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Keeping Substrate Humid

grapebasil

Member
Messages
32
We’re in the middle of remodeling our tegu’s home; the enclosure is a 55 (he said, but it looks like 75 to me) gallon tank that we are building doors for in order to be able to rest it on its side for maximum space, a glass ceiling, and for ease of access. Our tegu is 5-6 months old, and still pretty small; they are a columbian gold. Anyhow, currently the tank is upright with plastic across the top to help keep up the humidity and heat. Right now it’s in a good zone of 95-80 warm to cool with basking of 100.

The humidity though is a constant battle due to the current open top (part of the reason we’re flipping it soon). Via misting and keeping wet towels across the top, I’ve managed to keep humidity pretty constantly at 70-80% or so (I am home all day and we have no wifi so my entertainment is husbandry and watching our various reptiles).

I have however noticed that the substrate is slowly drying out. It is cypress mulch (if I remember correctly) so I was wondering if it would be beneficial to take portions out and soak them to rehydrate? We are planning to switch to organic potting soil when we set the tank back up on its side next week, and plant some vegetation to help with humidity, but what should I be doing for now?

Additional thoughts on substrate for the new enclosure?
 

Skeep

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
131
I've always found cypress mulch holds humidity well. It sounds like you're managing ok, and my only suggestion might be to cover the whole top in a plastic sheet.

Regarding turning the tank on its' side, I wanted to point out that glass filters most UV light, so you would need to make sure the lights can be inside the tank in that case.
 

grapebasil

Member
Messages
32
UV light will definitely be inside the tank; the CHE we’re gonna have to see whether it’s better to build a divider and have it in there, or to do something else.
 

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