Controling Ackie monitor humidity

[JPG]

I'm planning to keep an Ackie monitor and after building an 8'x2'x4' enclosure I'm questioning myself If I have put too much ventilation on the sides:

View from inside

From outside

Whole enclosure


I'll fill the substrate almost up to front barrier, so the ventilation should be close to the ground. But will the humidity or temperature control be a problem because of the ventilation?
If it's only the humidity issue, I'm thinking of using a water pump to insert water through a hose with big enough holes around and under the substrate few times a week, automated with schedule.
Not sure if anyone has tried that but would this method be a possibility?

 

[l4nsky]

No offense, but why are you concerned about humidity or are making semi-complex plans to increase it in the enclosure? I'm a little bit confused as Ackies are desert dwelling monitors that at best occur in areas of seasonal humidity increases.

Anyways, whats the top ventilation like? Humid air rises, so if you want to maintain humidity in an enclosure, you want to have more cross ventilation that top ventilation. If you want a drier enclosure, it's the opposite.

 

[NMTs]

I'm planning to keep an Ackie monitor and after building an 8'x2'x4' enclosure I'm questioning myself If I have put too much ventilation on the sides:

View from inside
View attachment 418620
From outside
View attachment 418621
Whole enclosure
View attachment 418622

I'll fill the substrate almost up to front barrier, so the ventilation should be close to the ground. But will the humidity or temperature control be a problem because of the ventilation?
If it's only the humidity issue, I'm thinking of using a water pump to insert water through a pump with big enough holes around and under the substrate few times a week, automated with schedule.
Not sure if anyone has tried that but would this method be a possibility?

Looks like a well made enclosure! Reminds me very much of a couple I built for my Burmese pythons years ago when I used to breed them. Humidity was always difficult to maintain - I always found that plywood, painted or not, is not the best material for containing humid air. That said, I would always err on the side of too much ventilation rather than not enough. It's relatively easy to cover vents to reduce ventilation with an animal in the enclosure, versus trying to add more vents to an occupied enclosure.

As noted above, though, Ackies are from arid & semi-arid areas of Australia, so it may not be as much of an issue as you're thinking.

 

[JPG]

No offense, but why are you concerned about humidity or are making semi-complex plans to increase it in the enclosure? I'm a little bit confused as Ackies are desert dwelling monitors that at best occur in areas of seasonal humidity increases.

Anyways, whats the top ventilation like? Humid air rises, so if you want to maintain humidity in an enclosure, you want to have more cross ventilation that top ventilation. If you want a drier enclosure, it's the opposite.

No offense taken, thank you for your input. A lot of people did mention about humidity control and thats probably where it got me to the point. They apparently do become more active with more ambient humidity and maybe that theory is where people maybe reasoning it from. Some of things ive read are probably misinformation. This is my very first take on monitor lizard so I have zero experience but just been doing reading for over a month now. I do understand that they do require humidity in substrate when they burrow and that is why I brought up supplying water under the substrate. I will take any criticism if I can learn anything.

The top is completely sealed and only the lights will be attached. Only ventilation is the cross ventilation and nothing else. I have noticed some people's ackies getting rot tail, would those be caused by too humid/ little ventilation?

Looks like a well made enclosure! Reminds me very much of a couple I built for my Burmese pythons years ago when I used to breed them. Humidity was always difficult to maintain - I always found that plywood, painted or not, is not the best material for containing humid air. That said, I would always err on the side of too much ventilation rather than not enough. It's relatively easy to cover vents to reduce ventilation with an animal in the enclosure, versus trying to add more vents to an occupied enclosure.

As noted above, though, Ackies are from arid & semi-arid areas of Australia, so it may not be as much of an issue as you're thinking.

Thank you. The inside is painted with aquarium safe liquid rubber, hoping the enclosure will last a while. I will probably add something to allow adjustment on vents for sure. I'm planning to house an yellow ackie, which I've read they are from the northern part where it is more tropical area than where red ackies are from. But than again people who actually kept ackie for a long time will probably tell me I'm over thinking it.

 

[NMTs]

No offense taken, thank you for your input. A lot of people did mention about humidity control and thats probably where it got me to the point. They apparently do become more active with more ambient humidity and maybe that theory is where people maybe reasoning it from. Some of things ive read are probably misinformation. This is my very first take on monitor lizard so I have zero experience but just been doing reading for over a month now. I do understand that they do require humidity in substrate when they burrow and that is why I brought up supplying water under the substrate. I will take any criticism if I can learn anything.

The top is completely sealed and only the lights will be attached. Only ventilation is the cross ventilation and nothing else. I have noticed some people's ackies getting rot tail, would those be caused by too humid/ little ventilation?




Thank you. The inside is painted with aquarium safe liquid rubber, hoping the enclosure will last a while. I will probably add something to allow adjustment on vents for sure. I'm planning to house an yellow ackie, which I've read they are from the northern part where it is more tropical area than where red ackies are from. But than again people who actually kept ackie for a long time will probably tell me I'm over thinking it.

Finding somebody that does a lot of research before buying an exotic animal is refreshing - I'm sure it will pay off. Hoping you update this thread with pics of the completed enclosure and the critter!