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Post by joseph2 on Nov 22, 2004 11:27:43 GMT -8
Hi everyone. Ever since I've had Zilla, I have misted his habitat to help raise humidity levels. This past weekend, I thought I would try to upgrade this system by purchasing a humidifier. The first humidifier I tried was a $20.00 unit from Walgreens. Pure junk. This unit would not raise the humidity level beyond 60%. So then I tried a slightly more expensive model from Meiers. This humidifier claimed it would take care of a room up to 700 square feet. Again, no more than 60%. according to the instruction manual, once the air gets to approximately 60%, it considers the air to be saturated. What a crock. Furthermore, these units were considered "cool mist" humidifiers, and they both blew extremely cold air. Not a good idea when I'm trying to maintain a certain temperature in Zilla's habitat. After these failed, I then tried a vaporizor. No way! The steam coming from the unit would definitely burn my iguana. So now I'm back to point one: misting the habitat. I've read people using humidifiers successfully in their habitats, and I'm lost. Are some owners just happy to have 60% or have they found a way to raise the humidity levels above that? Please help me with this situation. Is there any system I can use to do this? And if there is, please let me know what you did to make it successful. By simply misty Zilla's habitat several times a day, I can closely achieve what these humidifiers do without paying the extra cost in electricity. Thanks.
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Post by Merlin on Nov 22, 2004 15:05:28 GMT -8
What type of enclosure is it? If it is mesh then that is your problem. With the steam humidifier if you take and make a channel of pvc pipe leading from the humidifier to above the enclosure the steam will cool and spread out before it ha a chance to burn the ig.
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 22, 2004 15:56:51 GMT -8
Hi Joseph, I have a system that works well for Willie. Here it is after lots of trial and error such as you've been through. I bought a large Holmes warm air humidifier. Immediately Willie wanted to lie on top of it so trhat he would get the hot mist on him immediately. That was a terrible option as you mention, because of probable burning. We went to Targets and bought 3 stacking cubes of plastic over something. It's not solid, but is a large mesh..maybe 1-1 1/2 inch squares. We put an extra cube over the humidifier that Willie loves to lie on. Now he is in the stream of mist. I don't worry about the overall humidity as he is lying right in it. Next, since that has become his basking spot, it was important to get it the right distance from his UVB bulb. We did that by adding another cube on the bottom and even adding more. Now Willie has a stream of humidity around him when he's in his basking place and also is the proper distance from his mega ray. This looks just purely functional. I wish I could make it look more tropical. Maybe I'll find away in time.
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Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Nov 22, 2004 19:11:34 GMT -8
WOW! Will is a very bright green! I agree with both. Willemsmom I like your idea and might even try it when I get my ig. Luck with your problem Joe.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Nov 22, 2004 22:24:34 GMT -8
Great pics of Willem! (I resized the close-up). I also use a warm mist humidifier in Gil's enclosure... I've got a "tall" milk crate around it so he doesn't get burned... I'll try to get a pic of it up.... It's not "pretty" either, but it keeps the humidity levels higher than they were.
BTW... I only use distilled water in it to keep it from getting mineralized and wearing out.
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 23, 2004 14:10:21 GMT -8
Thanks for resizing, Steph. I think the tall milk crate would do the trick nicely, too. One thing with Wille is, now he wants to eat up there and often his food goes flying. I know he was traumatized somewhere along the way, because he's very skittish. Seems jumpy and frightened at any quick movement or sound. So if he feels safe eating up there...so be it.That's where his food will be. Poor little guy, I'd hate to be scared all the time like he is.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Nov 23, 2004 14:39:06 GMT -8
As a rule, Gil isn't skittish, but almost every morning when I put him in the shower, he gives quick jerk... The only thing I can guess it that he sees his reflection/movement in the chrome of the shower frame and it startles him. It really would suck to live in fear all the time. I've finally caught up on all the posts about what Willem's gone through this summer/fall. I think he's just had a rough time, and needs a little while to get his confidence back. You've done a great job with him through all this.
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 23, 2004 15:11:51 GMT -8
Thanks, Steph. I hope that's it. He has had a very hard time. He's eating much better now and is beginning to interact with me instead of just letting me take care of him. I'm thrilled to have come this far.
