Humidity Question

[BeardieBaby]

Hi everyone! I have a digital thermometer with a hydrometer and I am wondering if maybe one of the reasons my beardie is so dark is maybe the humidity is off. The digital thermometer works perfect but I know that for instance, today was supposed to be very humid and my thermometer only read the humidity as 10% which I don't know if I believe it is that low. However, I do have a dehumidifier, but even then, doesn't 10% seem awfully low? I want to turn the dehumidifier off for awhile and see what that does, but part of me is so nervous to because the whole reason I got it was because the humidity went to 60 and my beardie was so lethargic and lifeless the next morning when it got that high, it was scary. What do you guys think?

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

Its quite possible that it is reading correctly but its going to depend.on exactly where it is place inside the enclosure...instead of turning off your de-humidifier a simple way to test the guage is to wet a rag or sponge and hold it near the guage for a minute...the guage should register the change fairly quickly and you will know its working then.
I wouldnt be too concerned with the humidity eitherway..as long as your dragon isnt showing any adverse effects he should be fine. And if you are running a de-humidifier I am really sure humidity is not going to be an issue.

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[Chris Baez Jr.]

Its quite possible that it is reading correctly but its going to depend.on exactly where it is place inside the enclosure...instead of turning off your de-humidifier a simple way to test the guage is to wet a rag or sponge and hold it near the guage for a minute...the guage should register the change fairly quickly and you will know its working then.
I wouldnt be too concerned with the humidity eitherway..as long as your dragon isnt showing any adverse effects he should be fine. And if you are running a de-humidifier I am really sure humidity is not going to be an issue.

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that, though we need to keep an eye on humidity, we have more issues with heating than with humidity. Probably the lighting helps with the humidity, and the fact that we need to have one side cooler than the other, it's a little more tricky to adjust the heating.

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

@Chris...you are absolutely correct...I dont worry about humidity...I was just trying to tell her how to check to see if her humidity guage was working cause she asked. We have tropical and desert reptiles in our house and so use humidity guages on the tropicals mainly to insure they get enuf...have to use a mist fogger for example on iguanas.
Under normal circumstance humidity in a desert enclosure can be taken care of by removing water bowls which beardies dont require in the first place...without a water source the heat lamps alone will generally keep the air dry enuf.
Some folks get the dual probe thermometer/humidity guage and think they have to use the humidity probe...I have those but on Mungi's enclosure for example only use the thermometer...the humidity probe just sits outside the cage unused.
Anyway..like I said was only trying to say an easy way to test one other than going to the trouble of turning off de-humidifer machine they also said they were running which is another piece of equipment I.dont use...lol...Us Cajuns from Southern Louisiana need a lil humidity to keep the swamp water in our veins flowing


"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[Chris Baez Jr.]

lol...Us Cajuns from Southern Louisiana need a lil humidity to keep the swamp water in our veins flowing

Ha...ha...ha... that's great....

 

[BeardieBaby]

Hmmm...so do you have ANY clue then why my beardie is always dark? Could it just be part of his personality? I heard some beardies are just always dark. The only time he lightens up is when I take him out of his cage and I just don't see right now what could be wrong with his cage. I just realized that if I moved the basking light to his hammock it would be way to hot for him because the temperature on his rock ranges from 100-103 so that means if it was on his hammock it would probably be 110-115 which maybe isn't too hot but I did try to put the basking light right over him this morning when I woke up and within 10 minutes he was under his rock, so I am assuming that was too hot. I can't see to figure this problem out and it's driving me nuts!! If anyone has any suggestions what could be wrong please let me know! Thanks!!

