Reptile Misting Systems: What to Know Before Buying

High humidity is important to the health and shedding of lots of reptiles. Many species live in humid environments near rainforests, ponds and marshes.

Misting is one of the best and fastest ways to increase the humidity in a tank. It can be done with a spray bottle, but the easiest way is to use an automatic reptile misting system.

The best misters are configurable, have several mist nozzles and large water reservoirs. Great misters also generate more pressure than 100 pounds per square inch.

If you do not know where to start, keep reading! We share everything you need to know about the best misting systems. We also share the best three systems, how to set up a system and common beginner mistakes.

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

The REPTI ZOO is a simple, reliable and high powered reptile mister that is great for beginners. Its large integrated water reservoir and preset programs make it easy for first-time reptile owners to install and run.

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4 Best Reptile Misting Systems

Editor’s Picks Mister Our Rating
Best Overall MistKing Starter Misting System 5
Best for Beginners REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister 4.7
Most Affordable Zoo Med Repti Rain
4.0

Best for Beginners: REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

The REPTI ZOO is a simple, reliable and high powered reptile mister that is great for beginners. Its large integrated water reservoir and preset programs make it easy for first-time reptile owners to install and run.

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The REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister is a great system for beginners with one large terrarium. It is powerful enough to be used for any reptile that needs high humidity or late-night fog such as chameleons and geckos.

It is unique for the ability to change the water pressure. This allows the system to switch between misting and fogging.

While misting is essential for tank humidity, plants and reptiles, some reptiles can benefit from fog too. This fog does not replace the mist, but this mister has the ability to change back and forth. The nozzles can be adjusted so that the pressure changes from a thicker mist to a fine fog. The nozzles also have a feature that draws water back at the end of the misting process to avoid excess dripping.

The REPTI ZOO is best suited for first-time owners who have never set up a reptile misting system before. It is quick and easy to install because the integrated reservoir tank does not need to be detached. The reservoir does not need to be detached to refill either.

While the Repti Zoo system is programmable, it does not have as many timer settings as more advanced systems. This makes it great for beginners who like simple controls.

Overall, it is a great mister for reptile tanks and is simple to program.

Pros:

  • A simple set-up that makes it great for beginners.
  • Simple to program.
  • Reservoir does not need to be detached to refill.
  • Can be used as either a mister or a fogger.
  • Supports 20 nozzles, each of which has an anti-drip feature.

Cons:

  • Not as flexible or versatile as more advanced misters.
  • Can be loud when misting.
  • Not suitable to mist several large tanks at once.

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Best Overall: MistKing Starter Misting System

MistKing Starter Misting Systems

MistKing Starter Misting System

The MistKing is a high-quality automatic reptile mister that we love for its programmable system. We also love its high pressure system that has the ability to mist several tanks at once.

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The MistKing reptile mister is perfect for reptile owners that have lots of experience keeping reptiles and have several tanks setup. The system has programmable misting cycles, a flexible water reservoir and its many nozzles can be directed into several large tanks.

Most misting systems come with a built-in reservoir tank that has a limited water capacity. The MistKing is unique in that it completely lacks one, and you must provide your own. While this may seem like an inconvenience, many owners find this feature very helpful. They often use a large bucket, so that it doesn’t have to be refilled frequently. Those with less space, can also use a small reservoir.

The MistKing has the ability to power 20 high-pressure nozzles. This allows you to mist to many different areas in a terrarium, or even mist several terrariums. This is great for owners that have multiple tanks.

You can also customize the misting cycles and intervals with a program selection and external timer.

One downside to this misting system is that it can be tricky for beginners to set up due to the lack of reservoir and number of misting programs.

Pros:

  • Very quiet and does not disturb reptiles when misting.
  • Does not include a fixed water reservoir.
  • Highly customizable cycles and timer.
  • Can attach 20 nozzles, compared to only 4 nozzles with other brands.
  • Ideal mister for large or multiple tanks.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for small tanks less than 15-gallons.
  • Complicated for beginners to set up.
  • Need to purchase additional parts such as a water reservoir.

