Spekes hingeback tortoise

Tortle1492

New Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2018
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Pennsylvania
Hello!
I have Spekes names Zephyr. I’ve have him since last april and he was under a year when I got him. Exact age is unknown, though. When I got him he was very active, got in and out of his water dish every day on his own, ate every day etc. since the colder weather he has been a lot less active, and I wasn’t sure if it’s de to the temp dropping or something else.

I have a ceramic heat bulb and a light heat lamp I keep both on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours.

I feed him lettuce, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, and squash mixed with pet store tortoise food, and use calcium power on top 1-2 times per week.
His appetite has dropped significantly and he isn’t eating much, maybe once a week. Other than that he is very inactive.

I just bought a heating pad for under the tank ( Because our home heat system is stuck at 67) , but have not applied it yet because it’s adhesive and I’m trying to find a larger enclosure for him.

Any suggestions on what I should change would be helpful. I just ordered a temp gun off line because I don’t have a thermometer. I also will be looking to get a new water dish this weekend.

Thanks guys!!
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.8 MB · Views: 51

mack_is_my_baby

New Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
25
Location (City and/or State)
Austin, Texas
Hello!
I have Spekes names Zephyr. I’ve have him since last april and he was under a year when I got him. Exact age is unknown, though. When I got him he was very active, got in and out of his water dish every day on his own, ate every day etc. since the colder weather he has been a lot less active, and I wasn’t sure if it’s de to the temp dropping or something else.

I have a ceramic heat bulb and a light heat lamp I keep both on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours.

I feed him lettuce, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, and squash mixed with pet store tortoise food, and use calcium power on top 1-2 times per week.
His appetite has dropped significantly and he isn’t eating much, maybe once a week. Other than that he is very inactive.

I just bought a heating pad for under the tank ( Because our home heat system is stuck at 67) , but have not applied it yet because it’s adhesive and I’m trying to find a larger enclosure for him.

Any suggestions on what I should change would be helpful. I just ordered a temp gun off line because I don’t have a thermometer. I also will be looking to get a new water dish this weekend.

Thanks guys!!

Make sure you’re soaking him two or three times a week in warm/room temperature water. He could be constipated. Also, does he have a hide or a cave-like structure for him to crawl under? My Speke’s hinge back neeeeds And loves his hide and spends all night and some of the day in it. I think it’s important for them to feel protected the best they can.
I wish I could help more! Hope it goes well!
 

Jacqui

Wanna be raiser of Lemon Drop tortoises
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
39,941
Location (City and/or State)
A Land Far Away...
First thing jumping out at me like was said above, where is his hide? Plus yes you really really need a much bigger area so he can escape the light and choose a temp he prefers. How hot is it under that lamp?
 
Top