from the tank - but I would only do that if your humidity is down to next to zero in the room - I would not fret over it and I would not over do w/ trying to get it perfect - we have dragons in Florida and they seem to do just fine along w/ ones in Nevada etc

According to the various instruments, it's currently 14% at the hot side, 29% on the cool side, and around 20 in the middle. Admittedly the hygrometers are pretty damn cheap, so they could be wrong? And even the humidistat might be less than reliable (I've got a replacement theoretically arriving today.)

All that said, I've attached the humidifier to the outside of the tank, against the hotter wall, and it seems to be working at least a little? It's blowing the fog directly above the tank instead of inside it, which is a lot less anxiety inducing

 

[Sadie]

According to the various instruments, it's currently 14% at the hot side, 29% on the cool side, and around 20 in the middle. Admittedly the hygrometers are pretty damn cheap, so they could be wrong? And even the humidistat might be less than reliable (I've got a replacement theoretically arriving today.)

All that said, I've attached the humidifier to the outside of the tank, against the hotter wall, and it seems to be working at least a little? It's blowing the fog directly above the tank instead of inside it, which is a lot less anxiety inducing

I would recommend getting a digital probe hygrometer exo terra makes them place that probe center back wall see what it reads- you don't want the mist in the tank - that will give him a RI - I saw what a fogger did to a baby dragon a few years ago and it was really sad - the exo terra will read your whole tank

 

[Striving Spark]

I would recommend getting a digital probe hygrometer exo terra makes them place that probe center back wall see what it reads- you don't want the mist in the tank - that will give him a RI - I saw what a fogger did to a baby dragon a few years ago and it was really sad - the exo terra will read your whole tank

The new humidistat I got comes with a digital probe of its own, and seems much better than the last one I got, so I should be good in that department. The mist is currently directed sorta parallel with the tank, but some of it does drift up and down into the upper atmosphere of the tank. Doesn't reach where she likes to hang out, though, so I'm hoping that's okay?

 

[Sadie]

The new humidistat I got comes with a digital probe of its own, and seems much better than the last one I got, so I should be good in that department. The mist is currently directed sorta parallel with the tank, but some of it does drift up and down into the upper atmosphere of the tank. Doesn't reach where she likes to hang out, though, so I'm hoping that's okay?

I sent the post to Tracie again - I am not sure to me I would not chance it but lets let her give some input on this

 

[Striving Spark]

I sent the post to Tracie again - I am not sure to me I would not chance it but lets let her give some input on this

I've been trying to angle the mist a bit away, but it's a balancing act between trying to keep the area directly around the tank humid and trying to make sure no vapor gets to her...

 

[Striving Spark]

I sent the post to Tracie again - I am not sure to me I would not chance it but lets let her give some input on this

Figured I'd just ask you this instead of starting another post about the enclosure, but... I'm considering putting in a dig box for her, under her hide? Because I can hear her trying to dig at night, and it breaks my heart to listen to her scratching fruitlessly at the shelf liner.

This wouldn't be anywhere near her food, which I'm hoping would reduce the chances of compaction, but... I'm still a bit worried, seeing as how she is Baby. Any thoughts? (She currently has a cookie tin full of sand that's in a place I can watch? But she hasn't shown interest in it. She only wants to dig at night, and specifically within her hide.)

 

[Sadie]

Figured I'd just ask you this instead of starting another post about the enclosure, but... I'm considering putting in a dig box for her, under her hide? Because I can hear her trying to dig at night, and it breaks my heart to listen to her scratching fruitlessly at the shelf liner.

This wouldn't be anywhere near her food, which I'm hoping would reduce the chances of compaction, but... I'm still a bit worried, seeing as how she is Baby. Any thoughts? (She currently has a cookie tin full of sand that's in a place I can watch? But she hasn't shown interest in it. She only wants to dig at night, and specifically within her hide.)

Normal she's trying to get comfortable - you can cut up some fleece for her and put it in her hide

 

[Striving Spark]

Normal she's trying to get comfortable - you can cut up some fleece for her and put it in her hide

Guessing you'd be against putting sand in, then? I am a little worried about it myself, admittedly, as mentioned... Might even take out the tin of sand I already put in, on the grounds that she doesn't seem that interested... (I would eventually like to give her sand to dig in, but not until she's at least a bit older and preferably only with a vet's approval...)

 

[Sadie]

Guessing you'd be against putting sand in, then? I am a little worried about it myself, admittedly, as mentioned... Might even take out the tin of sand I already put in, on the grounds that she doesn't seem that interested... (I would eventually like to give her sand to dig in, but not until she's at least a bit older and preferably only with a vet's approval...)

Sand is too high of risk of impaction and it harbors bacteria

 

[Striving Spark]

Noted... I'll at least try the fleece, then. Maybe put in a few sheets so she can crawl under one or two if she wants? We'll see