To this day—much to my dismay—there are still some gecko owners who think that hygrometers are unnecessary. However, if you know a thing or two about proper husbandry, you would realize that having a good and reliable hygrometer can greatly impact your gecko’s well-being!

Combining the personal experience of Reptile Hero team members with those of expert gecko owners and breeders, we have been able to create a list of the top 5 hygrometers you can get!

The best hygrometer for gecko tanks is the Govee H5075 Smart Thermo-Hygrometer.

If you don’t think that’s suitable for your gecko tank, don’t worry! I have other great affordable options for you to choose from. One has a corded sensor that will let you mount the main unit out of the tank when needed. Another is pretty similar to our no. 1 but it’s packaged in a more compact unit for much less. Besides these, we have two more hygrometers for you to consider!

Continue reading to discover what makes our top hygrometer picks perfect for your gecko tanks!

Runner Up

This little, no-fuss hygrometer will help you keep an eye on not just a gecko tank’s humidity but also humidity.

Thermo Pro (Amazon)

Thermo Pro (Walmart)

Best Overall

An affordable multi-functional smart hygrometer like this is great for both newbie and expert gecko owners.

Govee (Amazon)

Govee (Walmart)

Great Compromise

Thanks to its long corded probe, this hygrometer is especially perfect for tropical gecko tanks!

Zoo Med (Amazon)

Zoo Med (Walmart)

Our Top 5 Best Hygrometers for Gecko Tanks

1. Best Overall from Govee
2. Runner Up from ThermoPro
3. Best for Humid Tanks from Zoo Med
4. Veanic
5. Preciva

1. Govee H5075 Smart Thermo-Hygrometer—Best Overall

Whether or not you are an experienced or beginner gecko pet parent, you will need a reliable hygrometer to keep your gecko fit and happy! Using a multi-functional smart hygrometer like this model from Govee is sure to be useful for you.

This bundle, in particular, is perfect for one tank and will only cost you a little over 20 bucks!

You can also get the Govee H5075 Smart Thermo-Hygrometer here on Walmart.

Pros

1. Good Quality Electronic

Govee’s H5075 hygrometer is electronic so you can rest assured that it will be accurate and reliable for a long time.

This package also comes with four AAA batteries in total so you can use both hygrometers for your gecko tank straight away.

2. Highly Accurate Readings

With a measurement accuracy of ±3%, you won’t have to constantly worry about wrong readings. You can correctly monitor the humidity in your gecko’s tank.

Plus, it constantly refreshes every 2 seconds.

3. Extensive Compatibility

Although this unit is designed for indoor use, it can still operate smoothly in an environment that’s 99% humid!

In other words, you can this hygrometer is compatible with any gecko tank setup. Just be sure not to let water seep into the unit.

4. Easy-To-Read Display

The H5075 has a big 3-inch digital display that not only shows the current humidity reading but also the minimum and maximum. You don’t have to stand right in front of your gecko’s tank all day just to make sure that the humidity fluctuations in its tank don’t go beyond the ideal range.

5. Multi-Functional

This smart hygrometer also doubles as an ambient thermometer for your gecko tank. So there’s no need for you to buy a separate unit to also monitor the thermal gradient in the enclosure.

6. Great Connectivity

You can access the data picked up and processed by this smart hygrometer with their mobile application, Govee Home, using a Bluetooth connection.

As long as you’re within its coverage range of 196 ft (60 m) you can easily check on your cold-bellied pet.

7. Push Notifications

After you set your gecko’s ideal humidity range, you will be notified if goes beyond that.

In case it does, you can promptly check on your gecko’s enclosure to make sure that it is safe and fix whatever’s causing the issue.

Cons

1. No Backlight

The display has no backlight so it will be difficult to read the detected humidity at night unless you turn the lights on. But the contrast is high so the values on the screen are easy to see and understand.

2. Limited Mounting Options

You can only install this inside the enclosure using the stand or the hanging hole. So it may be difficult to readily place it in tall tanks of arboreal gecko species.

3. Account Required

To be able to export 2-month’s worth of data on humidity and temperature, you will need to sign up for an account first. Doing so gives you cloud storage.

2. ThermoPro TP49 Humidity/Temperature Monitor—Runner Up

Looking for something more compact and simple? Then this hygrometer from ThermoPro might be what you need in your gecko tank!

