Sonnenblume
New Member
Hello,
we just got a cherry head named Rio last week. This is our first tortoise, so still working on everything.
Based on the thread that I just read about Large Marge and comparing her age and weight, I figured that doesn't sound right at all, so I thought i post to get some ideas.
Rio is 5 years old and weighed in just now at a 208g.
He came to us in the below open vivarium, the one without any plants, (with a 120V basking light, 60w CHE).
After reading around the forum pretty much since we got him, I changed the following:
- put tinfoil on the top to completely cover it
- took out the basking light and put in a LED for just light
- ordered a 100W CHE to switch out the old one to get more warmth in there
- new water dish (he doesnt really use it it seems, other one was taking up too much room)
- new hide out of tupperware instead of amazon box
- added some live plants and fake plants to get shade (want to eventually plant some stuff in there too)
- added more thermometers in several areas
- got a temp gun
- been soaking him daily for 20min in warm water
- took him out 3 times into the sun for around 30min
warm area is around 84F, Cooler spot around78F, humidity around 80
I dont think its warm enough for him, thats where the new CHE comes in (will go on an on/off thermometer)
Food: spring mix, spinach, dandelions from yard, yellow squash, zucchini
My main question now is
a) is he a cherry head? (from what I can tell it might be true)
b) 5 years? (the old owner gave us a specific date on when they received him which was indeed 5 years ago
c) is he underweight and way too small for that age?
Thank you already!
we just got a cherry head named Rio last week. This is our first tortoise, so still working on everything.
Based on the thread that I just read about Large Marge and comparing her age and weight, I figured that doesn't sound right at all, so I thought i post to get some ideas.
Rio is 5 years old and weighed in just now at a 208g.
He came to us in the below open vivarium, the one without any plants, (with a 120V basking light, 60w CHE).
After reading around the forum pretty much since we got him, I changed the following:
- put tinfoil on the top to completely cover it
- took out the basking light and put in a LED for just light
- ordered a 100W CHE to switch out the old one to get more warmth in there
- new water dish (he doesnt really use it it seems, other one was taking up too much room)
- new hide out of tupperware instead of amazon box
- added some live plants and fake plants to get shade (want to eventually plant some stuff in there too)
- added more thermometers in several areas
- got a temp gun
- been soaking him daily for 20min in warm water
- took him out 3 times into the sun for around 30min
warm area is around 84F, Cooler spot around78F, humidity around 80
I dont think its warm enough for him, thats where the new CHE comes in (will go on an on/off thermometer)
Food: spring mix, spinach, dandelions from yard, yellow squash, zucchini
My main question now is
a) is he a cherry head? (from what I can tell it might be true)
b) 5 years? (the old owner gave us a specific date on when they received him which was indeed 5 years ago
c) is he underweight and way too small for that age?
Thank you already!