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That depends on what they are eating. If it's lots of weeds, mulberry leaves, cactus pads, Mazuri, etc..., then you really don't need much supplementation. If its a lot of grocery store greens, they you will need the supplements and other amendments too.

The most secure housing option would be a large cage. I use a couple of these for my stars here. They are around 30x30 feet. No predator or dog can get to them. Most of my other large tortoises are in large open topped pens. You could use this method and just have secure fencing around it to...

You are correct. Yes and yes.

I just wet the substrate under the humid hide. It's good to move the hygrometer around and get readings all over. Have a little fun with it. Since it is a closed chamber, it will mostly be one ambient temperature inside except under the heat lamp. I like to put a hide on both sides.

No forumla. Just long held beliefs based on what works and what doesn't over the years.

Yes if it is a flood type bulb, or a round type bulb in an aluminum hood. See the very precise, scientific, and technical diagram above in post #204. :)

I can just feel a TTPG presentation, with loads of great pictures, coming on... Can't wait! Hurry up November!

If they have suitable shade, they should be fine outside. It gets hot where they come from in summer too. Put a digital thermometer in the shady areas where they are hiding out and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how cool it is there. If your thermometer reveals that it is too hot, add...

So many great questions! -FIrst and foremost. I will share with you what works for me with Testudo species in general and with other temperate species like desert tortoises and chersina. I have not personally kept and tried this with Egyptian tortoises, but I have now found several experience...

I appreciate your efforts, but this enclosure is still way too small. You need one at least 122cm x 61cm wide. Bigger than this would be even better. It would be best to use some sort of outdoor pool or pond and put it in an area that gets afternoon shade.

You need an incandescent bulb. These produce light AND heat. The newer more efficient LED type bulbs are great for lighting up the enclosure and should also be used, but they do not produce basking heat.

I do't know what brands are available over there. Over here we have dozens of brands and they are ever changing. Just be sure there is no fiber in it. You want just plain coir. Not "coco fiber". I'm talking about those long hair-like pieces. Don't want those fibers.

-Your current UV tube is all you need for the new enclosure. -Nothing species specific. Sounds like you've got a good handle on things. -Substrate choices are great. I would use one or the other, but no reason you can't use both.

The best way to introduce it is with those young new pads. Over time, as they grow to like it more and more, they are more and more willing to really work on older more fibrous pads. The variety that you have tends to always make the more tender easy-to-eat pads, and there is more where that...

Hello and welcome back!

They can lay again in four weeks. Let's call in some people with more Russian experience: @biochemnerd808 @Carol S @HoosierTorts

That sounds like over heating or poisoning. Also, at 13 years old, he is too big for heat lamps and CHEs. Those are ineffective at warming a large tortoise and this usually results in carapace damage. Time to switch to other, safer, more effective heating strategies.

We are talking about regular incandescent bulbs of which they sell different types. The main factor that concerns us is the focus of the beam. We don't want a narrowly focused beam like a "spot" bulb. We want a widely focused beam called a "flood" bulb. This diagram explains it better than 1000...

It will work just fine with plastic. The wood will essentially be resting on top of the whole enclosure and the few screws will hold it in place. My closed chambers are all plastic and I screw into and through them on the regular. My heat lamps and CHEs hang from the metal coffee cup hooks...

The problem is that you are trying to force a square peg into a round hole. You bought the wrong type of enclosure. Open tops don't work. All of your heat and humidity is drawn up and out because of the chimney effect. Having all of the heating and lighting outside the enclosure doesn't work...