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Runner Up: Exo Terra Monsoon Solo System

Exo Terra Monsoon Solo System

Exo Terra Monsoon Solo System

The Exo Terra Monsoon is great for nearly every reptile and amphibian, especially species living in smaller tanks such as geckos and frogs. This misting system is highly programmable and can easily be adjusted to the needs of reptiles, amphibians or live plants.

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The Exo Terra Monsoon System is one of the best reptile misting systems. This system works well for beginners, especially those who have never used an automatic misting system before.

The misting function is very quiet and it can safely be used with shy reptiles. It can connect up to two spray nozzles that are flexible and can be pointed in any direction. It can also be programmed to spray a fine mist at your preferred frequency and duration over a 24-hour cycle. Spray durations can be set from two seconds up to two minutes.

One of the downsides to this system is the small 0.4-gallon reservoir. It can be seen as a positive or a negative, depending on how you want to use it. However, it does mean that this mister is not suited for large terrariums.

The advantage of a small reservoir is that it fits small terrariums, without taking up too much space. The reservoir is easy and fast to refill, but it will need to be refilled more frequently.

This refill frequency will depend on how often and how long the mister is set to be active. When it is set to the most infrequent misting setting, refilling may occur weekly. To be able to keep a very high humidity level the reservoir would have to be changed daily.

Pros:

  • The mister is very quiet and does not disturb shy reptiles.
  • It has a very small water reservoir, so it can fit in small terrariums.
  • You can set both the frequency and duration of misting.
  • Both nozzles are flexible and can bend to accommodate precise positioning.

Cons:

  • The reservoir is small, so it will need to be refilled daily when used in a large terrarium.
  • The nozzles are attached with suction cups which may lose suctioning potential.

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Most Affordable: Zoo Med Repti Rain

Zoo Med Repti Rain

Zoo Med Repti Rain

The Zoo Med Repti Rain is a small, compact system that is great for owners with smaller tanks or those who travel with their reptiles. It has a quick and easy set-up and is great for those who want a simple mister.

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The Zoo Med Repti Rain is a compact reptile misting system that is simple and easy to install. Its compact size makes it very portable and it can be easily packed away or traveled with.

Its small and simple design is also great for those who do not want to use a complicated system. It does have the option to spray at every three, six, or twelve hours and to spray for 15, 30, 45, or 60 seconds. Yet, its timers are also not as programmable as other misting systems.

The built-in water reservoir holds a quarter of a gallon, so it is a great option for small tanks. Not only is it small, but it can also run on batteries so it does not always need to be plugged into a wall outlet.

This system is not suitable for large setups or multiple tanks. This budget system is great for someone that wants a simple solution for a small tank.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy to operate with four preset misting programs.
  • Compact, portable and it can run on batteries.
  • It also has a clip and can either be suctioned or clipped onto your terrarium.
  • Good for travel.

Cons:

  • Small reservoir that runs out of water quickly.
  • Not as programmable or flexible as other misting systems.

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What To Know Before Buying A Reptile Misting System

Leopard Gecko Drinking

Reptile misting systems are important for the health of your reptile. It contributes to maintaining tank humidity, keeps your lizard healthy, hydrated and free of stuck-shed, and keeps plants and décor watered.

The end goal of any misting system is to automate misting water droplets on various surfaces in the enclosure.

Misters should be:

  • Programmable
  • High pressure
  • Have multiple nozzles
  • Have water reservoirs

A terrarium misting system should be programmable and give you plenty of control over when and how much to mist your reptile terrarium. Programmable misters allow you to control when the mist will be released into the terrarium and how long the intervals should be.

These timings may need to be changed based on tank humidity, species, and season. The best systems allow for control over the frequency and duration of misting. The frequency controls how many mist-outputs per day the system performs, and duration controls the number of seconds each mist should last for.

The nozzle is also an important feature of a misting system. The nozzle is where the mist exits the system and enters the terrarium. The nozzle can give you lots of control over where the mist is sent. A good misting system will have multiple flexible nozzles. A good system will have 2-5 nozzles, but the best have between 10-20 nozzles.

You should also consider how fine the mist is for each misting system. Most produce a light rain which mist-outputs the tank with small droplets of water. You should make sure that your mister does not spray droplets that are too heavy, and the mist should not be too fine so it is like fog either.

