Sponge to help humidity? Good or Bad?

I have a 10 gal tank with a 75 watt red lens bulb and a 8w UTH both regulated by a thermostat. Temp on the hot spot is 90 and the cool side is 80. Humidity, however, is dwindling into the 30s and 20s, which is WAY too low (glass cage in a currently cool climate).

I am thinking of just soaking a sponge with water and setting it in there to help with the humidity. Is this a good idea?

It can collect bacteria, which in my opinion is worse than bad humidity. A lot of people use sphagnum moss, or you can create humid hides. The ambient humidity isn't as important if you provide humid hides. One of the easiest ways is to hot glue sphagnum moss inside the hides he currently as :)

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Originally Posted by LGray23

It can collect bacteria, which in my opinion is worse than bad humidity. A lot of people use sphagnum moss, or you can create humid hides. The ambient humidity isn't as important if you provide humid hides. One of the easiest ways is to hot glue sphagnum moss inside the hides he currently as :)

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I have a rock enclosure that has a hole in the top but can also be opened by a person about halfway up. I put some sphagnum moss in there for a humid hide but she rarely goes to that side of the enclosure let alone tries to go inside.

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Originally Posted by Kyle S.

I have a rock enclosure that has a hole in the top but can also be opened by a person about halfway up. I put some sphagnum moss in there for a humid hide but she rarely goes to that side of the enclosure let alone tries to go inside.

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Try more simple hides. I find the ones from reptilebasics.com are good. You can also use the bottom part of a flower pot (the disc part) with a hole cut in it works well. Put moss in both hides, that way she has a humid place to go on either side.

Don't use a cellulose sponge. You can use a natural sea sponge which has enzymes that inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.

I keep a wet sea sponge in a dry water bowl in the tank and it provides enough humidity for clean sheds. I rinse it out weekly and soak it in CHD once a month. They last a very long time. You can buy them at Home Depot in the paint department.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

Don't use a cellulose sponge. You can use a natural sea sponge which has enzymes that inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.

I keep a wet sea sponge in a dry water bowl in the tank and it provides enough humidity for clean sheds. I rinse it out weekly and soak it in CHD once a month. They last a very long time. You can buy them at Home Depot in the paint department.

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That's a very good idea. I had no idea sea sponges worked that way, good to know :)

I swaped out a "den" type of enclosure for the rock with the hole in the top and put sphagnum moss in there.

The thermometer/hygrometer for that side of the tank is in the back of the den on top of the moss. It's currently reading 76 degrees F and 80% humidity while the he ambient humidity is very low (high 20s low 30s).

I know that the humidity should be 50-60%. Is what I have (high in the den, low in the rest of the tank) ok, or is the humidity in the den too high?

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

Don't use a cellulose sponge. You can use a natural sea sponge which has enzymes that inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.

I keep a wet sea sponge in a dry water bowl in the tank and it provides enough humidity for clean sheds. I rinse it out weekly and soak it in CHD once a month. They last a very long time. You can buy them at Home Depot in the paint department.

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awesome idea i will definitely be picking up one of those!

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

Don't use a cellulose sponge. You can use a natural sea sponge which has enzymes that inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.

I keep a wet sea sponge in a dry water bowl in the tank and it provides enough humidity for clean sheds. I rinse it out weekly and soak it in CHD once a month. They last a very long time. You can buy them at Home Depot in the paint department.

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what is chd?


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?dhkqj0

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Originally Posted by Rudy

what is chd?

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Chlorhexidine, a disinfectant.

Sponges can be totally sterilized. Pop em in the microwave damp for 30 seconds and it sterlizes them. Google it lol it works

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Originally Posted by Kyle S.

I have a 10 gal tank with a 75 watt red lens bulb and a 8w UTH both regulated by a thermostat. Temp on the hot spot is 90 and the cool side is 80. Humidity, however, is dwindling into the 30s and 20s, which is WAY too low (glass cage in a currently cool climate).

I am thinking of just soaking a sponge with water and setting it in there to help with the humidity. Is this a good idea?

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Do you have any of the screen lid covered? You can cover 3/4 of the lid with aluminum foil, plexiglass, etc., to help hold in humidity, and additionally use the sponge idea or a humid hide.

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Sponges can be totally sterilized. Pop em in the microwave damp for 30 seconds and it sterlizes them. Google it lol it works

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I was gunna say the same thing. If you do this once a week i would think you should be fine...