 

[BeardieBaby]

oh and by cage I meant tank lol

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

@BeardieBaby...I really dont think you have anything to worry.so much about. As long as you are providing Baby with a proper basking spot and light setup, temp gradient and he is eating, pooping etc then I.believe he is fine.
Those "stress marks" could have any number.of reasons causing them and if you were to sit all day and all night just watching Baby you would probably notice little colour changes throughout the day..they are not necessarily a cause for alarm.
As far as the basking area and him not using it and prefering his hammock instead it could be as simple as him being more comfy layin in a hammock as opposed to a hard rock...I know which one I would choose personally were I given the same two choices..lol
It also could be that he doesnt like the particular light you are using for the basking bulb. I recently did some experimentation with Mungi when I.noticed him staying away from his basking light and prefering to sit under the florescent light we use for ambient light on his cool side...the answer was that I.had recently changed out that florescent light and used a brighter light (higher watt)...didnt really think about it at the time but later realized the the new light was a brighter whiter light than the basking light...so I changed the florescent light back out for a.dimmer more yellow low watt bulb thus making his basking light the brighter white light in his enclosure and he almost immediately started using the basking spot again...lesson learned- He goes to the brightest whitest light to bask. Which I already knew before but reconfirmed As a side note while he was sitting under the florescent on his cool side he did darken and have a few of the "stress marks". It was nothing wrong accept that I.had confused him by changing up the lights..he was going to the brightest whitest light in the enclosure where before he could get warm but he wasnt feelin the heat
Also I.am.not sure how.often you take Baby out of his enclosure but if you do multiple times a day or are reaching in to pet him every time you walk by the enclosure etc it could be that when he sees you coming he knows hes fixin to be bothered or snatched up and would really prefer to be left in peace for a bit.
And the easy solution to that is to simply leave him be for awhile.
I posted in another thread awhile back that I have spent an enormous amount of time over the years just simply observing the creatures that I have had now and in the past and I truly believe that that is a very important if not the most important thing we can do as caretakers. Notice that I said OBSERVE...there is a huge difference in just observing and constantly hovering and fiddling and adjusting this and that and generally being real "hands on" all the time.
I.have found this to be especially important in dealing with reptiles who in general in the wild are solitary creature and really would prefer to not be bothered at all.
It's the hardest thing for reptile keepers to learn and practice. The best thing to do is to set their enclosure up correctly with all that they require and then let them be as much as possible. Most new and newer owners are inadvertently and unintentionally trying to look.at their new dragon for instance the same as their dog or cat or other domesticated critter and treat them the same constantly handling and petting and goo goo gaga-ing them....constantly offering them treats and generally fawning over them...It's perfectly understandable but while these creatures dont mind being handled and such on occassion they are not domesticated creatures and do best and thrive best if we leave them be more.
Each time one is taken out of their perfect environment that we have taken great pains to setup for them it's a shock and stress on them and their system and is best for them if kept to a minimum as is fooling with their setup constantly once its set up...each time.we adjust and move lights, rocks, etc its a shock and stress to them because they are trying to adapt to their new environment and all the sudden oh my its changed again...or they are nice and comfy and relaxed and oh no all the sudden they are touched or snatched up and there is that loud sound (voice) again and that big giant creature with those huge claws and huge eyes and huge mouth and teeth has got me again....and no it hasnt hurt me yet but it just might decide to eat me this time or it might go put me in that huge white warm lake again which I like sometimes but right now I dont wanna be wet right now!!
Point being we all love and adore these beautiful creatures and we want everything to be perfect for them ALL the time and so we being human stress and constantly worry and fiddle and change this and that until things are perfect IN OUR EYES....what we fail a lot of times in doing is making it perfect in their eyes.
For instance you see his basking spot and you think he should be using it cause it looks perfect to you and its the right temp range per your thermometer so why isnt he using it and why is he turning darker and when I move that light to his hammock he moves away so there must be something wrong...Right?...could be but not necessarily and the best thing I can offer to you as advice is simply to leave things and him alone for a bit and just OBSERVE without action.
Set him up a basking spot with nice bright white light with the proper temp and make sure he has a good diet and give him a soak every week and his misting if he needs etc...provide his basics and he should be fine...btw Our Mungi absolutely hates being misted...always has so I dont but maybe a couple of times a week.lol
Anyway, I hope that you have not taken offense to anything I have said here...I assure you that no offense was intended by any means...I have just noticed through your threads how much you worry about even minor issues which is wonderful because it means that you truly do care about your dragon...but you will worry yourself to death if you let it and in the process perhaps be the cause of the "stress marks" without even meaning to be
Baby has a great caretaker and from what I have read you seem to be meeting his necessities and then some...so now you can take a breather and not worry and stress yourself so much
Hope something here has made sense and is of help for you and that you enjoy your day



