Best way to provide humidity for my hatchling Hermens

[EJ]

Hey... I collect substrate out of my back yard. I don't worry about such things.

Originally Posted by Shelled Lady

Come on, do you sterilize all the grass your tortoises walk on!

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by houseofcutler

I keep reading posts and articles about how humidity is potentially important to avoid pyramidding. I have two 7 Month old Hermens that I keep in a table and I would like to provide a source of humidity for them.

The current (temporary) table is 75cm x 55cm. The new table I will be moving them to in a few weeks is 100cm x 45cm and has a second floor.

I presume it is important to maintain humidity in a localised area rather than the whole table all the time?
I have seen at least one suggestion about how to provide a 'humid hide' - Attach a damp sponge to the top of an upturned plant pot with a hole for th tot to get in.

If any of you are providing humidity could you share some details of your solutions and any opinions please.

Thanks

One way is to stick sponge pads to the inside roof of a plastic box using hot glue then load it with water for ideal humid hide condition's.

[houseofcutler]

Thank you all for the many replies.

I have now added a plastic box - think i need to get myself some moss, which apparently I just didn't Google for very successfully initially

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...l_6peg3edse7_b

Ill try the Sponge and the moss and see how it goes...

If heat has to be maintained to maintain the humidity I have a night heat lamp so I will direct that towards the box, from a reasonable distance.

Originally Posted by shellonia

If you give gentle heat at night then you should get correct humidity hopefully

Another questions though - What level of humidity should I be aiming for, 100% ?

[knottyedge]

dont think its been mentioned but cypress mulch is good for helping to keep humidity up,i use this in my stars viv in his hide and i am going to put a light ish layer down in the hide area on top of the tortoise life substrate that i have ordered for my table and then i will be giving the substrate a light spray daily most probably

[Shelled Lady]

Originally Posted by EJ

Hey... I collect substrate out of my back yard. I don't worry about such things.

Exactly, my baby torts have a nice blanket of soaked moss over them for the night. Keeps out the light and they are nice and snug, if a bit wet.

[EJ]

Odds are you would never hit 100% humidity. I don't believe there is a set number when talking about 'required' humidity. I always wonder what is 'required' humidity and how was that number determined.

Provide an area of higher humidity in the form of a hide box. I really don't think the actual quantity really matters just so long as the added humidity is there. Keep the substrate damp in the hide and that should be just fine.

Originally Posted by houseofcutler

Thank you all for the many replies.

I have now added a plastic box - think i need to get myself some moss, which apparently I just didn't Google for very successfully initially

Ill try the Sponge and the moss and see how it goes...

If heat has to be maintained to maintain the humidity I have a night heat lamp so I will direct that towards the box, from a reasonable distance.



Another questions though - What level of humidity should I be aiming for, 100% ?

[shellonia]

Originally Posted by EJ

I believe that is shredded coconut hulls. I use that for frogs and snakes which like it moist.

That would be good stuff for a tortoise hide as long as it is kept damp. Otherwise it gets real dusty.

You can get various 'dried bricks'. the one I buy is definitely sphagnum moss. Dried coconut (or coir) is the stuff we have to root out of the topsoil!
I believe that green moss as picked from the garden is listed as edible in small quantities on The Tortoise Table.