asampson760
New Member
Me again! Back with a collection of questions regarding my little sulcata. (Tom, I promise I have read your guide sooo many times )
First of all I am wondering about humidity. I was told my little guy is a year old, but he is quite small and fits in the palm of my hand. What level of humidity am I shooting for? Can the humidity be too high?
Now for temps. What temps should I be looking for under the humid hide? And what about night time temps? Right now ambient temps at night are at 80 degrees, is that okay or should they be higher? Should the humid hide be warmer at night (or any time) or is 80 okay?
Lastly I am wondering about some tort behavior. First, since I have found these forums and read Tom's guide I have been soaking for 30 minutes a day. Since I have started daily soaking my tort no longer uses his water dish in his enclosure at all. I use a terra cotta saucer that's sunken into the substrate. At first he would go in multiple times a day, but now that we are doing soaks he never uses it. Is that normal? Second, since I have gotten him into an enclosed chamber and humidity is much higher he no longer uses his humid hide. He used to spend a lot of time in it and sleep in it at night. But now that his enclosure is much more humid he never goes inside of it. He just sleeps outside of it, usually in his basking spot - all sprawled out. Is this normal?
Finally, I have started to become quite paranoid about respiratory issues through various reading on the forum. My little guy doesn't seem to show any obvious signs - no nose discharge, eyes are clear. However, today I have noticed him open his mouth wide probably 3-4 times. Is this something to be concerned about? He is eating very well, as always. And his activity level is the same as it has been since I got him. I have always noticed his head bobbing sometimes and also notice his legs moving at the same time. Is this normal "baby" breathing, or is it a cause for concern?
First of all I am wondering about humidity. I was told my little guy is a year old, but he is quite small and fits in the palm of my hand. What level of humidity am I shooting for? Can the humidity be too high?
Now for temps. What temps should I be looking for under the humid hide? And what about night time temps? Right now ambient temps at night are at 80 degrees, is that okay or should they be higher? Should the humid hide be warmer at night (or any time) or is 80 okay?
Lastly I am wondering about some tort behavior. First, since I have found these forums and read Tom's guide I have been soaking for 30 minutes a day. Since I have started daily soaking my tort no longer uses his water dish in his enclosure at all. I use a terra cotta saucer that's sunken into the substrate. At first he would go in multiple times a day, but now that we are doing soaks he never uses it. Is that normal? Second, since I have gotten him into an enclosed chamber and humidity is much higher he no longer uses his humid hide. He used to spend a lot of time in it and sleep in it at night. But now that his enclosure is much more humid he never goes inside of it. He just sleeps outside of it, usually in his basking spot - all sprawled out. Is this normal?
Finally, I have started to become quite paranoid about respiratory issues through various reading on the forum. My little guy doesn't seem to show any obvious signs - no nose discharge, eyes are clear. However, today I have noticed him open his mouth wide probably 3-4 times. Is this something to be concerned about? He is eating very well, as always. And his activity level is the same as it has been since I got him. I have always noticed his head bobbing sometimes and also notice his legs moving at the same time. Is this normal "baby" breathing, or is it a cause for concern?