Humidity Issues

[Emz3]

Hi guys,

I need to get my tank humidity up! Now that it is winter/dry season here in Colorado my tank is not getting up to where it needs to be. It's been at about 16% and I am starting to notice some physical changes in the skinks. (Dry scales, shedding issues, mild mouth rot and stomatitis) I need to do one (or both) of two things and wanted your opinions.

1.) Should I get a humidifier? If so, what is a good cheap brand? Do you leave the humidifier in the room or do you put it in the tank?

2.) Should I try ecoearth as a substrate? My two skinks had impaction issues when I first got them so I have kept them on carpet. My herp vet has recommended I change their substrate to ecoearth for the humidity of the tank. I am nervous to do this but it sounds like this may be a good option. He thought that their impaction issues before I got them was due to lack of humidity as well. He recommends a humidity of 50%-60% which is more than I have heard on here!

What are your thoughts? What have you all done for your scaly kids to keep humidity up?

[Bird_Brain]

Humidifier could work. I'd get one for the room and prefer the evaporative type not the ultrasonic mist.

I didn't like ecoearth as a substrate. I'd recommend cypress mulch or Zoo Med Forest Floor type bedding.

[Rani-May]

coco peat is a good substrate. i use it in summer here, i have an open enclosure so the heat dries up all the humidity and makes it escape instead of stay in. Coco peat looks attractive, is not as messy or difficult to deal with if youspot clean, and keeps the moisture in very very well. my hot end of the enclosures were 10% before using it, now it stays between 35-45% and skinks like borrowing in it.

[Richard.C]

Id be more inclined to make a humid hide or 2,constant moisture in a warm enclosure can be bad for bacteria if not set up right

Being in colorado if humidity drops in cool season that could be a good thing for tropical forms,cool dry season,i dont see how a dry cage could cause mouthrot ?

Another option is giving cage a light misting,and letting it dry out before misting again,so u dont have constant moisture

[Emz3]

Thanks guys! Good stuff! After hearing some of your recommendations, I think I am going to first try moving their tank into a different room. The room I am thinking of has two big fish tanks in it and should be more humid. (The room they are in currently is similar to a lanai so it is dryer than the rest of the house.) I also really like keeping them on carpet and LOVE the idea of a humid hide! What would you recommend to put in a "humid hide"? The coco peat sounds interesting. Any other recommendations? Anything I should steer clear of?

...and Richard, I had the same though exactly about a warm wet environment. The last thing I want is mold or bacteria overgrowth!

As for what species they are, one is a merauke and the other is an IJ. I know they are Indonesian species...does that constitute as a tropical specie? They are both having some mild health issues so I do think the lack of humidity is hurting, not helping. I think my vet meant the mouth rot was being caused by the lack of humidity in a indirect way. (i.e. the tank is dry, debris, sticks to the mouth causing irritation and bacteria growth.)

And unfortunately the light misting doesn't work. I have been doing that. I've even heavily drenched it once or twice too. The best it does is raise the humidity by a few digits and it only lasts for 10 minutes. I was even putting warm glasses of water in the tank to raise the humidity. That got it up to 27%, but not only is that stupid, but it only lasts for about 20 minutes...so it's time to try something else!