Activity Level Outside

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shelloise

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Shelloise is a lot more active outside than in her enclosure. She has been walking and grazing for the past hour. It's cloudy but warm here. She is not very active in her enclosure inside, usually either basking or going to her hut in the other end of it. I am wondering if her enclosure is not up to her needs? She is on nugget sized bark and also coir, her basking lamp( is red infraray) is about 85-88 and the rest off the enclosure is room temp. She has a uvb light as well. Sometimes her eyes are not open much in her enclosure. What am I doing wrong for her?
 

ALDABRAMAN

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shelloise said:
Shelloise is a lot more active outside than in her enclosure. She has been walking and grazing for the past hour.....//.....What am I doing wrong for her?

Sounds to me like you figured out the key to a happy tortoise: plenty of space for exercise, and unlimited natural food sources! Natural thermal regulation is also great!
 

Tom

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Red bulbs make things look funny to them. I would ditch it. What sort of UV bulb are you using? If its the coil type, they can damage their eyes. If she's not active and keeping her eyes closed a lot, this could be your problem.

Didn't we all talk about this in another thread...?

I think its great that you are so observant about behavior differences. These observations are a great way to make adjustments and optimize your tortoises enclosures.
 

shelloise

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Yes there was another thread, some people thought the red light was fine and some didn't. I was using s coil u b light and took it out yesterday. I'm not set up for strip lighting which I had mentioned, didn't get a definate answer on what I could use. The pet store i went to today said use a coil light, so that's of no benefit... So I am trying to find info online

ALDABRAMAN said:
Sounds to me like you figured out the key to a happy tortoise: exercise, plenty of space for exercise, and unlimited natural food sources! Natural thermal regulation is also great!

Thanks :) I just have to make some adjustments inside now

Ok this is what I am a bit uncertain on... I can take red light out, and what do I replace it with ... Not the coil bulbs I know, but aren't all white lights bright for their eyes,, so what exactly can i get besides strip lighting... I had a baby sulcata once and used a white bulb, not a coil one and it was hard on her eyes
 

mattgrizzlybear

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MVB [mercuryvapor bulb] are best but more expencive. I say ditch the coil light and red light also. Get a che [ceramic heat emitter] it produces no light just heat. Good luck!
 

Tom

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A regular incandescent flood bulb, like what you would use in the house, is not too bright. This will give you some heat and light for a basking spot.

Still, for a redfoot you will also need some night heat. A CHE on a thermostat should get this done for you. It will maintain your ambient day and night. Then you can use either a flood bulb or go get a tube type florescent light bulb and fixture for some nice even light. You'll have to set it all up, run it, check it, and make adjustments.

I think most of us have a lot of leftover equipment from great ideas and good intentions that ended up not working. So don't feel bad if this is what happens with you too.
 

shelloise

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I ditched the red light and the coil light as well. Both pet stores I asked didn't carry the Powersun but said the Exo Terra Solar Glo was the same, was an MVP,so I went with that. there is a 25 watt difference though so they said just to have the light higher and keep an eye on the temp.A few hours after I put it on she was walking around her enclosure quite a lot and her eyes were open and seemed perfectly fine. I could have ordered the other one but was concerned about how long it would take to ship to me.

Yes Tom, I do have lots of left over equipment I have gathered over the years lol. I have hermit crabs as well and went through a few different substrates, bulbs and what have you with them too.
 
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