ADVICE NEEDED: 7 month old RF hides all day

[BurtTheTortoise]

Hi all,
I need some words of wisdom as to why my tort spends all of its day burrowed in sphagnum moss. Humidity is consistently above 80%, the warm side of its enclosure is in the mid 80's, cool side is in the low 70's. I do use a mercury bulb (which I've heard aren't the best) but for our current enclosure it has to do. It gets soaks every other day and is definitely well hydrated. My tortoise is 7 months old and eats very very well, but will not come out of hiding ever. It buries itself under a leaf or under moss closer to the warm side of his enclosure. Is this normal behavior for a young tortoise?

Probably worrying about nothing, but I need someone to validate that this is normal and if its not to offer advice on what to change.

Thank you!

 

[Relic]

Might try replacing the mercury bulb with a CHE and see what happens...a photo of your set-up should elicit a cavalcade of good advice from the members here.

 

[BurtTheTortoise]

Here are pictures of the enclosure.

 

[BurtTheTortoise]

Might try replacing the mercury bulb with a CHE and see what happens...a photo of your set-up should elicit a cavalcade of good advice from the members here.

I love that idea but then there would be no way for him to get UV... We live in Wisconsin and are unable to take him outside in the winter.