A Few Quick Questions.

[ub3rsh00]

Hey Everyone,
I just have a few quick questions..
First Off, It's extremely cold here in Rochester right now, and during the night It gets down into the double Digit Negatives. That makes it extremely hard to keep Turtle's tank warm enough.. I Don't have the money right now to go out and buy a better night lamp for him because I have to buy books for college still. I do have a Thermometer/Hydrometer in his tank, and overnight the temp drops to below 60F (Or AT 60. It just doesnt read lower than 60.) And i was wondering if this is going to have any mega-negative effects on him.. I Run both lights at the same time for about an hour before I go to bed and after i wake up just to heat it up more.. But.. He's always Chilly in the morning. So.. Do I have to worry too much? Or should he be fine as long as his day temps are good. 90 is as high as i can get it right now.. 100 when its not -20 outside.
Secondly. Is there anything I can do to help him with his shedding? He was scratching his head on his front legs for the longest time and I finally saw that he was shedding. I used to clean him with a Tooth Brush and use cotton swabs when i did his soaks, but he really doesnt enjoy the toothbrush.. Is there anything else I can do to help him get the shed off quicker? Thanks Again everyone.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi George:

How big is Turtle? If he's an adult, then the 60's at night won't harm him. Russian tortoises do well with a drop in temp at night. You say you run "both" lights. What exactly kind of lights are you running?

You can cover the habitat. Do you have a CHE for night time?

Don't worry about the shedding. It happens on its own and you shouldn't encourage it by brushing it off. Keep the substrate SLIGHTLY moist and it will be ok.

 

[ub3rsh00]

I'd say he's about seven. I got him from Petco and his face doesn't look as long as some others, and I've heard that get called "The Flat Baby Face" But he's big enough to be an adult. The lights I have are 100W For daytime. and 75W for night time (Its the purple light) And As i said before I dont have the extra money to buy him hotter bulbs right now. And What's a CHE?