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Thread: Humidity?

  1. #1

    Default Humidity?

    I recently purchased a Argentine B&W; he is around a month old. I am keeping him in a 40gal tank until he is getting close to outgrowing it; then I am going to purchase/build a tank suitable for him to live the rest of his life in.
    However, I have to use a screen lid for this tank. With my UVB and basking light; and while misting his tank 2-3 times per day, I can keep his humidity between 40%-50%. This worries me because I have heard the ideal humidity is between 70%-90%.
    I have also noticed some shed flaking off of him, so in return I have been bathing him in warm water daily for 10-20 minutes. I am currently using Aspen bedding in his enclosure.

    Also, he has been very stringent on eating; he picked a little at some scrambled eggs, but ignored completely his super mealworms. He has only been here a few days; and is basking often so I am not too worried, but still arises my curiosity as to how long it takes the little ones to settle in? *I have been handling him regularly after his baths for around 10 minutes; as I heard it is good to get them used to human contact at a young age. Should I stop the baths and handling until he starts eating regularly?

    Any thoughts to raise the humidity or general advice would be greatly appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Chesterfield, VA, USA
    Posts
    265

    Default

    One way I've found to raise humidity is to lie some kind of cloth over any area not near your heat lamp/uvb lamp. I've never used aspen mulch before, but I do know that cypress holds moisture very well. Keeping a water dish near the basking area also helps keep humidity up as well.

    As for handling, keep it up. It's always easier to start them getting used to it early instead of getting them used to it later on.
    Money is NOT the root of all evil, LOVE OF MONEY is. Far too many people get that mixed up.


    1.1.0 Blue Tegu - Jabba, Jasmine

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central FL
    Posts
    4,349

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    I agree with all the above, and try ground turkey.
    Laura R (FL)
    1.0.0 Colombian Tegu
    1.4.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    1.2.0 Red Tegu
    1.2.0 B/WxRed Tegu
    1.0.0 Green Ameiva (yet another teiid)
    7 other lizards
    1 little gator
    3 FL box turtle
    1 Sulcata tortoise
    16 snakes
    5 fuzzy pets
    4 little frogs
    a bunch of creepy bugs
    and a partridge in a pear tree

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Citrus Heights, CA
    Posts
    815

    Default

    Placing a wet towel or a large piece of tin foil over part of the screen top is a great way to help hold in the humidity. Aspen bedding is not an ideal choice for a tegu's substrate; it's really meant for certain snakes, rats and hamsters and such. It doesn't hold moisture well, and rots too easily. Try using cypress mulch, or some kind of landscaping mulch (just make SURE that it doesn't include any pine or cedar products, as it can be harmful), or even a peat and soil mixture. You'll know you've got the humidity more to where it needs to be when he starts shedding in large chunks, or even all at once, instead of little flakes.
    "Why do blessings always come in disguises? If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked."

    0.1.0 Bearded Dragon; Spaz (aka "Monkey")
    1.0.0 Bearded Dragon; Leonidas (aka "Jaba" aka "Fatty)
    0.0.1 Ball Pythons; Lil' Bit

    0.1.0 Argentine B/W Tegu; Bozski - *rehome*
    1.0.0 Argentine A/A Tegu; Oscar - *rehome*
    1.0.0 Ball Python; Moose - *rehome*

    0.1.0 Bearded Dragon; Knuckles (aka "Kitteh"), RIP
    0.0.1 Baby B/W Tegu; unnamed, RIP

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