"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[BeardieBaby]

Thank you very much for your opinion! I know I do worry a lot, but I just want to make sure I am doing everything right, so I get the best years out of this little guy. And don't worry, nothing you said offended me! He is eating and pooping fine, so I guess I will TRY to relax a bit I hope even if little things come up, I can still use this forum because remember I am still a new owner, and I am still learning. Certain things I have not experienced yet with my Baby, and if something comes up and I don't know what it means, no matter how little or silly it may be, I am going to ask. Not to be a pain in anyone's butt or anything but because yes, I do really care and want the best for my Baby, and if I know someone here has the answer, it will make me feel 100% better.

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

@BeardieBaby...that is exactly what this forum is for....better to ask and seek the correct answers than.to guess,right? As far as I am concerned there are no silly questions that you could ever ask. And if the answers you get can quell a concern that you or anyone else has then its good for everyone and for all beardies!
I never meant to imply that any concern or worry you might have is trivial or silly and the point that I was only trying to make for you is that you dont have anything to be worried about or stress about that I can see at this time because it appears that you have followed the suggestion for proper care and I hate to see someone worry. Believe me when I say that I have been there and can tell you of many nightmarish sleepless nights I have spent worrying sick about this or that with one of our reptiles...I have referred before about an iguana that we have that in the past almost worried me into a stroke...wouldnt eat for weeks and was just wasting away to nothing before my eyes...took him a few times to our vet who hapoens to be not only a reptile specialist but in fact has had iguanas all her life..spent the big bucks and ran all the tests only to find out that besides not eating he was perfectly healthy...I literally stayed up night after night because I feared if I went to sleep he would be dead when I woke and if he was going to die I was determined to be their with him when he did....I was following everything anyone would recommend and nothing helped..his enclosure was correct , temps perfect, fresh veggies of every variety I could find were his...I was at my wits end very literally and heartbroken....
And then one day I went into his enclosure and set his food dish down and the fone rang so I left the room to go answer it and when I returned about 15 minutes later the entire bowl of greens was gone....lol..it hit me like a bolt of lightning..the problem all along was me see? I used to sit there and wait and watch to see if he would eat...the more he wouldnt eat the more I watched and the reason he wouldnt eat was because I was watching him! Lol
The answer was simply to put his food in his enclosure and walk away..simple as that Nowdays he lets me know if I hang around to long and he wants tobeat by trashing his enclosure with a big tantrum...lol
Anyway...I believe you are doing fine and that your Baby is going to be fine and I.look forward to all of your posts whether they be questions or updates always so keep up the good work
Enjoy your Evening!

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[BeardieBaby]

Thank you very much for your understanding! Just wanted to say I may have some questions that seem silly to some, but to us new owners they are very important! I didn't think you thought I was stupid at all, I guess I was just preparing people I may ask little questions from time to time and I am sorry if it seems annoying at times. I have never had a bearded dragon before, I have always had dogs and cats, and these are VERY different creatures as you know and they can be very difficult to take care of sometimes, especially when you don't have the right set up. SOOO frustrating! And like you said you used to stay up at night worrying, I was like that when I first bought my Baby a few months ago because I still was learning and was afraid I was going to kill him so I always ran into the living room in the morning to make sure he was alive LOL. I'm glad you know where I am coming from! But don't worry, I don't do that anymore! I look forward to all your posts as well!!!! You seem very knowledgeable and I still think that Mt. Mungi you are building is AMAZING!!!! I still have to save money to get a bigger tank, I am halfway there, definitely going to have it before winter time, and I would love some at home suggestions about making things for Baby!I know one thing I want to make is a bigger basking platform and I want to continue for him to be on a hammock because he is so in love with the one he has now, but he's going to outgrow it soon!!! So I got another suggestion that someone used their old jeans and cut a hammock from it...seems like a great idea but I have to be honest, I am not very artsy and I am not great at putting home made things together so when the time comes, I'd love some advice!

