Humidity Question????

zm378205

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
37
I know that humidity is debated on the boards on how much one should really worry about it. I just had a quick question on where the best place in the tank to measure the humidity?

I have a B. Smithi right not and know they are supposed to be dry but was wondering should I put my hygrometer near the lid of the enclosure or down own the substrate????

Also, I am receiving an avic next week and was wondering if it mattered where to place the hygrometer in that tank as well???

Thanks for all your help
 

Roland Slinger

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
138
It doesn't matter, unless your tank is really huge. And unless you get a very expensive one, it will always be off a little. Putting it in one place or another in a tank really won't make a difference.
 

scottyk

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
824
Is the Smithi a sling or a juvenile/adult.

Sling- Wet down one corner of the enclosure weekly...

Juvenile/adult- keep dry with a clean, filled water dish.

Either way, the hygrometer is not going to be of any help since there is no need to pin the enclosure at a certain specific humidity. Also, as Roland mentioned, the stick on cheap ones don't read accurately anyway. Save your money for some more T's ;)
 

JimM

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Messages
880
Lose the hygrometer. Utilizing one, especially for a smithi is a bit over the top, if not just flat out silly, and not nearly as useful as equal parts observation and common sense.
 

satanslilhelper

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
734
The only species that I've paid any attention to their humidity are Avicularias and T. blondi's. The others will be fine IME with the normal humidity in your house. I do live in the south so most of the time we do have higher humidity anyways. I'm basing this off of my experience and a conversation I had with Kelly Swift when I met him in June at the Dixie Reptile Show. I was still relatively new to species "requiring" specific humidity so I spoke to him about this and many other issues. Seeing as he is one of the top breeders and online dealers in the U.S. with at least 14 years experience I give his advice to be very accurate and valuable. I don't want to misconstrue what he told me. His words were," As long as your T's seem healthy then don't worry about it." I was asking him because I had just recently acquired a P. regalis and was about to purchase some Avics.. My avics. I definitely mist about 1-2 times a week. I allow the substrate to almost dry out and then mist. No real schedule. Make sure your avics. have good cross ventilation too. I guess what I'm trying to say here is don't stress yourself out over having things exactly right. So far I have only had 2 T deaths. One due to dehydration. I had a versi. in a very large enclosure and I didn't see it eat for months. I learned a hard lesson on that one. I also didn't know about the ICU or other methods to deal with dehydration. The other one was a WC A. avic. which got stuck in a molt two weeks after I received it. My other 30 T's are very healthy and all seem very content in their enclosures. Good luck to you and your T's.
 

satanslilhelper

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
734
Lose the hygrometer. Utilizing one, especially for a smithi is a bit over the top, if not just flat out silly, and not nearly as useful as equal parts observation and common sense.
My whole rant boiled down. I guess I just like to type to read myself type?!:D
 

JimM

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Messages
880
My whole rant boiled down. I guess I just like to type to read myself type?!:D
I don't keep much sugar coating in stock.

I have to say, aside from tarantulas I've kept all sorts of humidity sensitive critters including frogs, gecko's, certain monitor lizards, tree boas, green tree pythons, etc, etc and I couldn't tell you what a hygrometer even looks like.
 

zm378205

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
37
Great guys I figured that I was worrying to much about this since I haven't had any problems with the Smithi which I have had for a little over a month now. Thanks for the advice though I will make sure to keep the avic ventalted with nice humidity.

Thanks very much
 

satanslilhelper

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
734
I don't keep much sugar coating in stock.

I have to say, aside from tarantulas I've kept all sorts of humidity sensitive critters including frogs, gecko's, certain monitor lizards, tree boas, green tree pythons, etc, etc and I couldn't tell you what a hygrometer even looks like.
Well it's like you said observe and use common sense. I actually bought one like 8 yrs. ago when I got my ball python. That was only b/c I was naive and the petstore said I should have one. LOL!! It didn't take long after that to learn not to be so trusting of petstore "experts". :wall:
 

curiousme

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
1,661
Lose the hygrometer, they only measure relative humidity which is entirely temperature based. (different temp, different RH percentage, same air) There is no need for one and its only accomplishment is to making T owners worry/ makes them feel like they are taking care of their T better, when they should use that time to take more pictures!:p

Most species are okay humidity-wise with a large full water dish and if that isn't enough, then you just need to restrict some of the ventilation.

Like others have said, slings need it more humid and that can be accomplished by wetting half the substrate once a week.

i can't offer advice on T. blondis as we do not have one, but i do know the above advice would not suffice.:D
 
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