Lowering humidity

[mattcast1214]

Yep, you read the title correct lol, I want to know how to lower humidity. I have been doing a test run the last 2 days before getting my ambilobe panther this week to make sure temps and everything is stable. Some notes about my cage: the right and back sides are covered with plastic so water does not wet everything, I have a 3 foot umbrella plant and large pothos in the cage, 6%arcadia uvb and 60w/25w heat bulbs in a 2nd fixture, it is located in the corner of my room. (Will post a pic of the enclosure once i get off work)

I mist early mornings at about 9.30am when humidity is at 50-60, and then humidity shoots up to 99-100% after mistings. Before going into work I mist again at 2 pm when humidity is still at 70-80 and shoots back up to 100 well past 5 pm and when lights go off at 7 humidity is still 80, parts of the plants are still wet and the floor also has some water when lights go out. Any tips on how to make the enclosure a little dryer in between mistings and bed time, preferably without having to wipe the bottom of the cage? And is a constand humidity of about 75 ok for a panther?

 

[reptoman]

How long are you misting for? Shorten the length of time you mist each time or only mist once. Panthers will drink better from a drip IMO. I would think a panther will do fine with that humidity but you should let the cage dry out between mistings. If it stays wet you are misting too long and leaving it too wet. Post pics of your new guy

 

[mattcast1214]

Lol good advice repto, I will be putting some pics once he gets settled in and comfortable. The mister I use is the 1.5L pump that sprays for about 2-3 minutes, which does not sound like a lot of time compared to what I read on here for others who mist 3-5 times/day for like 5 minutes. I will be getting an aquazamp soon though, so maybe putting it to 'rain' 3 times a day for like 2 minutes will work better. I think the plastic sides just allow it to hold a lot more humidity then it should, but I will break up the first mist in half tomorrow and see if that helps.

 

[carol5208]

they do fine in the humidity outdoors in Florida and it is very high as you know most of the year. The difference is when they are outside versus indoors in a confined area they are getting fresh air also. I would be worried about stagnant water and too humid of conditions is a small area and possibly breeding condtions for a respiratory infection..

 

[mattcast1214]

Unfortunately I can't keep him outside because of several 'neighborhood' cats that come by my house. But I will change it to one big mist in the morning and then a dripper til about 5pm. I was also thinking to drill even more holes in the floor so more water can drip into the tray I have underneath and wipe away any left over water, anything I can do to prevent a RI is worth the trouble

 

[mattcast1214]

So I was searching online for other possible solutions and was thinking about a humidifier or somethign of that nature. Has anyone used these dry packs? And would they be safe to place on the bottom of the enclosure for the time in between mistings?

http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-DP2...UTF8&qid=1350855856&sr=8-5&keywords=dry-packs

 

[fluxlizard]

You live in Fl and want a panther chameleon. You don't need to mist so often. A single short misting a day is fine. Provide water with a drip for 20-30 minutes a day and you will be fine.

 

[mcbdz]

I was noting the same problem with my enclosure not drying out . Once I decided I was going to use the ceiling fan for air circulation It dries just fine. Can you improve you circulation in the room?

 

[mattcast1214]

My room gets a pretty good amount of cold air throughout the day. The vent is to the right above the enclosure so I have it pointed far right so that it doesn't directly hit the cage. But I noted last night that by 8-9pm the humidity drops back down to 80 and by morning it is at 55, so I will just wipe up any excess water that remains just before lights go out.

And Flux, that is what I have switched to now and from that one mist it holds that humidity throughout the entire day and I set up a dripper before going to work. Thanks for the advice guys