Help with enclosure issue - croc skink

[samhub1982]

I recently purchased a white-eyed croc skink and have put together a bio active enclosure with silver tails, isopods, and real plants. The bottom has clay aqua balls. It has a screen top with a piece of plexiglass over the cooler side of the tank (to try to retain some humidity) and a dual light for UVB and a small amount of heat.

The issue that I am having is maintaining the humidity between 70 and 90. I've been up for roughly 6 hours now today and have had to spray the tank 6-7 times in order to get the humidity back up from between 30 and 40. There has to be something that I am doing wrong or something that I need to do or purchase in order to make this more manageable. I'm attaching a couple of pictures of the setup I have going.

Thank you in advance for any help. (Also, I'm new to trying to keep a reptile).

[chairman]

Since you have the clay balls in the bottom you could try filling the tank with 1/2" of water; that would provide a store of water for the lamps to evaporate.

If that isn't sufficient then an under tank heater could be added under the side with plexi. That'll evaporate even more water.

You could also add more solid hides, as the area under the hide will serve as a humid micro climate.

[arnoldosu1]

I've been in the same situation as you recently and got some help from people on here (including chairman!) and did a lot of research on my own. One thing I would add is how long are you misting? It probably isn't long enough. Mist more. In winter it is especially difficult to keep humidity up and I have taken steps to raise humidity to the point now where My little gecko has no shed issues. I would mist long enough for the sphagnum moss to get moist. You could even fill your hide with sphagnum to give a higher humidity option to you skink.

I am also curious as to if you have any leaf litter? That helps to retain humidity in the soil. Also, what soil are you using? looks like cocofiber on top of a mix of some sort? Certain soil mixtures retain moisture better than others. Also in my experience cocofiber dries out quickly. I wouldn't use it at all unless covering up pieces of soil mix that could be ingested by your Herp (especially a concern if you feed live invertebrates in tank, which I don't recommend). As for what chairman said... just make sure you don't fill up with too much water, as you don't want your soil soaking in water.

Go on to New England Herp's website and look at their info on building vivariums. Very very helpful information.