Originally Posted by
Stevo2
I would have thought that the increased humidity than that of their natural habitat would equal a heightened risk of RI. They dont naturally occur there for a reason.
Have you measured and compared the humidity levels between outside and in an indoor enclosed habitat?
A way around the smell is to clean more often.
I understand your line of thinking but I come from a different angle. Having looked at some climate data for other inland/arid climates and comparing that to Sydney. Aside from some differing humidity levels the main difference is the fact that Sydney tends to get colder faster and takes longer to warm up. Temperatures are usually within comparable range of each other, although summer peak temperatures are obviously hotter in arid regions. This is where my idea of supplemental heating comes into play. I struggle to see how humidity will be their downfall, providing they have a warm and dry area to retreat to.
I have measured some humdity levels in the past, nothing recently. Levels were often the same in the reptile one style enclosures and could be either higher or lower in your typical melamine enclosure depending on water source. Yes cleaning frequently is something I do, this isn't practical though when your talking large skinks (which is what I keep now). Which don't just go once a week, or at the same time and when they do it stinks.
if its too much hassle I wouldn't bother to be honest. You could do it but it would take some custom work to make a good pit with shelter.
Being able to keep them outside means the difference between me keeping them or not keeping them. The enclosure has already been designed and built by myself so no issues there. It's actually quite easy.
There are plenty of accies in the Kalkaringi region and that is subject to typical Top End conditions, 6 cool dry months and 6 of Wet season, 100% humidity and heavy rain daily. They seem to do fine. The temps would be my concern.
Thanks, exactly the sort of information I was after! I will check out some climate data to see how off the temps are.
I think temps would be an issues but give it a go! just make sure you keep a close eye on them and I would have an enclosure inside set up just in case it wasn't working
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Also id go more on the lines of a pit with insulated hide boxes
Yeah the idea is the 1/3 of the enclosure which is covered will have the heat lamp in there providing a warm and dry hide.
I'd be more concerned with humidity as Ackies are essentially a dry land adapted species. I know Shinglebacks suffer under humid
coastal conditions. Though you can get Ackies in
coastal areas in northern Oz, you'd have to be familiar with your particular Ackies locale to be on the safe side...IMO.
I'm curious, have you yourself or anyone you personally know kept shinglebacks and found them to suffer from RI when kept in Sydney in enclosures which are warm and dry? Most cases I've seen or heard of have been when people keep them in typical outdoor pits. Which are usually just areas of ground with a fence around it, which lacks proper drainage and often don't have an area which will stay completely dry in torrential rain (like the underground pipes/bunkers which are commonly used).
That wont stop the humidity in the air.
No it won't but you said you thought the higher amount of rain Sydney gets would be a problem, not humidity lol.
