curiosity

[Claireabbo]

so i have heard about humidity with hatchlings has helped with pyramiding. but what about shell rot? can it cause rot? i know it needs to be humid but what is too humid? and could it cause shell rot?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Claire:

Usually shell rot occurs when a tortoise is allowed to sit on wet substrate all the time. Humid air probably won't cause it. If you're worried about it, make a humid hiding place instead. He can be resting on dry substrate, while sleeping under moist sphagnum moss or a moist sponge.

 

[Claireabbo]

so if it is damp is that a problem?

 

[Yvonne G]

Damp all the time might end up being a problem, but it's mostly wet that causes a problem. When you wet down the substrate, the lights quickly dry out the top layer. This means the tortoise is sitting on a dry layer. But if you've made it so wet that the lights don't dry out the top layer, that's too wet.

 

[Tom]

My substrate is always damp or wet. I have housed dozens of sulcatas and leopards this way for more than a year now. I have housed my sulcata Daisy this way for almost 4 years now. I also did some CDT hatchlings this way. I have never had one single problem from it, including shell rot. I have never done it with a russian, but I eventually will. Two things to remember:
1. This is for babies. Once they are old/big enough you don't need to worry about this any more with most species. I THINK redfoots MIGHT be an exception. I think redfoots might need it for their whole lives. Once a sulcata is 6-8" I think dry is fine, as long as they are well hydrated. Russian adults or large juveniles do not need a damp substrate in my opinion. Once they are that size their pattern for shell growth is already set anyway.
2. You very well could run into problems if you let them get cool with dampness. They must be kept warm. I like to shoot for 80F 24/7 with the damp routine. If you follow some russian care sheet that says 60 is fine for night time, but then also keep them damp, you could run into a problem. This is a problem with people picking and choosing their favorite parts of multiple care sheets.

I don't advise humidity for russian hatchlings, because I have never done it myself. If I were to get one today, I would keep them warm and humid, but I cannot, in good conscience, recommend it to others, since I have not actually tried it myself.

 

[Claireabbo]

thanks yall... the light does dry it out but i mist the enclosure once or twice a day just to make it damp but then the light dries it out!

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

thanks yall... the light does dry it out but i mist the enclosure once or twice a day just to make it damp but then the light dries it out!

Thus, you'll re-raise the humidity...very good!

 

[Claireabbo]

exactly kill two birds with one stone!