Though it doesn’t have as many extra features to offer compared to the previous hygrometer, it is much cheaper and easier to use. You don’t need to connect with an app or anything. Just insert the battery correctly and then put it in your gecko’s tank and you’re all good.

Pros

1. Accuracy: It gives greatly accurate readings that are only ±2–3% off every 10 seconds
2. Display: Has a 2-inch LCD with big bold numbers
3. Mounting: Can be mounted using the stand, hanging hole, or magnet
4. Extras: Also functions as a thermometer

Cons:

1. Type: An electronic unit that requires one AAA battery for each unit, two in total
2. Compatibility: Works even with 99% humidity but is better suited for arid and moderately humid gecko tanks
3. Sensor: Built-in sensor requires internal installation

You can also get the ThermoPro TP49 Humidity/Temperature Monitor here on Walmart.

3. Zoo Med TH-31 Thermometer Humidity Gauge—Best for Humid Tanks

Concerned about display screens wearing out over time due to very humid gecko environments? Well, this temperature-humidity gauge from Zoo Med can set your mind at ease.

Because it has a corded sensor that’s long, you can just stick the body of this hygrometer outside the tank. In doing so, you won’t have to worry about the LCD blanking out no matter how wet it can get inside.

Pros

1. Type: Electronic device that only requires one LR44 battery
2. Compatibility: Good for any gecko tank setup, especially highly humid ones
3. Sensor: Has long (39 in or 100 cm) corded sensors that allow for external tank mounting
4. Extras: Also functions as a thermometer

Cons

1. Accuracy: Its margin of error and refresh rate aren’t declared but it’s likely ±5%
2. Display: Data on the LCD screen is small but still readable if mounted outside the tank
3. Mounting: Included suction cups don’t adhere well so you’ll need to replace them

You can also get the Zoo Med TH-31 Thermometer Humidity Gauge here on Walmart and here on Chewy.

4. Veanic Mini Digital Thermometer Hygrometer

Even if you buy affordable hygrometer units when you have a bunch of gecko tanks to monitor those expenses can easily add up. Sure, you could get those fancy hygrometers with multiple wireless sensors. But those are far from being budget-friendly.

So if you’re not against choosing a really basic and small thermometer-hygrometer unit, consider this 4-unit package deal from Veanic that will only set you back for just a few dollars!

Pros

1. Accuracy: Its humidity readings are only off by ±5%, refreshing every 10 seconds
2. Compatibility: Works even with high humidity, but it’s better suited for arid and moderately humid gecko tanks
3. Sensor: Built-in requires internal installation
4. Extras: Also functions as a thermometer

Cons

1. Type: Two LR44 batteries are needed for each electronic unit—a total of eight batteries
2. Display: The LCD is about 1-inch so the value is still visible but people with visual problems may have trouble
3. Mounting: It doesn’t come with any mounting fixture or hole but you can silicone a suction cup to the back of it

5. Preciva Humidity & Temperature Meter

Most professional humidity meters typically a fetch price—more or less 200+ bucks per unit. So getting a handheld unit that can be used to double-check for cheap hygrometers can make up for the potential inaccurate readings.

What makes this hygrometer from Precive even better is that you can use a single unit to check for humidity in several gecko tanks. In this sense, it works similarly to a non-contact thermometer.

Pros

1. Type: An electronic hygrometer that requires one 9V battery for each unit
2. Accuracy: Gives readings that are only ±3–3.5% off, refreshing every 10 seconds
3. Sensor: The built-in sensor is at the tip of the device
4. Display: Has a backlit LCD for easy reading even in the dark
5. Extras: Also functions as an ambient thermometer but doesn’t measure surface temperatures like a temp gun

Cons

1. Compatibility: Works best under 80% humidity, but it can still be used to double-check readings in highly humid gecko tanks
2. Mounting: A handheld hygrometer that can not be left inside gecko tanks

How to Find the Perfect Hygrometer for Geckos? (7 Factors)

Newbie pet parents often think that branded hygrometers from famous reptile companies would be the best option for gecko tanks. I mean, they’re specifically made for terrarium use, right? Unfortunately, most experience reptile owners would tell you otherwise!

