don't like her hide?

[moonraser]

Hi,

I have another question..."Q" don't like the hide I made for her and she is not staying there...she likes to hide on other part of the tank...should I let her be? I am asking this question is because she like to hide in the part where is less humid and I was afraid that she don't get enough humidity...I don't want my tort to pyramiding because of lack of humidity.

Thanks

 

[tortoisenerd]

What is the temperature of each hide, and the type of hide (plant, box, etc)? What other hides are there? Many times a tortoise has a temperature preference, or may even not like the type of hide (mine won't use box or half log hides but loves his hay pile and fake plants). I would use a humid substrate if you don't think she is getting enough humidity. Assuming this is a RF or YF based on the sub-forum, these tortoises need a humid substrate plus likely misting to keep up the humidity. If you are using a dry substrate plus the humid hide I don't think it is appropriate for the species. I would use a dry substrate plus humid hide for a Greek, Hermann's, Russian, etc, but not a rain forest tortoise. The humid hide may be too cold for her as well as humidity will drop the temperature without changing anything else. It can also be the location of the hide that she doesn't feel safe, or even the size. I do think temperature is most likely though, followed second by type of hide. Best wishes.

 

[sammi]

What kind of tort is it? I have a Russian, and he doesn't like his terra cotta pot hide either, and because of the material, I believe its too cold, so I agree with Kate that its probably temps. He prefers to burrow into his substrate, or hide under plants. He only goes into the terra cotta pot during the day when hes exploring..so I keep it in there for his daily enjoyment =]

 

[moonraser]

"Q" is a Redfoot tortoise...The wet side of the tank is cypress and the dry side is bark. The temperature of the hide is around 80F to 82F.

See the hide I made for "Q"? and see where "Q" is...she prefered where she is in the picture that her hide

 

[tortoisenerd]

Is the only hide? What is the temperature in the spot she is burrowing there? If it is the same, then yes she may just prefer burrowing. My russian tort does! He burrows at night, starting under or next to his recent favorite fake plant. How deep is the substrate? Tortoises that show burrowing tenancies will likely enjoy a very deep substrate. If that is as deep as you have it I suggest at least tripling the depth, having it significantly deeper than she is long. Cute! I love that hide. Reminds me of the ones I see pancake owners make.

 

[terryo]

I keep my vivarium in the high 80's - 90. Inside the hide the humidity is 80..85. The whole vivarium is the same temperature, I soak the half log until it is wet. I just mist the substrate in the hide and fluff it up a bit. All this keeps it very humid in the hide. The substrate in the enclosure is not wet. I used to keep it wet, and he got a shell fungus from always being on a wet surface. Inside the hide I use long fiber moss instead of the Cyprus mulch, so he can dig a little in there. HE mostly goes in his hide, but loves to sit under a plant during the day time.

 

[Madkins007]

Take the temps where she is, and in the hide. It sounds kind of cool in there to me if it is 80-82. Try about 85-88 as a start.

Is there anything special in the hide to make it more humid in there? More moisture or more heat? It is not automatically more humid in a fairly open hide like that.

 

[moonraser]

I think I found the reason why “Q” doesn’t like her hide. Like you’ve said it is the temps. After reading the posts and out of curiosity I put the thermometer inside the hide and the temps drops to 75F while right outside the hide is 82+. I don’t understand why such a different in the temps in less than a few inches apart?
I have to do something about it when I get back from work today.

 

[Madkins007]

The difference may just be that it is hard for heat to get into the rock hide, especially if the habitat is sitting in a cool room or on a cool table.

 

[terryo]

I don't know if this is the reason...but...outside in Pio's enclosure and my boxie enclosure, I always make the hide with slate and stone. Inside I put lots of leaf litter. On a hot day, they always go in there. Maybe the temp. is cooler inside with the slate and stone...really don't know for sure.

 

[moonraser]

Just an update...I manage to raise the temps in the hide by adding an extra heat emitter right on top of the hide and yesterday Q went it the hide

 

[llamas55]

good job solving it. you all have inspired me to get a laser temp probe thermometer. Mine has a heat mat from T Rex in her half log hide, and outside it a 100 watt ceramic thing, but I think temps elsewhere are not high enough. and the pad doesn't recommend getting wet, so I think I need a different system as well, and I want to be able to measure all the areas for temp