Temp and Humidity

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:37 am

I have 2 PPs and 2 Es in a 10 gal. Since I put the moss pit in, the humidity has been around 88. Is that too high? Also, the temp is usually only 74 to 75 despite the 30-40 gallon UTH I have mounted on the back. Last night I also removed the aluminum foil I had taped over the back of the uth and replaced it with a piece of "insulation" which was a piece I cut from a reflective car sun shield. I was hoping that would work better, but it hasn't. I have a screen lid which is mostly covered with packing tape. Maybe I should put a piece of the "insulation" over the top? Any other suggestions? Or should I not worry about 75 degrees? I would just like to see it at 80 degrees. Wouldn't that be better?

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:15 am

where is your tank located at?? take a look around is it right under a vent?? i have my tank near my window, and keep the blinds shut and the heat from the window and the uth i have on my 10g would put it about 75-80 degrees. and how do u have the uth monted??is most of it over the sand or above the sand?

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 3:42 am

It is not under a vent. I really would hate to close blinds and block some of our natural light. Besides, it would only be a temporary solution because our fall and winter seasons get cold.I tried putting a piece of the reflective insulation over the top which has raised the temp a degree but is raising the humidity past 90. Is that dangerous?

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:12 am

I uncovered a bit more of the screen so now the humidity is right on 90. I'm sure it also makes a difference that I have the gauge right next to the moss pit, so should I not be worried? The temp is also up to 76 now.

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:55 am

i would move the gauge to come where central in the tank kinda away from the moss and the heater to get a good reading do you have a lamp over the tank as well??

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:05 am

The problem with that is the uth takes up most of the back since it's only a 10 gal, then I have a corner shower caddy for the moss pit which takes up the rest of the back and most of one side, then a climbing wall on the other side.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:23 am

I took off a piece of packing tape near the moss and now the humidity is 80 and temp is 77. I do wish I could move the gauges to a central location, but then they would be by the uth I do not have a lamp. Seems I've read a lot about them being bad, esp for a 10 gal.

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:02 am

have you thought about maybe getting another uth made for a 10g and just putting that on the side?? maybe... that would be my only other though i have not had a issue with heat, but then again i live in tx......

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:18 am

Yes, ideally that's what I'd like to do but my husband already had a fit over how much I've already spent so I was trying to think of another solution. He's also told me I can get a big tank (55 gal or larger) if I wait until winter is over, so I don't want to buy a small uth that I wouldn't use on that.Thanks for your input! You're lucky you don't have to worry about heat!

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:53 am

@Marshmelow, I've got all my uth pads insulated with styrofoam and haven't had a problem with the temps dropping below seventy five on the cool end of my tank so you might want to give that a try.Uth pads are only designed to bump up the internal temp of the tank seven to ten degrees from room temp so if your house is maintained at anything under seventy-two your not going to see much a of a boost in temp unfortunately.Your humidity reading is a bit high actually as our enclosures offer such little space in comparision to the hermitcrabs native habitats that high humidity level combined with a high temp will cause breathing issues and possible lead to your crabs being overheated.When the air in the tank becomes saturated theres no more room for moisture and becuase hermitcrabs cool down by means of evaporating their shells water a high humidity level stops the evaporative effect causing the hermitcrab to overheat.Having your temp at 77 is actually better for them with the humidity level being where it's at as a lower temp decreases the odds of overheating in a higher level of humidity.I generally try to keep my humidity levels between 75 and 80 because I run my tank at 86 degrees on the heated end and 75 on the cool end.In the wild hermitcrabs often encounter humidity levels nearing 100 percent but because of the size of their natural environment and the drying effects of the sun and the breezes they can easily tollerate the higher humidity levels without overheating.We recommend a humidity level between 75 and 85 as anything higher for extended periods of time tends to be detrimental to our hermitcrabs.

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:05 am

you might try puting maybe a lamp next to the tank....for some added heat..

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:40 am

Thanks Crabber85! I moved my gauges down closer to the sand, to the left of the ugh and under the moss pit and the readings are now 76 and 86.

Crabby Wendy · Post by **Crabby Wendy** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:48 am

I've got similar issues with my tank. I just read that someone used tin foil over their uth to help hold the heat in - I'm trying that. Just finished putting it over my heater on the back glass - maybe it will help. I'll let you know. My humidity is good, but my temperature is only around 73 degrees and fluctuating down close to 71.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:59 am

Crabby Wendy - I had aluminum foil over mine and it helped a little, but this car sun shield (one of the silver reflective kind) I cut and used electrical tape to put over (all sides but one) seems to be working better. I also put a piece over most of the screen top.

Hermitcrabgirl · Post by **Hermitcrabgirl** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:50 pm

My humidity is EXTREMELY low. I don't want my hermit crab to die, but I can't buy a set of lights or a heating pad. He is very inactive and feels chilly when I hold him. How to I boost this? How long do I have? It is a very large critter carrier (made for snakes). It has lots of ventilation. Can I cover some of the holes with ceram wrap? I would appreciate some answers.