In general, keepers and breeders need to take seven factors into account when looking for the best hygrometer for their gecko’s tank:

1. Hygrometer type
2. Reading accuracy
3. Setup compatibility
4. Sensor design
5. Display type
6. Mounting options
7. Extra features

Having a hard time finding a waterproof hygrometer for all of your geckos’ enclosures? There’s a good reason for that. Continue reading to discover what it is!

1. Hygrometer Type

Two main types of hygrometers are traditionally used for gecko tanks in reptile-keeping: mechanical and electronic hygrometers. Each one has its specific advantages and disadvantages but electronic or digital hygrometers are preferred and recommended by most experienced gecko owners.

Please note that several other kinds of both classical and modern hygrometers do exist. However, they aren’t all suitable for pet-keeping applications. Hence, I will only focus on the two most appropriate ones.

We often hear the “analog vs digital” debate when it comes to different tools and equipment required for gecko-keeping—especially with hygrometers. But most people don’t really know what’s the difference between these two, other than their typical physical appearance.

1. Mechanical Hygrometers

Depending on the amount of water vapor absorbed by the paper, the needle on the face of the mechanical hygrometer will move when there is a change in humidity. When humidity rises or drops, the metal-paper coil will contract or expand accordingly.

In the back of such a mechanical hygrometer, you will find a bi-material strip that’s coiled and then connected to the arrow or needled at the face of the unit [1]. This strip is commonly composed of metal and paper that’s infused with salt—which is key in determining humidity.

These paper-metal hygrometers work quite similarly to analog or bi-metallic thermometers.

Learn more about it in our article on buying thermometers. 

Mechanical hygrometers, more popularly known as analogs, have quite the bad rap in the reptile community so they are rarely recommended to gecko owners.

But do they actually deserve all the negativity thrown at them? Let’s find out!

Pros of mechanical hygrometers for gecko tanks:

1. No power source—they can last for more than a single gecko’s entire lifetime
2. Easy to calibrate—if you can open the back of the unit without breaking it, you can simply use a screwdriver to adjust the dial correctly

Cons of mechanical hygrometers for gecko tanks:

1. Large margin of error—up to ±10% off, which is problematic for keeping geckos [2]
2. Frequent recalibration—for it to be as accurate as possible, the user must recalibrate it often
3. Slow response—it could take several minutes for it to register any change in humidity
4. Hard to read—the numbers on the scale are typically quite small, making them difficult to read from outside the tank
5. Overpriced—analogs with better quality will cost you at least 20 dollars per unit, which isn’t that cheap

So as you can see from above, the cons easily outweigh the pros for analog hygrometers. What’s more, is that its inaccuracy serves as the main deal-breaker for gecko owners. Nonetheless, they can be used as backup units.

2. Electronic Hygrometers

Electronic hygrometers for gecko tanks pick up the amount of water vapor in the air using their sensors. Data is then processed by a circuit board and then displayed on a screen. However, it requires a power source, typically batteries, for it to operate.

A digital or electronic hygrometer has four main components: the 1) power source, 2) circuit board, 3) liquid crystal display (LCD), and 4) humidity sensor.

To be honest, I can go into greater detail to explain the science behind all of this. However, that’s not our focus for today. So I will move on to explaining exactly why gecko owners love electronic hygrometers!

Pros of electronic hygrometers for gecko tanks:

1. High accuracy—even cheaper models are quite accurate they’re great for
2. Easy to read—it usually comes with large screens so you can easily understand the reading even when you’re not standing directly in front of the gecko tank
3. Quick response—you can get real-time humidity measurements of your gecko’s enclosure
4. Long lifespan—it doesn’t really require a lot of power to function properly so a single set of batteries can easily last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years
5. Mostly affordable—you can get good quality units for just a couple of dollars and there are multiple package deals available

Cons of electronic hygrometers for gecko tanks:

1. Requires batteries—you will also need to have backup batteries in stock for it to continue working
2. Can be expensive—really sophisticated models can cost several hundred bucks but those aren’t necessary for gecko-keeping

2. Reading Accuracy

A hygrometer with a humidity reading accuracy of ±5% is ideal for gecko owners and breeders. This small margin of error allows one to accurately monitor the environmental conditions that a gecko is exposed to in its tank.

