colinray2000
New Member
My baby Hermann's, Henry, has been less active as of recently. Activity levels have declined over the past 2 weeks. He will move spots a couple inches and then goes right back to bed.
He hasn't been eating as much as of recent as well. He gets new food and water daily and hasn't even been eating when I offer him Easter cactus.
Lastly his shell is soft. I understand that a tortoises shell hardens as it matures. It is soft but isn't malleable or anything. No secretions or discolorations.
Enclosure: He is currently in a 2ft by 4ft open top tortoise table with 2 separate lamps. his substrate consists of 70% coco fiber substrate, 20% sand, and 10% coco husk. The substrate is ~3 inches deep. I know sand typically isn't advised for reptiles as it can cause impaction but its my understanding that it is save in low quantities.
Heat: One is a zoomed 100w Mercury Vapor bulb and the other is a 100w zilla day white light. These lamps are elevated to where the temperature under the zilla is ~100F and ~94 under the zoomed. The UV content is within appropriate limits as i have tested it at his shell height with a UV card. As the enclosure is larger the temperature varies based on location. The lowest temp recorded via temp gun is 72F during the day. At night the lamps are turned off and the ambient temp of the room is 70F.
Diet: The staples of his diet are endive and escarole. I will also add turnip greens, red lettuce, swiss chard, radicchio, mustard greens, spring mix (no spinach), and water cress. I typically add 2 of the items from my second list to the endive and escarole. Henry receives calcium every other day sprinkled on top of his salad.
Please advise me on what can be done to improve his situation.
He hasn't been eating as much as of recent as well. He gets new food and water daily and hasn't even been eating when I offer him Easter cactus.
Lastly his shell is soft. I understand that a tortoises shell hardens as it matures. It is soft but isn't malleable or anything. No secretions or discolorations.
Enclosure: He is currently in a 2ft by 4ft open top tortoise table with 2 separate lamps. his substrate consists of 70% coco fiber substrate, 20% sand, and 10% coco husk. The substrate is ~3 inches deep. I know sand typically isn't advised for reptiles as it can cause impaction but its my understanding that it is save in low quantities.
Heat: One is a zoomed 100w Mercury Vapor bulb and the other is a 100w zilla day white light. These lamps are elevated to where the temperature under the zilla is ~100F and ~94 under the zoomed. The UV content is within appropriate limits as i have tested it at his shell height with a UV card. As the enclosure is larger the temperature varies based on location. The lowest temp recorded via temp gun is 72F during the day. At night the lamps are turned off and the ambient temp of the room is 70F.
Diet: The staples of his diet are endive and escarole. I will also add turnip greens, red lettuce, swiss chard, radicchio, mustard greens, spring mix (no spinach), and water cress. I typically add 2 of the items from my second list to the endive and escarole. Henry receives calcium every other day sprinkled on top of his salad.
Please advise me on what can be done to improve his situation.