Humidity for 2yo panther Cham?

[KatCham]

Conflicting values on Internet for correct humidity level for adult panther cham

Just wondered what everyone has theirs at?

Simbas isn't high enough (going to 55% max) so going to increase his 4 x 5minute mistings a day to 4 x 10 mins I think. Will that be ok? What levels should I be aiming for?

 

[ataraxia]

55% is fine as it will fluctuate with your misting sessions.

I shoot for 60% (although it aint easy) with it fluctuating higher during and after misting sessions.

 

[KatCham]

55% is the MAX reading. My digital hygrometer shows the min and max levels it goes to, so will take the fluctuations into account.

From today, min was 32%, max was 55%. I thought it needed to be between 60-80%???

 

[bradley]

I used to spray 5 times a day for two minutes, I know of people wh do twice a day for 5 mins each. Aslong as their is peaks in humidity and he is drinking enough he will be fine.

 

[KatCham]

Have increased 2 of his mistings to 10 mins, left other 2 at 5 mins, see what that does to the readings.

 

[deadhd5]

55% is the MAX reading. My digital hygrometer shows the min and max levels it goes to, so will take the fluctuations into account.

From today, min was 32%, max was 55%. I thought it needed to be between 60-80%???

What Ataraxia was saying is that it is OK if the ambient humidity is 55% (resting humidity) as it will spike after mistings. So 55% would be an ideal "minimum" humidity, with mistings fluctuating the humidity to higher levels, and then back down to 55% as the water evaoporates.

 

[deadhd5]

By the way, I use a cool mist (ultrasonic) humidifier along with a humidistat in order to keep the room's ambient humidity at 60%. The mistings take care of the rest.

You may just want to work on your ambient humidity conditions so you can time mistings based on your chams drinking needs. Also, using a humidifier to maintain ambient humidity allows you to time the mistings so the cage fully dries between mistings, which is vital to avoid mold and bacteria issues which can lead to nasty infections.

 

[KatCham]

Yeah, I've increased the misting period so the ambient humidity will sit at around 55%-60% hopefully, then when there is a misting session going on, the humidity will spike somewhere above 60% but then never drop below 55% ish when misting has stopped and the enclosure dries?

That's the plan anyway.

Seems to dry out ok considering the size of the enclosure and I think it definitely will with the stronger basking bulb I just bought (and higher basking temp)

As well as usual spot cleaning, I plan to give the insides and floor a wipe over once a week with anti bacterial viv cleaner so that'll avoid any bacteria build up and in turn prevent any infections

Thanks very much for all your advice x

 

[Olimpia]

It's ok if the humidity drops even to 30-40% during a little while between mistings. But the important thing is that it spikes to the 70-80% during the misting sessions and that your chameleon has plenty of chances to soak, drink, and wash out his eyes. Which it definitely sounds like he has, given your schedule. When a chameleon is getting good soakings like that then relative humidity becomes a little less important. Because they're still well hydrated enough to shed properly, drink, and have clean eyes and skin.

I know you have a photo thread about the cage which I haven't seen yet, but do you have live plants? They seem to do a lot to keep humidity higher.

 

[KatCham]

Yes he has a big live Ficus in there. Im thinking that with a couple of longer misting sessions and a bit of a hotter basking spot, the humidity will go up anyway. With the bigger enclosure too, longer mistings will mean he has plenty time to drink/clean eyes etc wherever his is when the misting starts. Will also help with shedding too

Will keep you posted on what the min max humidity readings are after running the new schedule for a day or 2.

Thanks for the reply Olimpia

 

[KatCham]

Had a look at readings tonight and humidity has only peaked at 58%. Lowest reading is 32% (even though he's had a 10 minute misting first thing this morning and at 2pm thisavo, as well as the 2 other 5 min mistings he gets???) Basking spot seems to be levelling at 32C ish now - So at least I know he'll not be cooked!!
I'm wondering if I should change the positioning of the humidity sensor? Or does that not matter?

At the mo it is taped to the back wall....should I move it so it's in the middle of the enclosure?

Attached to the Ficus plant maybe?

What do you think?

 

[Rush2112]

I have two hygrometers in my cage. One is analog and is positioned on back panel of screen about 2/3 to the top and one is digital and it "hangs" by the left panel about half way down and is amongst the leaves of my ficus. They often vary in readings but between mistings I pay more attention to the lower, digital one as the other tends to be drier due to its proximity to the lighting etc. this said, one may read 65% and one 55%, as long as they are both above 50%, I take it as ok. During and after mistings they both go up.

 

[KatCham]

So the fact that the max reading is 58% must mean the highest the humidity goes is 58%???

Is that high enough, or should it peak higher than this??