A Bearded Dragon humidity needs are sometimes hard to understand since there’s a whole bunch of different information out there
The information in this post is from first hand experience so you can trust me here
Bearded dragons are generally easy to handle and take care of. Since they came from the wild, specifically in semi-desert areas of Tasmania and Australia, they live in hot weather. So, high humidity levels are very harmful and can cause respiratory infections, fungal and bacteria growth, and other associated problems.
Try this UV lamp if you are looking for something to help kill bacteria in your pet’s tank.
As bearded dragon owners, we need to understand that their appropriate habitats have lots of requirements. Most people only focus on the lightning since it is also one of the trickiest parts of building a comfortable habitat for a bearded dragon. But have you guys thought about humidity?
What are the correct humidity levels for our scaly friends?
So, in this topic, we will discuss why the right humidity is important and what we can do to determine it.
Let us always remember that incorrect humidity levels will surely lead to various diseases and shedding problems. Would you mind joining us and continuing to learn more?
Table of Contents
Why Do Bearded Dragons Need Correct Humidity Levels?
Bearded dragons are sensitive to humidity levels. Too low or high can lead to serious health problems. What happens if the humidity is too low? Well, bearded dragons will start experiencing shedding problems. Since these reptiles need to get rid of old skins from time to time, higher humidity is essential to help them with this issue.
In case you don’t know, many beardie owners bath bearded dragons during shedding season. This way, the dead skin can easily fall off since it gets soft and soaked. All you have to do is gently rub the old skin off to help your dragon’s shedding.
What will happen if the humidity is too high? A tank with too high humidity will give your bearded dragon some respiratory infections and other similar diseases. As always, bacteria thrive in moisture with warmth. Since bearded dragons are very sensitive to this, they can bring diseases to your pet extremely quickly. Remember that 60% and above humidity during a long period will make our pets sick.
Finding and maintaining the right bearded dragon humidity is one of the most important jobs of owners. It is not only a comfort requirement but a health requirement, as well. These lizards cannot tolerate humidity levels that fall significantly outside of a particular range. Because of this, we need to practice monitoring humidity levels in our little pet’s tanks to keep them happy and healthy. For a healthier life, give your beardie this calcium powder with vitamin D.
We have to remember that the humidity level should be similar to Australia’s hot and dry inland geographical regions since it is the best humidity that can keep the beardies in the best of health.
5 Tips in Decreasing the Humidity Levels for Bearded Dragons
Since humidity levels are subject to change, keeping them stable can be tricky, especially for first-time bearded dragon owners. If something went to and your pet’s tank became too humid, we have five tips on how to decrease it and bring back the old humidity.
Our main tips are:
- Try using a dehumidifier
You can consider using a dehumidifier, too. Nowadays, most bearded dragon owners purchase dehumidifiers, especially if they live in high-humidity countries or regions. However, in choosing a dehumidifier, you need to check if it is non-toxic and safe for your bearded dragon to be around. We suggest using one that does not need cords so it can fit in smaller spaces like your pet’s enclosure.
- Increase ventilation
To lower the humidity in the tank, you can try increasing the ventilation. However, it can be more difficult in glass tanks. Many suggest not to use a glass or plastic full cover and use a mesh one instead. We can also try opening from windows, adjusting the AC, or turning on a fan if the issue seems to be the room temperature.
Tip: We highly recommend this thermometer to measure the room’s temperature.
Moreover, you have to remember that plants tend to increase the air humidity, as well. So, consider moving the plants to another region or removing them until the humidity is back under control.
- Change the substrate
Substrates refer to the enclosure’s bottom surface. We usually cover it with safe and clean newspapers, reptile carpets, and paper towels. However, certain substrates tend to increase humidity and retain moisture. Typical culprits are coconut and bark substrate materials.
We are not saying that you shouldn’t use these materials. But you should consider a substrate switch if high humidity is a recurring problem to your pet’s tank.
Always prioritize your beardie’s health when building its habitat setup.
- Move the water bowl away from heat.
We have to remember that a beardie’s tank should have a warmer side and a cooling side. If you notice that the humidity levels begin to climb, you may move your pet’s water bowl away from all heat sources. While it seems simple, it can still help in lowering the humidity levels.
Tip: To make the tank’s warmer side better, try installing this basking light.
Since water evaporates, the air surrounding the water bowl can absorb moisture and increase the tank’s humidity level. Avoiding any extremely large water bowl can also be an excellent idea since too much water in a small tank can cause more moisture in the air.
- Change the tank location.
If the room is humid, it can be challenging to fix the situation. If you want to measure the room’s humidity, you can use hygrometers. It will help you determine if the room is the problem. Once confirmed, you may move the tank to a different room. However, do not place it in a cold garage, basement room, or similar since it might cause problems with high humidity.
Tip: We recommend this basking lamp to keep your pet warm during colder days.
3 Tips in Increasing the Humidity Levels for Bearded Dragons
Contrarily, there will be times when your tank conditions become too dry, and it can still cause health issues to your bearded dragon. However, we have plenty of easy methods that can help you increase the tank’s humidity levels and these includes:
- Decrease ventilation
If your dragon’s tank has a screen lid, consider covering half of it with a piece of wood or plastic. You can also place a cover on the water dish since trapping some moisture and water helps raise humidity.
- Mist your tank
Another effective way to increase humidity is to gently spray water inside the tank a couple of times a day. However, we recommend using purified water to prevent water spots from forming. Also, we have to use a gentle mister for better results. If your pet seems to dislike frequent misting, we recommend you do it every four hours or so.
- Put a water dish
The third method is to place a water dish beside the warmer area of the tank. It is a very straightforward fix that you can accomplish in a matter of seconds.
How To Measure Humidity Levels in a Bearded Dragon Tank?
When measuring our pet enclosure’s humidity, we need to use two analog or digital humidity gauges. However, we should place it halfway up the tank’s wall, one on the hot side and the other on the cool side.
We have two types of gauges, analog and digital, so we must understand how both work. We can confirm that digital gauges are more accurate than analog, and we can easily place them exactly where we want the measurement taken. However, the drawbacks are the price, which is more costly, and the wires.
Meanwhile, analog gauges cost less and are easier to install. However, it is slightly less accurate than digital.
With that in mind, most owners use analog gauges. But if you have some extra bucks, you should go for a digital one instead.
Remember that you will need two of these gauges since your pet tank has a hot side and a cool side. Each of those sides has different temperatures and humidity levels.
What Is the Right Humidity Level for Bearded Dragons?
The humidity levels should remain at 30 to 40 percent to ensure that your bearded dragon habitat is almost similar to their natural environment in Australia. This humidity level is almost similar to Australia’s arid desert climate, their original and natural habitat.
Conclusion
The relative bearded dragon humidity level is between 30 to 40 percent. These reptiles are not used to living with high humidity, so they are very sensitive, leading to diseases. If you want to maintain the correct humidity in your pet’s tank, surfaces like rocks and logs can help you. It would be best to consider a stone basking surface since it can absorb heat that your bearded dragon can use.
Our little reptiles are truly a joy to raise in captivity, but they require specific conditions regarding humidity. You can use hygrometers to determine the humidity of your beardie’s tank. Installing two of them is the best since it can provide an easier visual check.
