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Messa

New Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
Cape Town
Hi. I'm Messa, a new member. I have an juvinile Angulate tortoise. I have an 2000×1000mm indoor enclosure with all the proper lighting and substrate. She also have an outdoor enclosure for daytime. I from Cape Town South Africa where the Angulate originates from and also had one when I was young, for 13 years. My problem is the humidity device shows it good during the day, between 55% and 65%, which is proper for the Angulate, but at night the humidity goes to about 80% and then in the morning when I switch the heat lamp on, it goes back to normal. The Angulate don't need heat lamp at night on cause our weather is not to cold and is natural for them the cooler evenings, but not under 22 Celsius. I didn't have any problems with my other Angulate and he lived to a beautiful age of 26. He was 12 years old when I inherited him. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong. Or is it OK for humidity to increase at night-time. Please advise. Thank you. Messa.
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,905
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Hi. I'm Messa, a new member. I have an juvinile Angulate tortoise. I have an 2000×1000mm indoor enclosure with all the proper lighting and substrate. She also have an outdoor enclosure for daytime. I from Cape Town South Africa where the Angulate originates from and also had one when I was young, for 13 years. My problem is the humidity device shows it good during the day, between 55% and 65%, which is proper for the Angulate, but at night the humidity goes to about 80% and then in the morning when I switch the heat lamp on, it goes back to normal. The Angulate don't need heat lamp at night on cause our weather is not to cold and is natural for them the cooler evenings, but not under 22 Celsius. I didn't have any problems with my other Angulate and he lived to a beautiful age of 26. He was 12 years old when I inherited him. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong. Or is it OK for humidity to increase at night-time. Please advise. Thank you. Messa.
I just wanted to say welcome to the forum. I don't know about the species of tortoise that you have but you are at the right place to find out from experienced owners of that species. I have a Russian. Best wishes for you and your tortoise.
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Hi and welcome Messa,
Can you post some pics of his enclosure to give members a better idea of anything that could be affecting this?
I'll tag @CarolM to see if she can help, she's in Cape Town with angulates too.
 

Sterant

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
693
Location (City and/or State)
Albany, NY
80% humidity at night is fine. I keep mine over 85% humidity all the time and its always at 100% at night. Of course you can keep yours outdoors all year long which is great!
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hi. I'm Messa, a new member. I have an juvinile Angulate tortoise. I have an 2000×1000mm indoor enclosure with all the proper lighting and substrate. She also have an outdoor enclosure for daytime. I from Cape Town South Africa where the Angulate originates from and also had one when I was young, for 13 years. My problem is the humidity device shows it good during the day, between 55% and 65%, which is proper for the Angulate, but at night the humidity goes to about 80% and then in the morning when I switch the heat lamp on, it goes back to normal. The Angulate don't need heat lamp at night on cause our weather is not to cold and is natural for them the cooler evenings, but not under 22 Celsius. I didn't have any problems with my other Angulate and he lived to a beautiful age of 26. He was 12 years old when I inherited him. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong. Or is it OK for humidity to increase at night-time. Please advise. Thank you. Messa.
Hello and welcome.

Realize that much of what you find written on tortoise care is old and outdated, and many of the numbers listed are arbitrary made up guesses. Who says 55-65% is proper for angulates? Did that person try it at 10-20% and then again at 80-90% to see which did what? Doubtful. What is usually done is someone looks at weather data from somewhere near the region and makes guesses based on that. Here's the problems: 1. Weather and conditions can vary TREMENDOUSLY over just the span of a few kilometers. 2. Weather stations 2 meters high and out in the open do NOT reflect the environment, the little microclimate, down in the humid bush where babies are spending their time. 3. We have proven tens of thousands of times now that higher humidity levels for babies and juveniles help them to thrive.

For more than a decade, starting in 2008, me and many other members here have been running experiments and raising species that were traditionally considered "dry" species with higher levels of humidity. We've had nothing but success and good health. Sulcatas, leopard tortoises, pancakes, desert tortoises, Russians, chacos, Galapagos tortoises, and, of course, Angulated tortoises.

During my time in the RSA, we had some very high levels of humidity. There were days out in Kraaifontein in the fall that were as humid as the American Southeast. Don't be afraid of some humidity for your little one. And its perfectly normal for relative humidity to rise as the air cools at night.

Here is my little guy after waking from hibernation this spring:
4:2021.JPG

Here is the most current and correct care info for our Chersina:
 

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