Eating substrate under red bulb

[E-kamelife]

I’ve been keeping a yearing leopard tortoise for six month. I saw him eating the substrate this morning. The substrate is Zoomed Repti Bark. I had never seen such behavior so far. A few days ago I set up a Zoomed Red Bulb in his cage for additional heating. So I suspect that the cause is the red bulb probably. Have you ever seen eating substrate under red bulb? Could you tell me some information like what tortoise species or how many times did you see? There is the possibility he is just hungly.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I’ve been keeping a yearing leopard tortoise for six month. I saw him eating the substrate this morning. The substrate is Zoomed Repti Bark. I had never seen such behavior so far. A few days ago I set up a Zoomed Red Bulb in his cage for additional heating. So I suspect that the cause is the red bulb probably. Have you ever seen eating substrate under red bulb? Could you tell me some information like what tortoise species or how many times did you see? There is the possibility he is just hungly.

Your assumption is correct. Tortoises are attracted to the color red. Best to get rid of the red bulb and go with something like a ceramic heat emitter connected to a thermostat. They emit no light, so they're perfect for nighttime use as well.

 

[wellington]

Ditto, we say it all the time, no red bulbs cause this is what can happen. It doesn't make every tortoise eat the substrate but the risk is not worth it.
The ceramic heat emitter is much better and if you buy a good name brand one, it will last years. Be sure to use a ceramic socket with the ceramic heat emitter.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’ve been keeping a yearing leopard tortoise for six month. I saw him eating the substrate this morning. The substrate is Zoomed Repti Bark. I had never seen such behavior so far. A few days ago I set up a Zoomed Red Bulb in his cage for additional heating. So I suspect that the cause is the red bulb probably. Have you ever seen eating substrate under red bulb? Could you tell me some information like what tortoise species or how many times did you see? There is the possibility he is just hungly.

Second everything said! No red bulbs.

I don’t suppose you’d mind sharing some more information on how you’re keeping him? You might have answered already but It’s really nice to check in with newer members

What are your temperatures like? Ie basking temp(directly under the bulb), overall day temps, night temps?
What lighting&heating are you using specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any!
Do you use indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s your humidity? What do you use for substrate?

A photo of your full set up would be great if you’re willing to share!

In the meantime you might find this thread useful to go over, it’ll help you avoid the wrong kind of bulbs moving forward, plus substrates, housing etc, hope it helps!

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

I’ve been keeping a yearing leopard tortoise for six month. I saw him eating the substrate this morning. The substrate is Zoomed Repti Bark. I had never seen such behavior so far. A few days ago I set up a Zoomed Red Bulb in his cage for additional heating. So I suspect that the cause is the red bulb probably. Have you ever seen eating substrate under red bulb? Could you tell me some information like what tortoise species or how many times did you see? There is the possibility he is just hungly.

Please read through this at least twice:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[E-kamelife]

Thank you for your advice!
I have already changed it to CHE.
Have you ever experienced acctually what I saw as your own tortoise? I understand that we should not take any risk. I want to know how often does it occur as my personal interest.

 

[Tom]

Thank you for your advice!
I have already changed it to CHE.
Have you ever experienced acctually what I saw as your own tortoise? I understand that we should not take any risk. I want to know how often does it occur as my personal interest.

No one has done a study of thousands of tortoises under a red heat lamp and recored how many of them eat the substrate, or have other problems from it. I don't know what percentage of the time these issues are seen under colored bulbs, but they are seen often enough for us to all know about it and recommend avoiding it.

 

[E-kamelife]

No one has done a study of thousands of tortoises under a red heat lamp and recored how many of them eat the substrate, or have other problems from it. I don't know what percentage of the time these issues are seen under colored bulbs, but they are seen often enough for us to all know about it and recommend avoiding it.

Thank you for your reply.
I see.
It doesn't depends on the species.
I guess many people here have actually experienced it.

 

[Tom]

Thank you for your reply.
I see.
It doesn't depends on the species.
I guess many people here have actually experienced it.

This happens with any species, but it doesn't happen 100% of the time any time any tortoise is under a colored bulb. It does happen frequently enough to be a known problem, as you have now seen first hand.

 

[E-kamelife]

Second everything said! No red bulbs.

I don’t suppose you’d mind sharing some more information on how you’re keeping him? You might have answered already but It’s really nice to check in with newer members

What are your temperatures like? Ie basking temp(directly under the bulb), overall day temps, night temps?
What lighting&heating are you using specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any!
Do you use indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s your humidity? What do you use for substrate?

A photo of your full set up would be great if you’re willing to share!

In the meantime you might find this thread useful to go over, it’ll help you avoid the wrong kind of bulbs moving forward, plus substrates, housing etc, hope it helps!

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you for useful information!

