Hygrometer?

[ILikeDragons]

Hey guys, I just joined!

I 'm planning to get my first dragon within the month, however Pets at Home has told me that I need a hygrometer, but I can't tell if they're trying to make money off me, or if they're thinking about the essentials...

So yeah, do I really need one, or not?
And also, what is it that they do exactly?

 

[Brieana]

They measure the humidity in your tank, which is useless in a beardie tank because the goal is to keep humidity down! And that's simple as long as their tank is dry. I've heard conflicting information on people keeping water bowls in their tanks, but it seems the general consensus is the only moisture in a beardie tank should be from their food and fresh poo.

 

[ILikeDragons]

They measure the humidity in your tank, which is useless in a beardie tank because the goal is to keep humidity down! And that's simple as long as their tank is dry. I've heard conflicting information on people keeping water bowls in their tanks, but it seems the general consensus is the only moisture in a beardie tank should be from their food and fresh poo.

That helps so much! Thank you!

I kept getting told different things so yeah, thanks!
Just need to keep a dry viv then.

 

[Haylien]

Hey, hate to give you more conflicting info but I think getting one would be a good idea! The goal is to keep humidity down as it could cause problems, but if you are not measuring it then you wont know if it gets too high.
I would do a fair bit more research on this site before settling on the products pets at home recommend. The kits they sell often contain items that are not suited for bearded dragons, for example the setup they have instore at the moment contains calci-sand, stick on thermometers and repti-glo bulbs, all of which are things you want to avoid!
Sorry if I am making things more awkward for you, just don't want you to end up purchasing a lot of unnecessary items like I did, ends up being very expensive!

 

[bunnyrut]

the humidity needs to be below 60%

they sell dials in the petstore that aren't too expensive.

if you live in an area that has high humidity, like Florida, I would really recommend getting one.
but if the humidity is usually really low i wouldn't dish out the money on an expensive one.

once you get to understand the humidity in your area you tend to not really use it anymore. keep in mind that the air conditioner also removes humidity, so that helps during the summer.

 

[Brieana]

My mode of thinking was I live in a humid area, but whenever it's hot or humid, we leave the windows shut and the air conditioning on. I can't imagine the inside of a house getting above 60% humidity, but I was just going off personal experience. I apologize for my newb opinion.

 

[Haylien]

No need to apologise this is just my opinion too! I have always been under the impression the humidity should be below 40. Also, the OP is in the uk, not many houses over here have air con, so when it's humid outside its humid inside!

 

[ILikeDragons]

Hey, hate to give you more conflicting info but I think getting one would be a good idea! The goal is to keep humidity down as it could cause problems, but if you are not measuring it then you wont know if it gets too high.
I would do a fair bit more research on this site before settling on the products pets at home recommend. The kits they sell often contain items that are not suited for bearded dragons, for example the setup they have instore at the moment contains calci-sand, stick on thermometers and repti-glo bulbs, all of which are things you want to avoid!
Sorry if I am making things more awkward for you, just don't want you to end up purchasing a lot of unnecessary items like I did, ends up being very expensive!

Right, so what's wrong with the calci sand, thermometers and repti-glo?
Sorry for the silly questions... I just wanna get it all right

 

[bunnyrut]

Hey, hate to give you more conflicting info but I think getting one would be a good idea! The goal is to keep humidity down as it could cause problems, but if you are not measuring it then you wont know if it gets too high.
I would do a fair bit more research on this site before settling on the products pets at home recommend. The kits they sell often contain items that are not suited for bearded dragons, for example the setup they have instore at the moment contains calci-sand, stick on thermometers and repti-glo bulbs, all of which are things you want to avoid!
Sorry if I am making things more awkward for you, just don't want you to end up purchasing a lot of unnecessary items like I did, ends up being very expensive!

Right, so what's wrong with the calci sand, thermometers and repti-glo?
Sorry for the silly questions... I just wanna get it all right

the sand causes impaction in bearded dragons, which results in death.
the repti-glo light have been known to cause eye problems that could lead to blindness

 

[ILikeDragons]

Hey, hate to give you more conflicting info but I think getting one would be a good idea! The goal is to keep humidity down as it could cause problems, but if you are not measuring it then you wont know if it gets too high.
I would do a fair bit more research on this site before settling on the products pets at home recommend. The kits they sell often contain items that are not suited for bearded dragons, for example the setup they have instore at the moment contains calci-sand, stick on thermometers and repti-glo bulbs, all of which are things you want to avoid!
Sorry if I am making things more awkward for you, just don't want you to end up purchasing a lot of unnecessary items like I did, ends up being very expensive!

Right, so what's wrong with the calci sand, thermometers and repti-glo?
Sorry for the silly questions... I just wanna get it all right

the sand causes impaction in bearded dragons, which results in death.
the repti-glo light have been known to cause eye problems that could lead to blindness

Oh god!
I bought a viv that had a repti-glo in it already! What should I get instead?

 

[bunnyrut]

the ReptiSun 10.0 or Arcadia 12% D3.

a Mercury Vapor light is good too, but the only one i would recommend is the Mega-Ray, and they are back-ordered.

 

[ILikeDragons]

the ReptiSun 10.0 or Arcadia 12% D3.

a Mercury Vapor light is good too, but the only one i would recommend is the Mega-Ray, and they are back-ordered.

Do those come in a screw fit kind of bulb, or do I need to buy additional fitments?

 

[bunnyrut]

the ReptiSun 10.0 or Arcadia 12% D3.

a Mercury Vapor light is good too, but the only one i would recommend is the Mega-Ray, and they are back-ordered.

Do those come in a screw fit kind of bulb, or do I need to buy additional fitments?

they are both tubes.
i bought 3M Command hooks. http://www.officedepot.com/a/produc...ssionid=0000WasvNLy84utTOOssc5nxtmk:13ddq0tfm
i put them inside the tank and hung the light hood on it. i have the arcadia, and it came with clamps to hang and ones to screw into something. not sure if you have to buy those for the reptisun.

 

[Haylien]

A good site to check out is www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk
definitely one of the cheapest places around! They stock both arcadias and reptisuns and just about everything else you will need!