Waiting for it's occupant...

Kimmers000

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...a hatchling Dalmatian who is arriving tomorrow! I'm about to freak out with the waaaaaiting.....

I've done my diligent research and listened to (and bugged the crap out of!) the breeder and this is what we have:

Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

It's a 50gallon Rubbermaid type tub. My lamps are a Powersun 100w and a 100w che. A thermostat for the che is on my wish list! Temps and humidity are where they should be for now though. I have a junk humidity gauge from Petco and a nice point and shoot infrared thermometer - that thing is fun to play with!!! Substrate is organic top soil and coco coir mixed 50/50, topped with cypress. The wire is to keep inquisitive dogs and cats OUT. At night, we'll be putting the lid on to maintain humidity. Plants came from a local nursery who I love and trust - they assure me they haven't been treated with anything. I've completely rinsed them tips to roots and removed all perlite, etc and washed their pots and then repotted in substrate. They both are listed as safe and recommended for enclosures on The Tortoise Table!

The only change I've made since I took these is moving the slate tile over to the corner - it was getting a bit too hot directly under the lamp. Where it is now, it is has perfect basking temp and the substrate directly under the lamp is toasty too. It's hard to tell in the pics, but there is moss in both little hides...

Eep! I'm so excited/nervous!


image.jpg image.jpgimage.jpgWas I supposed to insert those as thumbnails? Hopefully I did that right!
 

wellington

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Everything sounds good and looks good to me. Congrats on your little one. First thing when you get him/her is to give a nice 30 minute warm water soak. Then, place in the enclosure with some food. Let him/her get accustomed to the enclousre for the day. The next day, start your routine and enjoy.
 

Jodie

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A thermostat is going to be important for night heat. Your enclosure is very pretty. You will be amazed how quickly he will mess it all up. Congrats I am excited to see your first soak pics.
 

Kimmers000

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Our breeder and another breeder both say that our nighttime house temps are fine without extra heat - I feel so lucky! One less thing for me to be neurotic about...
 

Tom

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If its too hot on the slate under your basking lamp, it means your basking lamp is too close. You ought to figure out a way to hang it up a little higher. Resting them on top like that could lead to disaster with other pets around. Hanging your lamps will make sure that they are set at the right height and can never be moved onto the wood, plastic or floor.

I agree that a thermostat for your CHE is a must have.
 

Kimmers000

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Thank you - yes, I need to find a lamp stand. Will order one on amazon - our local stores are out. Ugh.
 

leigti

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Petsmart was out of thermostats today too. Dumb petsmart.
Go to Home Depot, will probably be cheaper and better quality there it took me a couple years of having my tortoise before I figured out that I can get things at hardware stores much cheaper. Not everything but a lot of things.
 

Delilah1623

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Thank you - yes, I need to find a lamp stand. Will order one on amazon - our local stores are out. Ugh.
I put those hooks in the ceiling and hung my lights from those. They are easy to adjust and will never get knocked over..... plus it was less than $3 for a 2 pack.
 

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Kimmers000

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Thanks so much, all!

Delilah - great idea! Next week the tub is moving to my son's room (post christmas) - definitely hanging them!

Jodie - thanks for the links! I've already spent waaaaaay too much time on tortoise supply website (and purchased food and dehydrated greens mix!). I need to check out lllreptile.... Or maybe I need to stay away. "I want that and that and that and..."

Tom - it occurred to me (derp) after your post that before I had the ceramic heater going, the basking spot wasn't quite warm enough on the slate, so I'd mounded the substrate up a little bit to lift the slate. Then everything changed when I turned on the che for better ambient heat. Duuuuuuh. I just went up there and (ruined my ohsopretty enclosure) and dug everything around back to uniform depth.

I also went running around to see if I could find a thermostat. I can tell you definitively that in Tacoma Washington, they do not exist at: Home Depot, lowes, a random auto supply store, petsmart or petco. I have a feeling it's the wrong season at the hardware stores... I'm going to order one from amazon. Meantime, I can continue to play with the cool-beans thermometer and monitor temps.

See? I'm a freak. I can't help it.

I'll post pics of the new wee one tomorrow!

Again - thanks everyone!
 

Levi the Leopard

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I bought my thermostats online. Right around $30 of Amazon. Ships fast, too!
It's the digital seedling mat thermostat by Hydrofarm. Works perfect with a CHE ;)
 

Kimmers000

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I'm going to go temp the dog. I hadn't thought of that!

And he's a rough collie, so we're going to collect data as to the temp at his skin and the temp on the outside of ALL of his hair.....
 

Kimmers000

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A little but of me thinks my son might like the temp gun more than the tortoise...... I'm ok with that, mommy gets a tortoise!
 

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