I'm using a open top cage but it is covered with plastic sheet whole of the rack.
I'm planning to make a new larger cage for his/her growing.

Today I checked my current settings as follows.

Basking temp: 37℃
Overall day temps: 28-33℃
Night temps: around 28℃
Daytime humidity: 60-70%
Night time humidity: 70-95%

Lighting for UVB:
Zoomed Reptisun 10.0 UVB with Zoomed lamp shade

Lighting for basking:
Panasonic incandescent lamp 36w with ceramic socket

Main heating:
Zoomed CHE 100w with ceramic socket

Sub heating:
Zoomed CHE 40w with ceramic socket

Substrate:
Bark chips or coconuts shell chips for reptile. I'm currently using coconuts shell chips. I had used Zoomed repti bark for this two month. Zoomed repti bark has low quality and it's not good for me. I'm looking for a new bark chip.

What do you think of it?
I'm glad to get some advice.

 

[E-kamelife]

I post additional overall photo of his/her cage.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
Temperatures and humidity seem fine to me. However, I'm not sure about accuracy of these values:
1. I see one gauge-type thermometer/hygrometer on the top of the hide. These type of sensors is pretty inaccurate.
2. The second one is digital, however it is placed under the top where temperatures are naturally higher.
You can get more accurate measurements using digital meter placed at substrate level. For the basking zone - placed under the basking lamp for 1-2 hours.

Building a larger enclosure is already necessary - your tortoise have outgrown this one.

What troubles do you have with Reptibark? It's one of the widely used substrates and I'm unaware of any quality issues. Just the opposite, I have seen more problems with coconut chips - they fall apart into strands when moistened and dryed repeatedly, there is often mold growing in the lower layers and they are not very comfortable for a tortoise to walk.

Is the UVB lamp you use a coil-type one? These are generally not recommended because of less predictable and weak UV output and small area of UVB exposure.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Thank you for useful information!

I'm using a open top cage but it is covered with plastic sheet whole of the rack.
I'm planning to make a new larger cage for his/her growing.

Today I checked my current settings as follows.

Basking temp: 37℃
Overall day temps: 28-33℃
Night temps: around 28℃
Daytime humidity: 60-70%
Night time humidity: 70-95%

Lighting for UVB:
Zoomed Reptisun 10.0 UVB with Zoomed lamp shade

Lighting for basking:
Panasonic incandescent lamp 36w with ceramic socket

Main heating:
Zoomed CHE 100w with ceramic socket

Sub heating:
Zoomed CHE 40w with ceramic socket

Substrate:
Bark chips or coconuts shell chips for reptile. I'm currently using coconuts shell chips. I had used Zoomed repti bark for this two month. Zoomed repti bark has low quality and it's not good for me. I'm looking for a new bark chip.

What do you think of it?
I'm glad to get some advice.

Thank you for the in depth reply! Much appreciated! Your levels sound pretty good, though as Alex suggests, might be worth double checking with digital monitors sitting on the substrate itself. I’ve also head that coconut chips aren’t all that great for the reasons mentioned above. May I ask what you don’t like about the reptibark? Perhaps you could try coco coir and another brand of orchid fir bark

My other question to double check with you is the uv bulb type, is it a screw in? Cause I can’t see a tube fitting in there, I’d get yourself a t5 bulb(you can use the same brand, just different bulb type) it’s the safer more efficient option for you
I would also second Alex in that this does look like your tort has outgrown his space now, essentially you just need to create what you have already on a larger scale with the t5 uv

 

[E-kamelife]

Hello!
Temperatures and humidity seem fine to me. However, I'm not sure about accuracy of these values:
1. I see one gauge-type thermometer/hygrometer on the top of the hide. These type of sensors is pretty inaccurate.
2. The second one is digital, however it is placed under the top where temperatures are naturally higher.
You can get more accurate measurements using digital meter placed at substrate level. For the basking zone - placed under the basking lamp for 1-2 hours.

Building a larger enclosure is already necessary - your tortoise have outgrown this one.

What troubles do you have with Reptibark? It's one of the widely used substrates and I'm unaware of any quality issues. Just the opposite, I have seen more problems with coconut chips - they fall apart into strands when moistened and dryed repeatedly, there is often mold growing in the lower layers and they are not very comfortable for a tortoise to walk.

Is the UVB lamp you use a coil-type one? These are generally not recommended because of less predictable and weak UV output and small area of UVB exposure.

Hello!
Thank you for your comments.

I’m sorry my explanation is not enogth. I use three types of thermometer/hygrometer. A gage type one on the shelter, a digital one from SwitchBot on the top side of rack, and another digital one from Exoterra near substrate are set up in this cage. Look at the attached photo for third one.

I also have a non-touch digital thermo checker type. I press button and check temp. I checked the specific point like under basking lamp direct.

