2 year old Herman Tortoise

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Yes, you’re absolutely right. We were fortunate a Very informed member of staff at our local pet store yesterday who was really helpful. I bought all of the things recommended sadly bought the UV light Home the most expensive item and it didn’t work so today we have to take it back and change it, but I managed to get the enclosure up to a good 97 on the hot side and 72 on the cool and working on different ways to keep the moisture level going. Gave him a good soak yesterday and he ate quite a good bit of food, especially the bit that had the multivitamin on it which I was really pleased about and I coaxed him to eat some of the stuff with the calcium on it, which wasn’t particularly keen on to start with but all good in the end he was a bit more active and I’m gonna keep a close eye on him today he also moved around a little bit more, which was good, but I’m going to still take him to a vet for a check up and I got a recommendation for a really good reptile vet not far from me. The only thing I couldn’t get yesterday was Moss so I’ve been spraying the enclosure like a demon today! So gonna grab some moss and make a moss bag to hang out of his way in the cool end as well as some moss dotted around the enclosure and sprayed regularly thank you very much everyone for all of your help. Can’t wait to get them outside in the sunshine.

Sounds like you’re making some great changes! Personally just for the time being, I’d hold off on a vet visit, reason being, all in all your tortoise sounds active and happy, an unwell tortoise wouldn’t eatbecause you’re making quite a few changes at once, don’t be surprised if your tortoise starts appearing a little bit stressed(might go off food) tortoises hate any kind of change, even the good ones lol, I’m thinking a vet visit might be an unnecessary stress at this stage, ultimately better husbandry(which you’re starting to do) is going to go furthest in getting your baby to thrivevets can be expensive, and with all the new purchases, it seems a shame having to pay a consultation fee on top, just to be told similar(or worse they try and contradict all the up to date care info and confuse you) he isn’t sick so there’s no medicine to prescribe, and I wouldn’t want them giving vitamin injections.
If a visit with a really knowledgeable tortoise vet(these are hard to come by) is something you want to do to get a better understanding on his overall body condition and get a little m.o.t done, I see no harm in that, I just wouldn’t be in a rush just yet with all the changes taking place.

Don’t worry about adding moss, it’s an impaction risk if eaten, not worth the risk. You could maybe hang some far out of reach, but even then it’s not the most effective way to maintain humidity, a nice damp under layer with the cover over top of your enclosure will go furthest, spraying only lasts so long. At the age of yours I wouldn’t be overly worried about it being too high, as in constantly the 80’s, but I’d be interested to see potential new growth(might be slightly undersized still) if kept around 70-75% for the next 10months or so

 

[COmtnLady]

Maybe there is helpful info in these that will answer what you've asked. I couldn't find a concise Hermanns list,

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Hello there! In this thread, I’m going to include some information on an effective way to tackle a starter set up/a way you can build a bigger size once your baby is an adult. I know it looks a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered, I’m happy to break down any information...

tortoiseforum.org

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www.thetortoisetable.org.uk

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tortoiseforum.org

 

[Pocobear6]

Quick update on Rocket. We brought new lights, put a lid on the enclosure and a separate uv and basking lamps as well as CHE and a repti-fogger. Warm end of enclosure is steady 95 degrees and cool end is 72 degrees. Humidity is constant at 65 to 70% so working on raising that a bit. Nighttime temp was 68 last night. Rocket has been up much more and eating his new diet albeit reluctantly! He has been soaked twice, so so far so good.

 

[Pocobear6]

Back again about Rocket! Despite all the changes and constant temps of 95 under basking lamp and 72 in shaded area (humidity runs at about 75 in shaded end) he only comes out of sleeping area to eat and then immediately goes back to sleep. He isn’t warming himself up at all. I have to wake him up to soak him too. His diet is good based on all the feeding advice I got from here. He doesn’t look sick, clear eyes etc, but I am worried about the constant sleeping. I am not sure if I am imagining it, but I think I can trace his change in behaviour back to when our clocks changed and went into winter time. Could that possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is sleeping so much more than he used to?

 

[Pocobear6]

He just came out and is partially under the basking lamp but is laying with his head on the ground rather than holding his head up

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Back again about Rocket! Despite all the changes and constant temps of 95 under basking lamp and 72 in shaded area (humidity runs at about 75 in shaded end) he only comes out of sleeping area to eat and then immediately goes back to sleep. He isn’t warming himself up at all. I have to wake him up to soak him too. His diet is good based on all the feeding advice I got from here. He doesn’t look sick, clear eyes etc, but I am worried about the constant sleeping. I am not sure if I am imagining it, but I think I can trace his change in behaviour back to when our clocks changed and went into winter time. Could that possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is sleeping so much more than he used to?

This does sound like to me a typical winter slow down, you can try boosting the ambient temperature a few degrees and leaving lights on for 14hours instead of 12, it can help trick some into thinking it’s a longer warm summer day and encourage him out a bit more, it doesn’t always do the trick and is why a lot of people opt to brumate them. It’s too late to do that this year, but maybe you could consider it next year. Either way though I’m glad he’s still coming out to eat! Remember a poorly tortoise isn’t likely going to be eating every day, the fact he’s come out for a little bask now is good too!

 

[Pocobear6]

This does sound like to me a typical winter slow down, you can try boosting the ambient temperature a few degrees and leaving lights on for 14hours instead of 12, it can help trick some into thinking it’s a longer warm summer day and encourage him out a bit more, it doesn’t always do the trick and is why a lot of people opt to brumate them. It’s too late to do that this year, but maybe you could consider it next year. Either way though I’m glad he’s still coming out to eat! Remember a poorly tortoise isn’t likely going to be eating every day, the fact he’s come out for a little bask now is good too!

Great thank you! I just finished soaking him and he actually seems pretty good. Thanks for your reply. I will increase his daylight hours. Our clocks go forward at the end of this month so I will be very interested to see how that affects him. I will definitely consider burnating him next winter. It does seem that he wants to do that. I will be back here for advice on that!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Keep waking him up and soaking daily