Rainmaker or Fogger?
The former is the best for tropical or semi-aquatic reptiles who are used to very high amounts of water in their ecosystem, such as regular rainfall. It’s larger than a normal dose of humidity, good for those which need something over 70%.
Whereas a mister or fogger is for those who need humidity, but not necessarily a completely wet or saturated environment. This is often suited to temperate or desert animals, and most foggers can be still be adjusted to accommodate as low as 10% or as high as 100%.
The best for you will depend on the animal you have. Most misters will create a bit less mess than a rainmaker, however.
Capacity
One thing to note is that some humidifiers come with tanks which you can put the water into, and others require a separate tank, so we have included the capacity of any which come ready-prepared.
It is no surprise that the larger the water tank, the longer it will be able to work until it needs to be filled.
But if you have a tank which needs to be kept very humid, this water will be used quicker than one which will only need to be used a few times per day, so also bear this in mind. Most will hold around 2 or 3 litres of water, which should give you a few days of use.
Size
Consider the dimensions of the tank, the length of the extension hose and the size of the mister to check that it will all look and fit okay with the tank you have.
The longer the hose, the more flexibility you have in positioning the water tank, being able to hide it in a cupboard or stand. Bear in mind the dimensions of the part which has to go into the tank too, to ensure your pet will still have plenty of space.
Type Of Water
Most manufacturers will require distilled water in their humidifiers. Water just out of the tap will not require the correct minerals and could cause your humidifier to stop working, or create a breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties which are then released into the tank.
Look for one which explicitly talks about the importance of water quality with their product, as well as one which is simple to clean, so you know you have gone with a humidifier and brand who knows their stuff.
What Else To Look Out For
There are a couple of features which will not be on every humidifier, but ideally, you should consider for peace of mind and ease.
This sounds as though it would be a bad thing as seeing your humidifier should be keeping your reptile living in optimum conditions, but actually, you want to ensure that if the reservoir for your water runs out, it doesn’t stay on and keep trying to spray water that isn’t there.
This could cause it to overheat and burn out, not only making the tank hotter but causing a fire risk too. You should always check on the water, and never let it go dangerously low.
Every reptile requires slightly different humidity levels, so look for a humidifier which can be adjusted to suit them to a tee. This may be with how many sprays per minute or hour it gives out, or for how long it sprays for.
Other factors can also affect the humidity in a tank, such as the material of the tank and how porous the substrate is, so you should bear this in mind rather than trying to find something which appears to be exact. The first few days may require some fine-tuning.
Not every humidifier will have this, but most will be able to have one as an add-on. It will allow some adjustability too, but based on time rather than the existing humidity so there will be some trial and error to get it right.
