Enclosure and questions

[Abdulla6169]

Hi! Just done with my enclosure….
Here are some pics:



I know this enclosure is too small but it's what I can do (for now?).
I have a Greek tortoise and I have a question too:
1- In the basking area what is the max temp it should reach? It was on for a little while and reads 39*C (102.2*F) and counting? I use one of these thermometers
Pic:
(thermometer)

(That thing that collects the temp)
Thanks in advance

 

[Abdulla6169]

The cool side has a temp of 25.8 C (78.44 F)… I think it's also important to mention that the basking bulb is closer than the minimum given… Also every time I open then enclosure the temp drops really quickly and then starts rising, is this normal?

Is it ok if I feel that the air from the bulb is hot and feels wrong (there is no smoke or anything like that?

I'm asking SOOO many questions ( I feel like all my tort knowledge disappeared when I started trying everything)

 

[wellington]

Haha, don't worry, about asking too many questions. It's so much to remember, sometimes we forget, believe me I know
I would raise the heat bulb a little. A good basking temp on the low side is 85-100. They can go higher, but not really needed.
Also, if that is sand you are using, I would get rid of it. Sand can and has been known to cause impactions.
Another thing, the large plastic tote/storage boxes are fairly cheap and you can connect them together using you imagination. Can make for a nice big enclosure, which will make keeping temps easier and also make for a happier tort.

 

[Abdulla6169]

Haha, don't worry, about asking too many questions. It's so much to remember, sometimes we forget, believe me I know
I would raise the heat bulb a little. A good basking temp on the low side is 85-100. They can go higher, but not really needed.
Also, if that is sand you are using, I would get rid of it. Sand can and has been known to cause impactions.
Another thing, the large plastic tote/storage boxes are fairly cheap and you can connect them together using you imagination. Can make for a nice big enclosure, which will make keeping temps easier and also make for a happier tort.

The bulb is like impossible to raise (the "clamp lamp" is screwed to the roof)! I'm still trying to improve her diet… if you can help find and "changing tort diet" that would be helpful.

By the way, I used sand and topsoil… probably should add topsoil later on.
Thanks
By the way how do you connect those plastic totes, any threads about that?
Thanks again, I guess worrying is natural then?

 

[wellington]

I used two plastic totes, and cut a hole in each one in the same place on each and then I used a plastic cup, cut the bottom out and used it as a tunnel to join the two together. I did this for my leopard when he was small. One side was really hit and humid, the other side was not as hot and not as humid, it gave him a choice of what temps/humidity levels he wanted to be in.
Check out the enclosure threads. You should find lots of good ideas for cheap enclosure. As for food items, check out this site http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp

 

[Kianahkaydi]

Hey sorry to interrupt your own thread but I'm new to the site and can not for the life of me find out how to post my own threads yet! I hope you don't mind me joining in!

Anyway, I recently bought my first tortoise , he's a Russian and only 2.3inches so he's still a baby! I've had him for about 3 months now and everything seems to be going great so far! But I was wondering if you could help with making sure I've got everything right for him in his enclosure..



As you can see from the photos his encloser is plenty large enough for him at this size, I use calci soil as a substrate and his light is a 100watt uv and heat bulb mixed together. He really enjoys his cucumber pellets which I soak for him to eat easier and that also provided him with some hydration. He always eats pansie flowers/leaves, clovers, dandilions and weeds. He's quite fussy and won't eat a lot of things I give him, like strawberries or rose petals.. But so far he eats pretty well! I also leave cuttlefish around his enclosure but he doesn't nibble them so I sprinkle that calci dust every other day on his food. I bath him in warm shallow water 3-4 times a week and he relaxes nicely, he poos and wees a lot so there's nothing wrong in that department haha. He does however sleep an awful lot and gets the occasional bubbley eyes.. I've read up on this and some say it's normal and others say it's to do with lack of humidity. His temps when the lights on are 30-32c and when off are 20-21c, I started spritzing some water around him enclosure encase it was the humidity but he still has the eye problem every now and then..

Sorry for such a long essay about it but as I'm new I wanted to fill you in on everything I'm doing for him and ensure it's correct. Would be great if you could get back to me anyone, thank you

His names Neville btw and here he is smiling in appreciation

 

[Kianahkaydi]

Sorry also forgot to mention , as it's summer I let him roam around the grass in the garden, he has a fairly large enclosure with a suitable shaded area and mesh top. even though he likes to be hand fed , when he's out and about he does graze on his own at the weeds

He's my best bud