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

You dont have to be artsy to make a hammock
It is basically a simple triangle of material cut to the size you want. You can use any material you like as long as it is strong enough and not something that your dragon will catch his claws in or a material that will shed that he might ingest.
Blue jean material would be fine and a good way to recycle an old pair of jeans
After you cut the triangle you will want to hem the edges to keep it from fraying...this doesnt require sewing because you can purchase hemming tape at most fabric stores which you use by simply folding over the edge, insert the tape and iron it flat.
You can purchase gromment at most fabric or hardware stores to make the holes in the corners to secure your hammock...these are easy to use and only require you to cut a small hole in the corner of your hammock, insert the two pieces of the gromment one on each side and then use a hammer.to snap them.together.
You can find all kinds of different ways to secure your new hammock in your enclosure including bigger suction cups to accomodate your bigger dragon at most hardware stores too.
Easy enuf and a project that you can do in just a few minutes
One note is that if you decide to use the suction cups I always glue them to the sides of the tank. Makes it more secure and you can still unhook the hammock for cleaning.
Enjoy your day!

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[BeardieBaby]

Great ideas! Thanks! What do you suggest I use for a basking platform when he gets bigger? I had one idea that I could use two bricks and glue tile on top of them...or buy a rectangular flower pot and turn it upside down...what do you think is best?

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

@BeardieBaby...Oh there are way too many things that can be used for a basking area to list them all..lol Your idea of using an upturned rectangular flower pot sounds interesting and will probably work out just fine. Anything that will provide some.traction to climb on and a place for.him to spread out and get comfy will work. I would steer clear of glazed finishes as they may get slick and just remember that when your beardie gets older he wont really be interested in steep climbs so I would make the climb and slope to the basking spot as gradual as possible.
I am.sure whatever you come up with will be great and look forward to seeing it
Enjoy your Friday evening!

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller

 

[BeardieBaby]

Thanks so much for your great advice! I think then when I am getting all my materials together for his bigger tank I'll go to Home Depot and see the different type of flower pots they have. Sorry to be asking so many questions lol, but a quick question I have is what do you recommend I use as a hiding spot for my Baby when he gets big? I was thinking maybe a shoe box and cut an opening in it because I don't have the tools to cut anything too strong..do you have a better suggestion on that one? You are full of wonderful suggestions and advice so hope you don't mind I keep asking you things lol!

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

Again there are tons of things that you can use for hides...while you are at Home Depot take a look in the tile section and also take a look outside where they keep the landscape stones and bricks.
If you go take a look at Mungi's Webcam I used 3 tumbled bricks for steps, 1wide and 2 normal size..then used two 12 x 6 pavers turned on their side and a 12 x 12 slate tile on top. I used another wide tumbled stone inside for stability to make his eating platform/hide combo...all of this was under 10 dollars total and all purchased at Home Depot. I use the playsand substrate which fills in any gaps and further stabilizes the structures..it required no tools to build and didnt require any hot glue either because the stoneworks is snug and the slate tile heavy enuf that it doesnt move...the tile is however easy to pick up for cleaning purposes or to chek to make sure any crickets arent left in his enclosure after feeding

"That's just my opinion..I could be wrong...I was ONCE." Comedian/Social Commentarian Dennis Miller