New Substrate - Humidity Issues

[HtotheB]

Today I replaced the white reptisand in my western hogs enclosure with some exo terra forest bark. I also put in a larger ceramic water dish for him. Since adding these, the humidity levels have soared up to around 80-90%. I removed the water from the dish and turned down the heat a little to see if I could get rid of some of the excess humidity. Is there a risk that the bark could get damp or moldy if the humidity is too high? And if so, are there steps I can take to ensure that this does not happen?

andrew

[Oliverian]

Make sure the water bowl is on the cool end, so it doesn't evaporate as fast. Does your enclosure have good ventilation?

[enso]

What is the size of the enclosure? How is it heated? You may want to go back to the smaller or an even smaller water dish than before, considering that the new substrate holds water. Hogs don't need a large water bowl, they aren't balls, boas, ect.
They don't soak in my experience, just drink.

[HtotheB]

The enclosure is a medium sized rubbermaid. It is heated with a substrate heater pad underneath. With the sand, the current ventilation was adequate to keep the humidity around 60% or so.

[Linds]

You may want to try adding a few more holes if the humidity does not decrease shortly. Give it a little while to see how it holds. Sometimes substrate is just a bit too damp coming out of the bag but soon dries out. You can also try drying it out in the oven.

[Invictus]

If you are using an undertank heater directly on a rubbermaid, I strongly suggest you put it on a dimmer. I've seen the temps on the surface of some brands get up to 130 degrees, and a rubbermaid will NOT insulate that, and nor will your choice of substrate. Bark will allow the heat to flow right through it.

Reptile bark is commonly used to retain humidity for those species that love it. Or, more realistically, it holds water which then evaporates under the hot conditions. Definitely add more ventilation, and move the water dish, as it is evaportation that has no escape that causes relative humidity. I'd suggest another substrate as well - aspen is great for hoggies, since they don't require humid conditions. Hell, look where they are native to - Alberta. We are bone dry here. :)

[HtotheB]

I have the undertank heater pad hooked up to a dimmer so I can control it to a good degree of precision. I needed to replace the substrate, and I was limited in my selection by what was available at the store. Basically I wanted a safer alternative to the sand I had in there before. If there is a way I could dry out the bark to make it a bit more suitable that would be my first choice to the alternative of buying a whole load of new substrate. What are your thoughts?

[JonD]

That reptibark is really moist when you get it. It will dry out over time if you keep the other humidity sources down like was mentioned above.

[HtotheB]

I bit the bullet and replaced the bark completely with a much better substrate. Humidity is right back down again, and he just ate a nice meal