Newbie-substrate

[bhsurf4]

I work for the local newspaper and I have access to tons of unprinted newsprint. I've seen people use newsprint as substrates and my question is, is there a trick to iincreae humidity? With my aspen chips I use very wet rags on top of the mesh top of my aquarium and I can keep humidity at about 55%. Would that same thing work?

[AnnieHeart]

I"ve never used newspaper for bedding, I'm assuming it may not be the best for humidity because it's just paper. Idk, maybe others here have used it?

[Phillydubs]

People use moss in hide boxes...

or you could get a humidifier for the entire room

[Jus1More]

I guess since you have unlimited access to newspaper then why not use it! I guess misting or using your wet towel suggestion may work ok...

[Zincubus]

Maybe ok to use paper if it's well shredded ?? It would give it some 'body' so to speak ..

[AbsoluteApril]

I use dunnage (un-printed newspaper) in racks and pvc caging for a few different species. Because of these being encased enclosures I never had any issues with humidity however I am currently in an area that has natural 50-60% humidity. When I had my amazon tree boas on it, I would sometimes mist when I'd notice a shed cycle starting but never did anything special to raise humidity. If you are using it in a glass tank with an open mesh top, you'll want to cover as much of the mesh top as possible with plexi (or something) and possibly provide an extra water bowl in the warm end (over/under the heat source) as well as misting either weekly or daily depending on your needs. I've used it in tanks before and that is what I did.