About UVB lamp:
I'm using a compact type Reptisun bellow. (I understand it's not coil type.)
https://zoomed.com/reptisun-10-0-compact-fluorescent/

About Reptibark trouble:
I found many white insects like tick in new Reptibark pakage.I found them after setting bark chips into the cage soon. It was likely that there must be included initially. That’s why I quit using.
Look at the second photo please.

 

[Tom]

Hello!
Thank you for your comments.

I’m sorry my explanation is not enogth. I use three types of thermometer/hygrometer. A gage type one on the shelter, a digital one from SwitchBot on the top side of rack, and another digital one from Exoterra near substrate are set up in this cage. Look at the attached photo for third one.

I also have a non-touch digital thermo checker type. I press button and check temps. I checked the specific point like under basking lamp direct.

About UVB lamp:
I'm using a compact type Reptisun bellow. (I understand it's not coil type.)
https://zoomed.com/reptisun-10-0-compact-fluorescent/

About Reptibark trouble:
I found many white insects like tick in new Reptibark pakage.I found them after setting bark chips into the cage soon. It was likely that there must be included initially. That’s why I quit using.
Look at the second photo please.

That UV bulb is a coil type, also called a compact florescent bulb, or cfl. They are ineffective and sometimes burn reptile eyes. That type of bulb should not be used.

The tiny white bugs are called springtails. They are harmless detrivores, and they come from the surrounding environment to colonize our enclosures and eat up the waste. People actually pay money for those for "bio-active" enclosures. They are beneficial to have in your enclosure, but if you don't like them, you can freeze, boil, or bake the substrate before use to slow their colonization, and periodically do it again when they come back.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
Thank you for your comments.

I’m sorry my explanation is not enogth. I use three types of thermometer/hygrometer. A gage type one on the shelter, a digital one from SwitchBot on the top side of rack, and another digital one from Exoterra near substrate are set up in this cage. Look at the attached photo for third one.

I also have a non-touch digital thermo checker type. I press button and check temp. I checked the specific point like under basking lamp direct.

About UVB lamp:
I'm using a compact type Reptisun bellow. (I understand it's not coil type.)
https://zoomed.com/reptisun-10-0-compact-fluorescent/

About Reptibark trouble:
I found many white insects like tick in new Reptibark pakage.I found them after setting bark chips into the cage soon. It was likely that there must be included initially. That’s why I quit using.
Look at the second photo please.

With these three sensors measurements should be accurate (however, there is no need to measure anything under the ceiling - better to place all meters closer to where tortoise roams).

And I'll just echo Tom's comment:
This kind of UVB lamps is not recommended for larger animals (narrow focused spot of UV when used in a lamp shade) and for animals with high UV requirements (due to weak overall output they should be placed close to an animal and at short distances UV changes between normal and dangerous within a few centimeters). I would definitely look for replacement.

The bugs are definitely springtails, they feed on rotting and decomposing organic material and mold so you were lucky to have them

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello!
Thank you for your comments.

I’m sorry my explanation is not enogth. I use three types of thermometer/hygrometer. A gage type one on the shelter, a digital one from SwitchBot on the top side of rack, and another digital one from Exoterra near substrate are set up in this cage. Look at the attached photo for third one.

I also have a non-touch digital thermo checker type. I press button and check temp. I checked the specific point like under basking lamp direct.

About UVB lamp:
I'm using a compact type Reptisun bellow. (I understand it's not coil type.)
https://zoomed.com/reptisun-10-0-compact-fluorescent/

About Reptibark trouble:
I found many white insects like tick in new Reptibark pakage.I found them after setting bark chips into the cage soon. It was likely that there must be included initially. That’s why I quit using.
Look at the second photo please.

Hopefully the others responses helped here! I’d get yourself a reptile floodlight for basking and some t5 tube uv
Also yeah don’t worry about those little bugs, definitely springtails who act as a good clean up crew, some people actually buy them, some are lucky enough to get them for free! We did lol, they’re harmless

 

[E-kamelife]

I see.
I will replace the UVB lamp as soon as possible. I’m thinking about the Zoomed t5 type.

I didn’t know that bugs are springtails and they bring benefits. I want to keep them in the cage. I got new knowledge thanks to you.
I really appreciate. Thank you!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I see.
I will replace the UVB lamp as soon as possible. I’m thinking about the Zoomed t5 type.

I didn’t know that bugs are springtails and they bring benefits. I want to keep them in the cage. I got new knowledge thanks to you.
I really appreciate. Thank you!

ZooMed Reptisun T5 10.0 is a good choice (make sure not to get chinese ReptiZoo instead).

Springtails often magically appear in the enclosure - check under dishes, decor and such. They like dark and wet places.