Skyfire03
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2016
- Messages
- 4
Hello! We have a 3x5 foot double decker tortoise table, and I'm having a heck of a time getting/keeping the temps a humidity high enough. I live in Oregon, and our average house temp, even in the winter is about 70º Our red foot, Kirby, is less than a year old, and we've had him now for about 3 months. I have a lid on the top floor, and a misting system that sprays up there to keep in nice and moist. The average temp up there is about 79-80º with a basking lamp that he rarely (basically never) goes and sits under. Under the lamp, It's about 95º. The humidity though, has proven to be a challenge to maintain - I was spraying the enclosure pretty frequently and the levels were high, until one day I noticed that the bottom layers of the substrate were sopping. So I turned it way down, and now the substrate isnt sopping, but the humidity levels are way down. I also bought a heat rope, but I am unclear how I can use it. the instructions say no acrylic or wood, and not to bury it, but I have read that a few people are doing this here? The table is made out of wood, with a shower curtain liner, and plexiglass rails. It's a 50watt 15 ft cable. Can I put it under the substrate? Will it cause problems with the shower curtain?
Another issue is that though the temp in the inclosure is about 80º, Kirby always goes and sits in the corner, just out of the light, and that area, expecially in the substrate averages a lower temp. Often times I pull him out of the corner to feed him, or soak him, and he's cold to the touch. I've been fighting with this for a bit now, and getting frustrated. and what's worse, now one of his eyes has started running, and I've noticed a decline in how much he is eating. He is also making the occasional clicking noise with his mouth? Is this him breathing out his mouth? Does he have an RI? His nose isn`t running or anything, and when I pull him out, he moves around enough, but his eyes are satying closed a lot these days (not like, stuck chut, just more ike he doesn't want to open them right away when I pick him up. See the pics of the enclosure attached. Any advice/help is appreciated!
Another issue is that though the temp in the inclosure is about 80º, Kirby always goes and sits in the corner, just out of the light, and that area, expecially in the substrate averages a lower temp. Often times I pull him out of the corner to feed him, or soak him, and he's cold to the touch. I've been fighting with this for a bit now, and getting frustrated. and what's worse, now one of his eyes has started running, and I've noticed a decline in how much he is eating. He is also making the occasional clicking noise with his mouth? Is this him breathing out his mouth? Does he have an RI? His nose isn`t running or anything, and when I pull him out, he moves around enough, but his eyes are satying closed a lot these days (not like, stuck chut, just more ike he doesn't want to open them right away when I pick him up. See the pics of the enclosure attached. Any advice/help is appreciated!
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