Western Hermanns: juvenile baths timing

[balding_ape]

Hello, I work days typically from early (7-8am) to late (frequently after 6pm). I'd like to make sure I can give daily soaks to my new western hermanns (about 3" shell, 7 months old). It seems like a pretty bad idea to do it when I get home at night, given that the heat lamps are off by this time and temps in the enclosure are in the 75-81 F range. The heat lamps don't come on until 8am, and I'm often gone by then.

Is it better to do an early soak, and maybe turn on the lamps a bit earlier, or late soak, and turn off the lamps later? I feel like doing an early soak would be better since there's no chance of being chilled overnight.

 

[Markw84]

I would soak in the AM. You should have the lights on for your tortoise 14 hours per day. From what you describe it seems you have them on less than that, and that can cause your Hermanns to feel like it needs to brumate. I would have the lights go on at 6AM and soak then. The lights should go off at 8PM. You are trying to simulate summer photoperiods where the sun is up 14+ hours per day in the summer.

 

[balding_ape]

I would soak in the AM. You should have the lights on for your tortoise 14 hours per day. From what you describe it seems you have them on less than that, and that can cause your Hermanns to feel like it needs to brumate. I would have the lights go on at 6AM and soak then. The lights should go off at 8PM. You are trying to simulate summer photoperiods where the sun is up 14+ hours per day in the summer.

Thank you! I appreciate your advice!