A Northern skink in humid Hong Kong

[BeeHK]

I am adopting a 5-year old Northern BTS in 2 weeks time (yay!) and I am therefore on a fast-track to understand as much as possible before he arrives - it seems to me that he's perhaps not been kept in ideal conditions so far (no UVB or basking lamps, an incredibly limited diet and a small enclosure), and I really want to try and get this right for him going forwards.

My main concern, which seems slightly out of the ordinary hence my posting, is that living in Hong Kong we have very high humidity for half the year - today (July) it is 75%, which makes me wonder:

a) what substrate should I use, as my challenge isn't to keep humidity levels up, rather it's to get them down - the shop I visited today suggested beech chips but everything I have read has talked mostly about cypress mulch (which looks nicer, if nothing else!).

b) should I think about putting a dehumidifier in the room where he's going to be kept during the humid months? They are a fact of life in Hong Kong so it wouldn't be any trouble - just wondering if that sort of drying out of the surrounding air might be a good idea?

c) I WAS hoping to try a bioactive enclosure eventually, but now I'm not sure that that is going to be feasible, given our humidity levels... Do you have any thoughts on that please?

Thanks! I will truly appreciate any guidance you can offer!
Yours
Bethan

[splashy07]

I live in the northeast, Long Island, NY to be specific and today the humidity is 86%...as it is most of the summer months here. I keep desert species with no issues (Egernias, shinglebacks, bearded dragons) so you should not have a problem. Your heat lamp in the enclosure will dry up the air in there to sufficient levels, and northerns are very adaptable to variable conditions. My northerns are not complaining here.

[BeeHK]

Amazing! Thank you! The man I spoke to in the reptile shop told me I should only give him water once a week as he will get enough liquid from his food. Does that sound right to you?

[BeeHK]

Also, what substrate do you use please? The reptile shop suggested beech bedding but I've not read about that anywhere. Thanks!

[splashy07]

I've never heard of it, I do not know what products are available where you live. I use cypress mulch, repti bark and coco husk, or combination thereof.

[Janella]

I would always provide fresh clean water daily. Also ditto to the substrates.

[splashy07]

Water once a week??? !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really think you should patronize another reptile shop.