Humidity fluctuations?

[Perry]

Hi, I have my temps perfect however my humidity tends to drop semi-quickly. This wouldn't be a problem except with school and work I'm out of the house from about 10AM-8:30PM every day. I always boost the humidity to the mid 60's in the morning and when I get home it is down to 45 and I spray it back up to 60 or so. Is there anything wrong with the 60-45-60-45 etc. routine? Like would fluctuations even if in the desired range of humidity, cause any problems? Thanks.

Perry.

[Nate]

Perry, are you using an aquarium set up?

If so, when I used that method, I would put a damp towel over the top that did a great job at keeping the humidity up.

Some people also recommend putting some tin foil over the top as well. Let us know if this works for you

[Perry]

I know but that traps heat as well doesn't it? My temp's are perfect but if I have to I will use this method. Thanks.

[Nate]

what's your set up? I had an under tank heater, and no heat lamp...so my temps were never an issue. Heat lamps aren't required.

[Perry]

I have a glass tank, 20 long, on the hot end I have a UTH under the hide. On the cool end I have a heatlamp above the other hide. The heatlamp keeps the cool hide temp 83-84. The UTH keeps the warm hide temp 93.5-94. The Air is a constant 83.

[AT6CL]

What kind of substrate are you using? I used aspen for 2 days before switching to cypress mulch because of humidity retention.

[TekWarren]

What kind of substrate are you using? I used aspen for 2 days before switching to cypress mulch because of humidity retention.

I actually like aspen as a substrate better but I am having less of a struggle with humidity issues since switching to newspaper. Excellent suggestion to consider changing substrates.

[Perry]

I'm using coconut fiber.

[Sunny1]

Where is the water bowl in your setup? Do you leave the heat lamp on all the time?

In my tank setup, I have been having to turn on a low wattage heatlamp at night since it has been getting cooler outside. To remedy the heatlamp sucking out all of my humidity, what I have done has been to place another water bowl in the setup slightly under the heatlamp. It has been working pretty well so far keeping my humidity up around 55%, the heatlamp causes the water to heat and evaporate, so instead of losing a bunch of humidity to the lamp I am able to keep it steady. Maybe this could help you too??

[BigCeC43]

This is just my humble opinion, but I would think it isn't too big of a deal. It the "real world" humidity will fluctuate heavily due to many factors. I would think of it as a quick rain storm to bump humidity. IMO temp flucuations would be much worse.