T8 - maintaining humidity

[RobertsKitty]

I have had a T8 for about 3 months and I am constantly fighting with humidity. Before the T8 I had a 55 gallon tank and experienced no humidity problems. With the T8 if I don't mist twice a day it drops to the mid 20s. I am using eco earth bedding which I can wet to help but then it tends to stick more to Loki. He has a large water bowl on the hot half of his tank. I think one thing that helped the 55 is I was able to have deep substrate, several inches total. In the T8 if I have more than an inch it spills out when I open the doors.

Suggestions?

[The Serpent Merchant]

I don't think I have ever heard of somebody with a PVC cage have this much trouble with humidity. A few questions:

1. Does your T8 have any extra ventilation or screens?

2. Do you live in a very dry place?

3. What are you using to measure humidity? Are you sure it is working properly?

4. What are you using to heat the cage?

With wet Eco-Earth substrate alone my AP cages humidity sit around 80% humidity. I actually have issues keeping humidity low enough at times using paper towels for substrate.

[Marrissa]

I use aspen and maintain 60% easy with large water bowls. My humidity would be about 85/90 with Eco earth. I think whatever you're using to measure the humidity is off. Or do you have a fan/heater/AC near the vents?

[nick654377]

I have a stack of 3 t8s and one t 10. I keep the t 10 on the bottom and the t 8s on top. my top t8 will stay around 60% misting once a day my bottom two are around 30-40 if I don't mist once a day. I am using lizard litter by zilla. it is like sani chips. I also live in Michigan and am in a dry winter right now so im not worried about it.

[RobertsKitty]

My guess is it's because I run a single heat lamp. I had no humidity trouble when I had a 55 but for some reason it really causes problems with my T8 and financially I can't afford to switch to anything else.

Should I try getting the eco earth extra wet?

[The Serpent Merchant]

My guess is it's because I run a single heat lamp. I had no humidity trouble when I had a 55 but for some reason it really causes problems with my T8 and financially I can't afford to switch to anything else.

Should I try getting the eco earth extra wet?

Why are you using a heat lamp in a T8? Heat tape and/or Radiant heat panels are far better suited, and don't reduce the humidity in the cage.

[RobertsKitty]

As I previously stated, I do not have the money to switch from a heat lamp.

[Marrissa]

Try putting moss in there and dampening until you can save up for a radiant heat panel. That's what I have in mine.

[RobertsKitty]

Thank you Marrissa. I will give that a try.

[Isadora's Daddy]

The heat lamp will dry out the cage. Have you tried using a humidifier in the room? I live in Michigan as well and a humidifier has helped me alot this winter.