Finally, a good misting system should be easily installed and uninstalled. When a mister is easy to install or move, there are fewer mistakes likely to be made in its installation.

Common Mistakes

Frog Being Misted

A common mistake many reptile owners make is buying a fogger, instead of a mister.

Reptile misting systems raise the humidity level of a tank by mimicking rain. To do this it leaves water droplets scattered along various surfaces in a terrarium. Many reptiles, geckos included, like to lick droplets of water off of glass, rather than from a water dish.

A fogger does not condense the water molecules enough to form water droplets. Instead, it raises humidity levels by producing a very fine mist. It does not produce water droplets.

Foggers do not replace the need for a misting system.

Another issue with misters is that the electronic motor can break down due to a buildup of minerals, especially with cheaper models. In general, only distilled water should be used with a reptile mister.

Finally, you should avoid setting your mister to run continuously. Some misters are simpler to use than others, make sure you purchase one that you will be able program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Terrarium Can You Use a Misting System With?

Some misting systems work better for larger enclosures than others. A beginner misting system works well in a smaller terrarium, but it won’t be as effective in multiple or larger tanks.

The Exo Terra and the Zoo Med misting systems are best for small tanks between 10-30 gallons. The MistKing and Repti Zoo models are suited for several tanks or tanks larger than 30-gallons.

How Much Does A Reptile Mister Cost?

The price of a reptile misting system depends on the size, nozzles and pressure it can generate. Most high quality misting systems are $100 to $175. Portable or lower pressure systems can be found for about $50.

Foggers are generally cheaper, but do not confuse a fogger for a mister.

Summary

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

REPTI ZOO Reptile Mister

The REPTI ZOO is a simple, reliable and high powered reptile mister that is great for beginners. Its large integrated water reservoir and preset programs make it easy for first-time reptile owners to install and run.

See Price on Amazon

An automatic reptile misting system is a great way to control the humidity in your reptile’s tank.

A good system should be programmable to mist at frequencies and durations set to your preference. It should also be simple to set up, easy to use and come with several flexible nozzles. A high quality mister will produce a fine mist that is heavier than fog but lighter than heavy rain.

Finally, remember that a fogger is not a mister! Foggers are not a substitute for a reptile mister.

Do you have any misting tips? Share it in the comments below.

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About Johnathan David 255 Articles
Johnathan leads the Everything Reptiles’ editorial team as our Editor in Chief. He has been a reptile hobbyist since childhood and after years in herpetoculture he has cared for many Geckos and Frogs.

4 Comments

  1. Are there any misting systems that have humidity sensors built-in.
    So when its hits 40% it triggers the mist, until the humidity reaching a set % ?
    I have a 30-gallon tank with a crested gecko living in it.
    Currently we have out misting system (Thrive) set to 1 hour time, and 15 seconds of mist.
    Living in San Diego that means the humidity range goes from 70% to 40% in less than an hour.

    • Look for a timer like this: Inkbird Humidity Controller IHC200 Humidistat Mushroom Greenhouse Pre Wired Outlet Dual Stage Humidifier Dehumidifier

      I am not recommending this product as I have not used it but this would be what you would want to plug in your mister if it has an always on setting, once the humidity drops below what you program the timer it will turn the electrical outlet on.

      hope this helps.

  2. Was curious if there is a mister out there that is good to mist many tanks of different sizes. My wife breeds crested geckos and Agraecolies (spelling is def wrong lol). If we ever wanna go on a week long holiday out of town I want to get her an auto mister and possibly a auto feeding system that stops the pangea from spoiling so fast (if something like that even exists).

    Just wondering if you knew of a good quality auto mister for many multiple tanks. For smaller tanks incan get them their own smaller system that focuses on just them and use the bigger system for the big tanks.

    • There are many options available, such as Monsoon and MistKing (more complex but more versatile) and Reptizoo (beginner-friendly but less flexible). But the best one for you very much depends on experience, budget, tanks number and setup, animals, length of absence.
      Do your own research because without all those information, we only risk giving you the wrong advice!

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