Hello All,
(sorry for the long post just need help)
Advice needed. I have recently purchased a Col. B/W Tegu. I am a first Tegu Owner but not first reptile. My Problem or? I should say is I am looking for substrate suggestions. I currently live in Dallas TX we have heat but it is usually dry. That works perfect for my Rosie Boa but I am having problems regulating my humidity for Bam Bam my Tegu. Quick description the house stays around 70 degrees. Again live in Texas so the humidity is fairly low. I am using standard softwood blend mulch, mostly pine but NO CEDAR. I have a UTH so keeping my temp is perfect between 80 and 85 all day and warming while running basking like mid to high 90â??s and 100 to 105 directly at basking spot. Evening time when basking light is off the tank chills at a perfect 75 to 77 degree mark but I can only get the humidity to spike when I mist and last maybe 30 min before dropping out again to around 25-30%. Lots of people have been posting cypress mulch but I almost think it is too rough for my youth Tegu (8 weeks). Would anyone suggest maybe a pine and cypress mix? I am also looking for an easy maintenance substrate and for the most part the softwood I use almost works like a clumping litter allowing me to pull the waste stuff out easily but it dryâ??s too quickly and I canâ??t keep my humidity above 30% when his basking light is on. I am experimenting mostly at the moment but I use a log instead of a rock for his basking as I can wet it quite a bit and it helps get the humidity up but again dryâ??s very quickly under the 100w basking light. I have a hand sprayer that I put in distilled water and warm in microwave for 10 sec before misting cage as not do drop temp to fast. Again softwood dries very quickly. I have a small bowl with soaked substrate at heat end to create humidity but just donâ??t think it is working. Also I have a large water bowl on cool side but again donâ??t think that is doing much as I am not warming the air to move the water around. I also keep the cool side of the cage covered to again try to keep my humidity levels up. I also know that temp and humidity gauge placement is important. The gauge is located directly between my cool and basking side and sit mid level on the back glass of the 20gal enclosure (temp habitat he is just a baby right now, new home will be available long before he needs it) Any suggestions would be great. Bam Bam (My Tegu) is very enjoyable and completely laid back no problems getting him out or moving around I think he knew he was going to a good home immediately thatâ??s why he was staring me down at the NARBC expo where I purchased him. Just want to do everything I can to make him the most comfortable. I guess another thing I should ask is I have been told the humidity needs to be around 50 to 70 % any thoughts on that would greatly help as well. Thanks in advance to all who reply.
(sorry for the long post just need help)
Advice needed. I have recently purchased a Col. B/W Tegu. I am a first Tegu Owner but not first reptile. My Problem or? I should say is I am looking for substrate suggestions. I currently live in Dallas TX we have heat but it is usually dry. That works perfect for my Rosie Boa but I am having problems regulating my humidity for Bam Bam my Tegu. Quick description the house stays around 70 degrees. Again live in Texas so the humidity is fairly low. I am using standard softwood blend mulch, mostly pine but NO CEDAR. I have a UTH so keeping my temp is perfect between 80 and 85 all day and warming while running basking like mid to high 90â??s and 100 to 105 directly at basking spot. Evening time when basking light is off the tank chills at a perfect 75 to 77 degree mark but I can only get the humidity to spike when I mist and last maybe 30 min before dropping out again to around 25-30%. Lots of people have been posting cypress mulch but I almost think it is too rough for my youth Tegu (8 weeks). Would anyone suggest maybe a pine and cypress mix? I am also looking for an easy maintenance substrate and for the most part the softwood I use almost works like a clumping litter allowing me to pull the waste stuff out easily but it dryâ??s too quickly and I canâ??t keep my humidity above 30% when his basking light is on. I am experimenting mostly at the moment but I use a log instead of a rock for his basking as I can wet it quite a bit and it helps get the humidity up but again dryâ??s very quickly under the 100w basking light. I have a hand sprayer that I put in distilled water and warm in microwave for 10 sec before misting cage as not do drop temp to fast. Again softwood dries very quickly. I have a small bowl with soaked substrate at heat end to create humidity but just donâ??t think it is working. Also I have a large water bowl on cool side but again donâ??t think that is doing much as I am not warming the air to move the water around. I also keep the cool side of the cage covered to again try to keep my humidity levels up. I also know that temp and humidity gauge placement is important. The gauge is located directly between my cool and basking side and sit mid level on the back glass of the 20gal enclosure (temp habitat he is just a baby right now, new home will be available long before he needs it) Any suggestions would be great. Bam Bam (My Tegu) is very enjoyable and completely laid back no problems getting him out or moving around I think he knew he was going to a good home immediately thatâ??s why he was staring me down at the NARBC expo where I purchased him. Just want to do everything I can to make him the most comfortable. I guess another thing I should ask is I have been told the humidity needs to be around 50 to 70 % any thoughts on that would greatly help as well. Thanks in advance to all who reply.