Humidity fluctuations?

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.

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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

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Originally Posted by AT6CL

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

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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.

I'm using coconut fiber.

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??:)

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.