substrate and humidity help

[lemon1]

Do most of you have something to measure the humidity in your enclosures ? What kind of substrate do you use ? I live in Winnipeg where the temps over winter reach -30 . The humidity is very very low . I am already noticing one of my skins has a very dry belly . He's already just shed so it's not shed . I use aspen shaving that was recommended by fatal_S . Should I change for the winter ? Would giving baths in a steamed bathroom help ?

[Linnea]

i do not have something to measure humidity, but i think i should recommend that you get a hydrometer.

i go by the - if he sheds well enough and the tummy scales arent dry, then the general humidity is okay. But this is NOT sifficient with some types of BTS.

since my skinks tummy also began to get a bit dry, like you describe, i started misting his substrate a lot in the morning. it works good so far as his scales are now perfect again.

im not sure a bath wouldnt dry him out a bit more since when water goes out in the air it picks the water on the skinks scales up too while going into the air. (vaporizing?). some have suggested using certail oils, the fat will help the scales to keep the water it already has from vaporizing and the water from the bath will soak into it as well.

you will need more info than what i have provided but im sure someone else will answer to help you with the details soon.

[StaceyLeigh]

lemon1- I was having a big issue with humidity about 10 days ago, also dry bellies. I also live in the North, Central NY. I changed the substrate from aspen to repti-bark, which I mist daily. I also added humidifiers to each room. I have gotten the humidity up to 30% which has helped greatly! Yes, I have a digital hygrometer to measure the humidity level.

I really prefer the aspen and I will switch back when it is spring the the humidity increases here.

[Katrina]

The simplest thing to do would be to add a humid hide to the enclosure. It seems like the biggest factor is the moisture in the substrate rather than the humidity in the air, so if you can switch substrates to something like cypress mulch or just use mulch or moss in a humid hide.

My skinks also get a bit dry in winter (we are in Edmonton, so similar winters here). I use cypress for Meraukes and aspen for Northerns, but the Northerns are brumating by now.

[Fatal_S]

In general it's more important to have the substrate humid than the air or a bath when it comes to dry bellies. You can add a humid hide (a hide with moist moss inside it) and see if that helps, or change some/all the substrate to repti-bark or similar and mist that sometimes.

[lemon1]

Larry seems fine but Pekoe is dry . Pekoe is in my kitchen in a glass enclosure and lid . Lots more humidity but he is dry . I am wondering how I will fit a small humid hide . What dor you use ? My tank is only 36 by 12 . If it was Larry's tank it would be no problem . He has a mansion (LOL) . I might add one to his also .

[Susann]

You can buy cheap hygrometers in pet stores that work just fine, but as you have noticed, the hygrometers aren't always necessary because as long as you handle your skinks at least weekly, you can tell when they start to get dry.
Changing to a better moisture-holding substrate is fairly easy. Misting each morning also fairly easy.
I have never made a humid hide, but basically it's a hide with wet moss inside. The most effective would probably be to not use a wood hide but rather a plastic one. Just as with any hide, it can be anything that works! Get an old Rubbermaid-type container, cut an entrance-hole, put some wet moss in it. My guess would be that it would go on the warm side?

[lemon1]

THank you for the advice . I am thinking about changing from aspen . Why do you like aspen better ? I will make a humid hide in a kleenex box and see how it goes

[Susann]

I personally don't like aspen better. I have Meraukes, and aspen is too dry for mine with the dry air where I live. The combination makes for very crackly skinks!
I am using repti bark, but still have to mist every morning. I am seriously thinking about adding a mossy area inside the cages to add extra humidity.

A cardboard box would probably not be the best to use in a humid hide, unless you maybe wrapped the inside with tin foil, or something else to keep the cardboard from absorbing the water and getting all mushy.

[lemon1]

I am just trying to think what I can fit in my enclosure to make a humid hide . Pekoe loves to burrowing in his substrate . I heard that the reptile bark isn't as good for burrowing . Pekoe's scales are dry dry dry .

[Katrina]

I am just trying to think what I can fit in my enclosure to make a humid hide . Pekoe loves to burrowing in his substrate . I heard that the reptile bark isn't as good for burrowing . Pekoe's scales are dry dry dry .

Buy a cheap tupperware container and cut a hole in it that he can fit in.

They can burrow in reptibark or mulches just fine if you give them enough to dig in. Cypress isn't as fluffy as aspen but I actually prefer it as well. It looks better in my opinion, and hold humidity better... aspen is just much, much cheaper here so I still use it for Northerns.

[StaceyLeigh]

Lemon1- I had responded that I like aspen better for a few reasons; easier to see poop and spot clean, my skinks love to bury in it, and it isn't as dirty( when my skinks bury in the repti-bark they get covered in a fine brown dust), and finally aspen is much cheaper to use! That said, for the winter months we will be using the repti-bark because it is helping with the humidity issues.

[lemon1]

I got the EXO TERRA forest moss and will make Pekoe a humid hide tonight . I hope she gets better soon

[lemon1]

I put a hide in and put the moss as substrate on the warm side because Pekoe would not go in the hide . I am thinking of leaving it for a few days till the scales start to heal and then maybe putting repti bark . The moss is so smelly and made my hands very itchy (yuck)

[lemon1]

Is forest moss safe ? It smell very much like pine . I think I read somewhere that it wasn't safe . The package says 100 percent forest moss