Iguana Humidity?

Question

How can I improve the humidity of my Iguana's Habitat? I can't seem to get the Humidity above 45%, I went to Petco and bought this humdifier "TropicAire Humidifier and Air Exchanger." My Iggy lives in a 40 Gallon Reptile tank with a metal mesh top. Please some advice on how to improve the humidity?

Answer 1

If your ig is under a year old, a 40 gallon is too small. Should not live in anything smaller then a 55 gallon. Enclosure needs to be at least 1.5-2 times it's total length. Building bigger the better, less building yearly.
While living in a tank, it is hard to get humidity high. You can place a warm/cool humidifier or vaporizer next to his/her enclosure, it will not help a lot but will add some. As long as you mist/spray the enclosure a few times a day, give a bath, it's fine. Adding silk fake plants will help some moisture in, but you need to make sure if you get small ones that your ig isn't trying to eat the leaves. You can try to figure out how to pipe in the humidity from the top screen, by using something, but again don't expect it to be a big change. 45% really isn't the greatest, but he/she is getting some. Igs should have close to 80%, but you have mold growing on your walls now ... some ig owners are happy w/ 50-60% humidity.
When my ig lived in her tank, humidity wasn't the best either. Now she has a huge 6ft tall x 8ft long x 4ft wide enclosure, top is solid (humidity rises), air vents at bottom in front, solid walls, plexi-glass in front w/ door, and the humidifier is piped in from the outside in due to safety reasons, and I average 90-60 cool side, 60-45 on warm side for humidity.
What type of thermometer are you using? Are you using one that is stuck to the side of the glass? Those can give incorrect readings. Thermometers that have a probe that gives temp and humidity work the best, give more of a true reading.
Sites that are great to read and can help:
http://www.greenigsociety.org/
http://www.iguanaden.org/
http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html

Answer 2

That humidifyer didn't work too well for me.

I'd reccomend you build your ig a custom tank. Wood on three sides with vets, and a plexi glass front. It should be tall. A 40 gallon tank won't last long for an iggy, and it doesn't provide them with much vertical room for climbing.

What you can do in the mean time is get some "press and seal" plastic wrap and put it over most of the top of the cage. (not too close to your lights though). The problem with a screen top is that all the humidity goes right on out. The press and seal method does help keep some in.

For my iguana, he is in a custom cage and I have a small kiddie humidifyer in the cage for him. Regular misting helps too.

Answer 3

I agree that a 40 gallon isn't going to last long for an Iguana. Make sure he has a pool of water large enough to submerge in--this is very important! And, since they like to poop in their water, keeping it very clean is critical to good health. Also, use a spray bottle and mist him twice a day. Doing these things will help keep the humidity up and keep him well hydrated.

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html

http://www.greenigsociety.org/credits.htm

http://www.reptilecare.com/igfacts.htm

Answer 4

u could spray the iguana with one of those 99 cent spray bottles with some water. you could also put a bowl of water in his tank so he could wet his/herself and like wash your iggy everyday in your bath tub or in a big bowl just make just make sure it's big in enough so he could swim around ,but don't fill it up all the way just up to his/her neck cuz they could drown. thats what i do with my iguana ^^ his name is ziggy