Advices for my lil wstern herman

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

awesome guide i like especially the pics.
anyway i mean in the top i should cut holes for the uv right?
and how high should i put the arcadia 12% t5

Thanks! Glad you like it!

Is it a greenhouse style topper you have? Or a lid type topper? Either way I’d try to work out a way to mount all the lighting a heat inside the cover itself, making sure of course the cover isn’t touching any of the fixtures because they can get hot! Cutting holes can cause the humidity to escape, the more closed your chamber, the better

The Arcadia should be mounted roughly 18-20 inches from the top of the tortoise’s shell

 

[Cicciof]

Thanks! Glad you like it!

Is it a greenhouse style topper you have? Or a lid type topper? Either way I’d try to work out a way to mount all the lighting a heat inside the cover itself, making sure of course the cover isn’t touching any of the fixtures because they can get hot! Cutting holes can cause the humidity to escape, the more closed your chamber, the better

The Arcadia should be mounted roughly 18-20 inches from the top of the tortoise’s shell

it is like a lid... i lay it on top and thats it. so cutting holes wont work.. i need to figure out someting else.
because the walls of the enclosure are like 20 cm

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

it is like a lid... i lay it on top and thats it. so cutting holes wont work.. i need to figure out someting else.
because the walls of the enclosure are like 20 cm

I’d have a look into some sort of greenhouse topper, or you could make your own frame out of some timber that you hang the lights from, then secure some pvc covering to the frame

 

[Cicciof]

I’d have a look into some sort of greenhouse topper, or you could make your own frame out of some timber that you hang the lights from, then secure some pvc covering to the frame

till when should i keep her with a closed top?

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

till when should i keep her with a closed top?

Usually it’s till around the age of 3, but it’ll depend on their growth rate

 

[Cicciof]

Usually it’s till around the age of 3, but it’ll depend on their growth rate

so i bought a sensor that mesure humidity and rn is 83% inside.
i thought what if i keep 1/4 of the enclosure open while i keep the basking lamp active and spray down every now and then to keep the humidity 80+?
and then when i dont use the laps keep it fully closed?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

so i bought a sensor that mesure humidity and rn is 83% inside.
i thought what if i keep 1/4 of the enclosure open while i keep the basking lamp active and spray down every now and then to keep the humidity 80+?
and then when i dont use the laps keep it fully closed?

When keep enclosure open - humidity is lost very quickly. Especially with a heat lamp - hot air goes up with all water vapour in it. When you spray the substrate you get a humidity boost which lasts 30-40 minutes, then substrate dries out and humidity is low again.

Actually, one of the reasons to keep humidity high is to mitigate drying effect of heat lamps on tortoise shell. So you need high humidity more when lamp is on than when the lamp is off.

 

[Cicciof]

one of the reasons to keep humidity high is to mitigate drying effect of heat lamps on tortoise shell. So you need high humidity more when lamp is on than when the lamp is off.

that make sense thanks

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Sorry for the delay! Glad Alex’s response helped

 

[Cicciof]

so guys everything fine.
but i have a question, in the morning she wakes up, go to eat stays like 10 minutes under the basking light and then come back to sleep.
after lunch i wake her up (sometimes she is already awake but still hiding) i soak her, i put her under the lamp, she stays in there like 3 minutes and then eat again and sleep.

idk is it normal? just a couple of days she's been a bit more active but sometimes she spend the day hiding if dont just go and take her out.

but if i take her and put in anpthe place like on the floor in a closed enviroment while i clean the enclosure, she is super active, she explores and go around.

am i doing something wrong? im managing to keep the enclosure between 78/92% humid.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi!
Can you post a recent photo of the enclosure (with UVB light and so)? And what are ambient and basking area temperatures?

While staying out of sight is normal for hatchlings it could be also an issue with temperatures and lack of other hiding spots. And humidity is a bit higher than needed, especially if ambient temperatures are low.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

What kind of hiding spots you have provided?

 

[Cicciof]

Hi!
Can you post a recent photo of the enclosure (with UVB light and so)? And what are ambient and basking area temperatures?

While staying out of sight is normal for hatchlings it could be also an issue with temperatures and lack of other hiding spots. And humidity is a bit higher than needed, especially if ambient temperatures are low.

hi rn my phone broke so im using pc for now while i wait for refurbish.
anyway my enclosure is the same as always but i have the the floodligh from arcadia.

the temps under the basking light are around 33 celsius and in the rest of the enclosure fom 24.5 to 26.5.

What kind of hiding spots you have provided?

Just 2 to be honest, half a coconut with a door and a pile of dry grass. i was planning to get something else

 

[Cicciof]

maybe could be that she has little to explore?
im about to finish all my exams then i will expand the enclosure by adding another 1mx40cm rectangle, so i can provide her a total space of 1 meterx1 meter, and also plant some spider plants

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

hi rn my phone broke so im using pc for now while i wait for refurbish.
anyway my enclosure is the same as always but i have the the floodligh from arcadia.

the temps under the basking light are around 33 celsius and in the rest of the enclosure fom 24.5 to 26.5.


Just 2 to be honest, half a coconut with a door and a pile of dry grass. i was planning to get something else

Ambient temperature is fine. Basking spot should be warmer - about 38-39C (try to put the lamp lower and leave thermometer for 1-2 hours under the lamp to check temperature).

 

[Cicciof]

(try to put the lamp lower and leave thermometer for 1-2 hours under the lamp to check temperature).

ok im gonna lower it rn, is it bad that im mesuring the temps with a therm gun?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

maybe could be that she has little to explore?
im about to finish all my exams then i will expand the enclosure by adding another 1mx40cm rectangle, so i can provide her a total space of 1 meterx1 meter, and also plant some spider plants

If she can see all four walls from her hiding spot then yes, she may stay in the hide - not too much to explore there. Hatchlings do not like to be exposed in the open space, so adding plants and other obstacles can entice her to explore.

 

[Cicciof]

If she can see all four walls from her hiding spot then yes, she may stay in the hide - not too much to explore there. Hatchlings do not like to be exposed in the open space, so adding plants and other obstacles can entice her to explore.

can u suggest e something to buy and to add? ok other hidings, plants, and what more? idk something to climb? if u can also link me something would be awesome, thanks always for great help

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

ok im gonna lower it rn, is it bad that im mesuring the temps with a therm gun?

Not bad. But this can be inaccurate (e.g. damp surface will show you lower temperature), so it makes sense to double check with a thermometer.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

can u suggest e something to buy and to add? ok other hidings, plants, and what more? idk something to climb? if u can also link me something would be awesome, thanks always for great help

Right now, can't get you the links, sorry. But here is some ideas:
1. Plants - carex (sedge), hosta, spider plants, boston fern.
2. Halves of plant pots, buried in the substrate.
3. Sewage pipe (T-shaped connectors, for example).
4. Cork bark pieces (they can burrow under) and half logs.
5. Dishwashing tubs or plastic boxes with an opening cut on the side.
6. Flat stones (slates) put together to make a "bunker".
7. Tree branches or roots, can be fresh cut with leaves to provide canopy and snack at the same time (mulberry, hibiscus, grape).

Do not add all of these at once to avoid clutter. Start with hides on warm/cold sides, add a shady plant in the middle and see how it goes.