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Post by joseph2 on Nov 23, 2004 15:21:02 GMT -8
Thanks for all the ideas guys (and gals). First of all, Merlin, my enclosure is not made of mesh. I wish I had a way to send pictures, but don't. Zilla's habitat is totally enclosed with wood with the exception of small windows on the sides for ventilation. The habitat is approximately 6 ft. long by 6 ft. high and 4 ft. wide. I thought of connecting pvc to a warm air humidifier, but my concern is that it wont have enough power to raise the humidity to the desired level. Will it? That's a great idea you have there Willem's mom, but Zilla's habitat isn't as wide open as Willie's. I have too many shelves throughout the enclosure to not only make the climb to the top easier for Zilla, but this also creates a gradual drop from temperature (95 degrees top to 75 degrees bottom) so Zilla can regulate his temperature as he deems fit. Merlin, please let me know if hooking up a warm air humidifier to pvc will be sufficient to raise humidity levels to 80% and higher with the desciption of Zilla's enclosure I gave you. Oh, and one more thing. HI STEPHANIE. Long time no talk. How are you? You haven't wrote or anything and I've thought the worst. But I'm definitely glad to see you're back, even though you didn't say "Hi" to me. Just kidding. Write soon and update me on how you're doing, ok?
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Post by Merlin on Nov 24, 2004 2:15:09 GMT -8
You really don't need to keep the humidity that high. 65-75% will be fine. If you keep it too high the wood in your enclosure will rot and every surface will be a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria and fungi. Too much humidity is as bad as too little. I would think that piping from the humidifier to a spot that vents at the top of the cage would give you enough humidity that you will need a timer to turn it on and off. you will just have to play with the increments.
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Post by joseph2 on Nov 24, 2004 10:41:44 GMT -8
Thanks Merlin. I guess I have a game plan now. I appreciate the advice. Have a good thanksgiving bro.
Joe
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jbgoalie31
Junior Member
Tom the Iguana and Jerry the Dragon to the rescue!!
Posts: 18
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Post by jbgoalie31 on Nov 27, 2004 21:58:15 GMT -8
I too have went through the exact same thing as of late trying to get the humidity on autopilot. First I bouth the cool mist humidifier $30 (CDN). That didn't work, so I tride to make my own "rain machine" or "mister", which cost me about another $60 (for the pump and hose, Etc.). All that did was flood the bottom of the cage. Next I thought I would try the warm mist vaporisor running through a hose into the enclosure. That didnt' work, the steam was so hot it melted the hoss! That was another $20 bux down the drain. So now I am $110 bux in the hole. HOWEVER....... The good news is I finally found a good place to purchase an automatic misting system. They have two models, the basic model can run up to 12 different models!!! So you can have it on 12 different cages, or even just put a few in your Ig's cage! This system is sold with a digital timer to turn it off and one, however it could easily be converted to be used with a humidistat, or systems controller. I suggest anyone looking to put their humidity on auto-pilot invest in one of these, before wasting their money on all the other crap like I did! Check it out: www.cornelsworld.com/They also do really nice custom enclosures! Let me know what you all think.
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Post by mar on Nov 27, 2004 22:19:07 GMT -8
I also used a system much like what was made for Will, just a little simpler. I placed a hot mist humidifier on the ground and put a laundry basket over it up side down. Simple and nice but not sexy and great looking.
I originally thought about a vent system like that. Planned to use a flexable hose (like for a drier vent) because I anticipated the PVC being too constraining. The hot mist should have little problem rising to the cage, think gavity feed heating (predates forced air). I have read about a few cages using this and working well.
The only down side I see to the vent is the piping seems like it would be prime breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty things like bacteria and molds. You will be best off cleaning it regularly.
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Post by WillemsMom on Nov 28, 2004 7:02:18 GMT -8
Mark, with Will's setup for humidity, he is high enough to be 12" under his MegaRay bulb. How have you handled that with Bob?
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Post by mar on Nov 28, 2004 16:31:14 GMT -8
Will's Mom, I never had to, the laundry basket was just a cage around the humidifier Bob never spent time on it. I no longer use a humidifier but switched to a garden pump sprayer. The MegaRay is placed at an angle over his basking spot. I had moved over to using a sprayer bottle before I got the MegaRay.
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