Here’s the thing, no hygrometer is perfectly accurate. Even professional hygrometers will normally indicate a small margin of error—like ±2 or ±3—for reading based on various external factors which could influence it (e.g., temperature).

So when it comes to making sure the humidity in the gecko tank stays well within the proper range for its species, you should expect some degree of error.

That said, anything over 5% is not recommended. Such a huge margin of error would make a lot of room for husbandry errors. Your gecko may be kept in an enclosure that is either too dry or too humid and it may be too late before you notice that anything is wrong at all!

Loss of Toes and Tail Tips

Let’s say for example that your analog hygrometer reads 10% under or over than the actual humidity level.

This inaccurate hygrometer can give out a 36% reading when in reality the humidity in the enclosure is only 26%! When the ideal lower limit for your leopard gecko is 35%, that’s pretty bad news, right?

You may only realize that there’s a humidity issue when it keeps getting bad stuck shed which could likely result in lost toes and tail tips! I’ve seen this happen too many times, so please heed my warning.

Find out more about the process in our article on skin shedding. 

3. Setup Compatibility

Generally, outdoor hygrometers are compatible with all gecko setups—from arid to tropical tanks. Indoor hygrometers, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to malfunctioning when they are constantly drenched in or directly misted with water.

Water and electronics just aren’t a good match! This is true for most, if not all, digital hygrometers—even ones designed for the outdoors.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find good electronic hygrometers for the tanks of your humidity-loving geckos, like crested geckos and day geckos.

In a perfect world, we could easily buy a waterproof hygrometer for our scaly babies’ vivariums. However, the world is far from perfect and this is not possible. So the next best thing you should look for is electronic hygrometers with a water-resistant case or housing.

Even then, you should never mist the hygrometer directly. You can’t let it sit on the water either. Otherwise, you may be messing up their sensors and/or screens.

4. Sensor Design

The average hygrometer normally used in gecko tanks has three sensor designs: built-in, corded, and remote. Overall, hygrometers with built-in sensors are the most common and cheapest. However, hygrometers with corded or remote sensors are more suitable for more humid gecko enclosures.

1. Hygrometer with Built-In Sensor

When you have a hygrometer with a built-in sensor, you will have no choice but to place the unit directly in your gecko’s tank. Otherwise, you won’t be correctly reading their humidity levels.

If you will look closely, you’re bound to find holes or slits in such units. Air enters these and reaches the sensor inside. This is why it’s pretty much impossible to get one that’s waterproof.

2. Hygrometer With Corded Sensor

Conversely, the corded sensors of some hygrometers can indeed be made out of breathable waterproof housing material. They continue working flawlessly even after being totally submerged in water for a very long time.

How? The holes in their casing are so small that only the water molecules can enter.

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But these are typically too expensive and reserved for more sophisticated hygrometers that are meant for professional use. So I don’t think you’ll find this in your local reptile or hardware store anytime soon.

Nevertheless, affordable hygrometers with corded sensors are better suited for use in the tanks of geckos that require moderate to high humidity. You can easily place the main body—with all the main electronic components—outside the tank while keeping the sensor inside.

However, I would advise you to be very careful with handling the cord of this type of hygrometer. The sensor inside could easily get disconnected from always being moved and twisted around. As a result, you’ll get readings that are super inaccurate or ones that never change—humidity is always at 10%.

3. Hygrometer With Remote Sensor

For gecko breeders and pet parents with a large reptile family, having a hygrometer with remote sensors (here on Amazon) helps with easy and quick humidity monitoring. These typically have a main unit that can be connected to several wireless sensors.

So you could place the main hygrometer console on your table and check up on your geckos’ tanks while you’re still working on your desk. You won’t even have to stand up!

The main drawback with this is that you will need batteries or regularly recharge the remote sensors to have them work continuously. Also, they’re a lot more pricey than hygrometers with either built-in or corded sensors.

5. Display Type

Digital hygrometers with relatively large backlit display screens are highly recommended. They allow owners to check the humidity reading in gecko tanks in an easier and less intrusive manner. In contrast, analog hygrometers are generally hard to read unless they are very big.

This is another reason why many experienced reptile keepers choose digital hygrometers over analog ones. Plus, the scaling of values printed on the face of mechanical hygrometers is not always correct.

