What happens if humidity stays too low?

[lovepicasso]

I'm going to put a humidifier in the office in hopes this will keep the humidity up to a healthy level, he will not stay in his enclosure and with the colder temps and needing to run a little heat, it just seems to dry out the air.....I don't want anything bad to happen to my boy....Thanks!

 

[nightanole]

Too low of a humidity = bad sheds, and upper respiratory infections. This is dependent on the species on the lower limit. veiled and panthers start having trouble at 40% for extended days.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

I've heard different sides to this. As long as they are hydrated I've heard its not a real issue.

Upping mistings during sheddings, etc.

 

[Chamguy89]

i always mist with warm water

 

[Lovereps]

According to a number of sources, too low humidity levels for an extended period of time leads to chronic low grade dehydration and eventual kidney failure.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I was talking to my vet about this the other day as I have problems maintaining humidity in my new enclosures even with vinyl shower curtain panels to help. My vet said that it wasn't highly important in veileds' as they are basically arboreal animals that hail from a desert locale and don't require constant levels of humidity. I was (and am) skeptical as I've done a ton of research on veileds and humidity is always mentioned as important. BUT...my vet is also highly respected here and a hugely accredited reptile vet. *shrug* What I've been doing for the past 7 years has basically worked for me so I'll follow my gut and increase misting temps to obtain the correct humidity.

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

For Veileds I hear as long as you mist 2-3 times a day with warm water it should be fine.

Unfortunately out in the desert myself this only raises my humidity for about an hour. Unless I shell out 200+ for a misting system I'm out of luck.

 

[Millerj0469]

For a long time my levels were lower then what most people suggest. That being said the chams are alive and well. I didn't see any long term damage but I will said they do look and act much happier now that the levels are higher.

 

[Lovereps]

For Veileds I hear as long as you mist 2-3 times a day with warm water it should be fine.

Unfortunately out in the desert myself this only raises my humidity for about an hour. Unless I shell out 200+ for a misting system I'm out of luck.

You can spend half that for a Mistking system and not that much more than half that for an Aquazamp system.
Just so you're aware....

 

[Olimpia]

I think that if you do longer mistings (say 3-5+ minutes as opposed to 30 seconds) 2-3 times a day at least, it should give your chameleon enough time to drink, soak, and spike the humidity that then it doesn't matter if it drops down to 15% during a few times throughout the day. It doesn't have to stay at 60-70% at all moments of every day.

 

[lovepicasso]

Thanks for all the replies and with what has been said, I do think I will get the vaporizer for the office and continue to mist him, well spray him with warm water, which he loves, a few times a day.....he does stay out of his enclosure most of the day and likes to explore past the office now, he is so very healthy and sure want to keep him that way.

 

[dom1959]

last week i went to "bed bath and beyond" and bought a homedics (they had others but this one looked cool) cool air humidifier.
i have a reptibreeze cage ( i hung cotton swatches on 2 sides of the enclosure and the combination is easily keeping humidity in the enclosure above 40%.
if i run the humidifier on high for short periods it is near 80% and i live in phoenix where we don't really even know how to spell humidity
i still mist 3-4 times a day but i feel better knowing the humidity is more better.
and i have a reptifogger that runs several times a day.
my sister had suggested the humidifier to make my plants more healthy but it is good for my minion also(veiled)

 

[nightanole]

I learned my lesson by trying to run the humidfier 24/7 to keep it at 60% all winter. That was a fun vet bill for 3 of the guys. The room ended up with a thin coating of vinegar smelling film, and most lizards had a upper respiratory something. I now do what alot of people have mentioned here, i run the thing on max for 3-4 hours aday and thats it. I humidity surf between 38 and 55% through out the day in winter.

 

[bifidus]

I have separate reptile "forest" room (in "desert" I do not use any). It is closed, doors and windows tight I have humifidier set to 65% and it works guess 2-5 minutes in an hour. Truth is that room is full of terrariums.

 

[Psychobunny]

I've heard different sides to this. As long as they are hydrated I've heard its not a real issue.

Upping mistings during sheddings, etc.

Me 2, esp veiled chams, which are from Yemen and dryer climates.