Is my enclosure okay?

[ChelseaR]

Hi,

I recently decided i needed a bigger home for my Russian tort, so i used my partners old viv and laid it on its side to create an enclosure.
I (think) i have everything he needs and its DEFINITELY bigger and more spacious that his last table as he used to climb the walls which drove me insane at times.
Ive attached some photos, please be kind this is my first tort and I'm trying my best.

He seems to be happy, he just likes to watch out the glass.

I just want to make sure I've gotten everything right

 

[JoesMum]

Hi Chelsea

That analogue thermometer that sticks to the wall is no use. You need a digital thermometer - ideally the temperature gun type (inexpensive from Amazon or hardware stores) to accurately measure the temperature directly under the basking lamp. Like this:

Your basking hangs straight down which is good, but the one at an angle concerns me. What bulbs do you have? It looks like you might have a CFL compact UVB which hurts tort eyes


If so, you should remove this and replace it with a tube UVB like this


OR take out both bulbs and use a single Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) hanging vertically to supply both basking heat and UVB from one bulb.

Your reptile bowls are a tipping hazard and hard for a tort to use. A terracotta plant saucer makes the best water dish and a piece of flat rock or slate (or even the back of a wall tile) make a great food plate that will help to abrade the beak and stop it over-growing while your tort eats.

Finally the substrate needs to be evenly damp. You need to take the decor out, tip water in and mix it thoroughly with your hands so it's evenly damp - not wet. This raises the humidity. You can then spray the enclosure with water from a plant mister bottle a couple of times a day to keep the humidity up. The substrate will dry out over time, so you will need to tip water in again every few weeks.

 

[ChelseaR]

Hi!

Thank you for replying so quickly.
The 2 bulbs i have in are;
1. the hanging one is a uvb/uva - it gives off both
2. the one in the dome is the same type of bulb but its only a heat emitting one
I do plan on getting the strip light at some point.

Also, I will make sure my substrate is damp too!

 

[JoesMum]

Hi!

Thank you for replying so quickly.
The 2 bulbs i have in are;
1. the hanging one is a uvb/uva - it gives off both
2. the one in the dome is the same type of bulb but its only a heat emitting one
I do plan on getting the strip light at some point.

Also, I will make sure my substrate is damp too!

You don't need both on by day. The hanging one is enough. That's an MVB. It will need to be replaced every 6-9 months as the UVB out seriously diminishes long before the bulb actually blows.

Remove the other bulb. You don't need a strip light with an MVB either.

At night your tort needs complete darkness.

Use a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) hung vertically with a thermostat to boost temperatures if needed. It can run 24/7, but the thermostat ensures it only cuts in when needed, eg at night.

A CHE looks like this (sometimes they're black)

 

[Polly]

Hi Chelsea

That analogue thermometer that sticks to the wall is no use. You need a digital thermometer - ideally the temperature gun type (inexpensive from Amazon or hardware stores) to accurately measure the temperature directly under the basking lamp. Like this: View attachment 196229

Your basking hangs straight down which is good, but the one at an angle concerns me. What bulbs do you have? It looks like you might have a CFL compact UVB which hurts tort eyes
View attachment 196230

If so, you should remove this and replace it with a tube UVB like this
View attachment 196231

OR take out both bulbs and use a single Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) hanging vertically to supply both basking heat and UVB from one bulb.

Your reptile bowls are a tipping hazard and hard for a tort to use. A terracotta plant saucer makes the best water dish and a piece of flat rock or slate (or even the back of a wall tile) make a great food plate that will help to abrade the beak and stop it over-growing while your tort eats.

Finally the substrate needs to be evenly damp. You need to take the decor out, tip water in and mix it thoroughly with your hands so it's evenly damp - not wet. This raises the humidity. You can then spray the enclosure with water from a plant mister bottle a couple of times a day to keep the humidity up. The substrate will dry out over time, so you will need to tip water in again every few weeks.

On reading this I have removed the pellet based substrate from Buddy's table and replaced it with another claiming to be suitable. I mixed some water and replaced the succulents. He has come out of his house and is now practically running round with pretty muddy feet. Or rather the substrate has stuck to them! I'm thinking he likes it (or could he be trying to find a dryer bit?

 

[JoesMum]

On reading this I have removed the pellet based substrate from Buddy's table and replaced it with another claiming to be suitable. I mixed some water and replaced the succulents. He has come out of his house and is now practically running round with pretty muddy feet. Or rather the substrate has stuck to them! I'm thinking he likes it (or could he be trying to find a dryer bit?

You've changed things so he's probably checking it all out.

How deep is the substrate? Ideally it should be 3-4 inches deep.

 

[Polly]

On reading this I have removed the pellet based substrate from Buddy's table and replaced it with another claiming to be suitable. I mixed some water and replaced the succulents. He has come out of his house and is now practically running round with pretty muddy feet. Or rather the substrate has stuck to them! I'm thinking he likes it (or could he be trying to find a dryer bit?

Sorry to Chelsea for hijacking your thread, but it proved very useful - so thanks for posting and thanks joesmum for answering! I like this forum!
Some parts are only an inch deep, but to add interest for him some goes as deep as 3 inch. He's also been eating a bit of it, hopefully that's ok, the bag said it contains topsoil, sand and added calcium. (Pettex tortoise bedding from Amazon)

 

[JoesMum]

If your tort is eating substrate there is a risk of it causing impaction and blocking the gut. This is especially true of sandy substrates that stick to food easily and can be eaten by accident.

Your tort needs an earthy substrate, no sand mixed in, that you can dampen with no bits or stones that your tort may be tempted to eat.

In their search for calcium, torts are attracted to white things and that leads them to eat the substrate.

Petted contains white bits and isn't a good substrate in my opinion.

Much better to use fine grade orchid bark or coco coir like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Fo...UTF8&qid=1483453971&sr=8-3&keywords=Coco+coir

 

[Polly]

If your tort is eating substrate there is a risk of it causing impaction and blocking the gut. This is especially true of sandy substrates that stick to food easily and can be eaten by accident.

Your tort needs an earthy substrate, no sand mixed in, that you can dampen with no bits or stones that your tort may be tempted to eat.

In their search for calcium, torts are attracted to white things and that leads them to eat the substrate.

Petted contains white bits and isn't a good substrate in my opinion.

Much better to use fine grade orchid bark or coco coir like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Fo...UTF8&qid=1483453971&sr=8-3&keywords=Coco+coir

Thanks I've ordered some to arrive tomorrow

 

[ChelseaR]

Thanks for the replies guys!
To Polly- Your tort is called Buddy? So is mine aha!

He's currently climbing the walls to get out so I've blocked off where he can see out to see if that works.
Hopefully he'll get the idea that he can't get out and give up!

 

[Polly]

Oh Fab, he was going to be Torti-mc-tortoise face (- my son and Buddy's official owner is 9) right up until we met him and my son said hello Buddy!
I've just managed to get the substrate recommended, and set the table up again and Buddy is now eating his lamb's lettuce and cuttlefish