Screen VS No Screen

Some hygrometers—typically ones that have wireless sensors—don’t have any screen at all. This can be a big issue since you can’t instantly check on your gecko’s well-being even when you’re standing right in front of their vivariums.

I mean—sure, looking up the humidity readings of multiple tanks from the main console and/or an application can be extremely convenient. But having to always have to check those to know the humidity readings can be time-consuming and inconvenient as well.

Backlight is Better

It will be much easier to check on your cute little gecko tank’s environmental conditions—even at night—if there is an option to turn on a backlight for it.

Another problem in using hygrometers with non-backlight screens that are commonly experienced by reptile keepers is that there’s always a glare due to the lights in the tank.

It can be really hard to check for humidity readings in such cases, especially when the contrast is low—you can’t clearly make out the numbers from the background.

The Issue With Touchscreens

Does the hygrometer you’re eyeing have a touchscreen? If yes, then look for another model! Your gecko could easily mess with your electronic hygrometer if it has a touchscreen.

Look for something that can be adjusted or controlled using buttons instead. Better yet, get one that can’t be configured using the main unit if it needs to be installed inside the tank. Go for one that comes with an app.

6. Mounting Options

The hygrometer for a gecko should have mounting options that are suitable for its lifestyle. A hygrometer with a stand is good for terrestrial geckos. Meanwhile, arboreal geckos would require hygrometers that can be mounted high in their tall tanks.

If you want to know what’s the worst way to mount a hygrometer, I have the answer for you—adhesives. Over time, these will lose their stickiness and could potentially fall on your gecko and stick to their scales. The consequences of that can be very dangerous.

So instead look for safer mounting options. Good hygrometer mounting options for gecko tanks include 1) stands, 2) hooks, 3) hanging holes, 4) suction cups, and 5) magnets.

Where should your place a hygrometer in a gecko tank?

One hygrometer should be placed within the cool end and the other by the warm end. For terrestrial species, such as leopard geckos, these should be closer to the substrate, where they spend most of their time in.

But for arboreal geckos, like crested geckos, it’s ideal to have them more or less halfway up the height of their enclosures.

7. Extra Features

Hygrometers do not require extra features for them to be useful for gecko-keeping. Nevertheless, these additional features can help gecko owners and breeders to improve their husbandry practices.

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Most of these extra hygrometer features and/or functions are only found in electronic or digital models. That’s another winning point for electronic hygrometers!

Here are the four common extra features of gecko tank hygrometers:

1. Thermometer—this allows you to monitor the temperature and humidity levels in your gecko tank simultaneously
2. Remote access—this lets you check on your gecko’s environmental conditions via WiFi and/or Bluetooth with the main console and/or a mobile application
3. Data logging—this lets you keep track of the humidity fluctuations inside a gecko’s enclosure over a long period of time
4. Alarms—this will alert you when the humidity dips or rises outside the ideal levels for your gecko through a sound alarm or a notification on its application

Keep in mind that these extras will contribute to a higher price tag.

Share Your Thoughts With Us!

As you probably noticed by now, all the hygrometers included in our list double as ambient thermometers. This is so you get your money’s worth!

However, not all hygrometer-thermometer combos are good products. Analog ones, in particular, are quite notorious for being really inaccurate. So rest assured that we only made sure to give you great recommendations for electronic humidity gauges—as always!

Once again, Reptile Hero’s top 5 best hygrometers for gecko tanks are:

1. Best Overall from Govee
2. Runner Up from ThermoPro
3. Best for Humid Tanks from Zoo Med
4. Veanic
5. Preciva

Got other hygrometers you want us to try out? Then give us a shout here!

Further Questions

Summary of Hygrometers for Gecko Tanks

When choosing a hygrometer for one’s gecko tank, they must check for its 1) type, 2) accuracy, 3) compatibility, 4) sensor, 5) display, 6) mounting, and 7) extra features. All these can affect how well the owner can monitor the humidity in the reptile’s enclosure.

Overall, the H5075 Smart Thermo-Hygrometer model from Govee is the most recommended humidity gauge for gecko tanks. This is because it has a lot to offer to ensure a gecko’s welfare despite being budget-friendly.

Sources

[1] https://megadepot.com/resource/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hygrometer-and-a-psychrometer

[2] https://hygrometer.net/types-hygrometers-multiple-uses/