Substrate - Dusty?

[MrBosc]

Originally Posted by millertime89

when deciding on insulation, check out the insulation batts, they're plastic wrapped strips of insulation that are about 4 inches thick and make install a breeze.
Shop Johns Manville 7-Pack 93"L x 15"W x 3-1/2"D 15-R Fiberglass Insulation Batts at Lowes.com

Thanks for posting that, I shall bear that in mind when coming to insulate the new viv

[fuzzhc]

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I mix mine to a 60/40, and moisten it to depth. If you are losing moisture that quickly, you have an air leak in the enclosure. You need your enclosure to be 100% sealed.

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by fuzzhc

Probably a daft question here, so does this mean no air vents either at the top or bottom of the viv either?

Yes it does mate.

When I first built my enclosure, I kept losing humidity and the thing kept drying out quickly, I was bewlidered, putting all that work into such a cage and it still didn't work right.

It was suggested to me to seal up every single crack, seam, joint or wiring passage with sealant, so I did,,, I even put a rubber strip around my door.

It worked a charm, the humidity shot up, the dirt stayed moist and I have not looked back since.

[fuzzhc]

Cool man.

As you have built a nice big viv I take it there wont be any problems with them gettin fresh air, I mean when you open the doors enough will enter to last them. But what about for my smaller one at 4x2x2 will the same apply? Or do you think one vent down the bottom willbe ok?

Tbh with 3 vents at the moment my humidity holds at about 60-75% for about a week or 2 but I suppose it can always be improved ...... Until I build a bigger one in the coming couple of months that is

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by fuzzhc

Cool man.

As you have built a nice big viv I take it there wont be any problems with them gettin fresh air, I mean when you open the doors enough will enter to last them. But what about for my smaller one at 4x2x2 will the same apply? Or do you think one vent down the bottom willbe ok?

Tbh with 3 vents at the moment my humidity holds at about 60-75% for about a week or 2 but I suppose it can always be improved ...... Until I build a bigger one in the coming couple of months that is

If your soil is staying moist (down deep) then you have no problems.

As for air requirements, think about this, how much airflow is happening down in those burrows?

Reptile oxygen requirements are really low, I know of at least one person who locks his monitors in their cage while he vacations, and they are always doing just fine when he returns.

He's also been doing it for over a decade with the same two monitors.

[fuzzhc]

I suppose.

I knew that monitors were slow breathers but never really thought of it like that before.

Think ill block off 2 just now then and leave one just to see how that fairs