Troubleshooting Humidity Issues in Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank
7th Jul 2022
Control Humidity Issues to Keep Your Bearded Dragon Healthy and Happy
If you are the proud parent of a bearded dragon, you likely know that the humidity levels in your pet’s enclosure are critical to keeping him healthy and happy. However, sometimes maintaining the right humidity levels is tricky. You may worry that the humidity is too high or too low for your pet’s comfort. For example, bearded dragons are native to desert regions. If humidity in their enclosure is too high, they can develop a respiratory infection. High humidity levels can also lead to bacterial or fungal growth on their skin, or it can grow on their substrate. On the other hand, low humidity levels lead to overly dry air—and that can lead to an inability for your bearded dragon to shed properly, as well as cause other conditions like dehydration and infections.
How Do You Control Humidity Levels in the Tank?
The first step is to make sure you have an adequate thermometer or combination thermometer/hygrometer gauge for the tank. There are usually two options: digital and analog. Digital is slightly more expensive but delivers more precise readings; analog is typically less expensive, a bit easier to place, and only slightly less precise. Make sure you have two separate gauges in the enclosure to measure both sides of your bearded dragon’s tank.
The next step is to make sure that these gauges are placed well: For example, never place them too close to your bearded dragon’s water dish or his basking lamp. The goal is to get an accurate reading of the entire enclosure.
After these two steps, you will need to troubleshoot based on your unique home environment: Everything from the temperature you keep your house at night to how often you run your A/C can impact the humidity levels in your reptile’s tank. We’ve compiled a quick list of some potential solutions to explore if you need to increase or lower the humidity in your bearded dragon’s enclosure.
Do You Need to Increase Humidity in Your Reptile’s Enclosure?
Try the following:
- Raise the temperature in your home (turn the A/C on less).
- Place a humidifier in the room with your bearded dragon’s enclosure.
- Use a larger water dish.
- Mist your bearded dragon daily.
Do You Need to Lower Humidity in Your Reptile’s Enclosure?
Try the following:
- Lower the temperature in your home (turn on the A/C more often).
- Place a dehumidifier in the room with your bearded dragon’s enclosure.
- Remove any live plants from the enclosure.
- Increase ventilation in the tank.
If we can help you troubleshoot a specific humidity problem in your bearded dragon’s tank, please reach out to our team for guidance.
Shop High-Quality Feeder Insects
We sell all of the high-quality feeder insects that your beardie loves— Dubia roaches, mealworms, BSF larvae, and much more. If you’ve never ordered from ABDragons before, we recommend starting with our live feeder Dubias: They are an excellent food source packed with nutrients for your pet.
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