Mitchie_and_Sunny_27
Member
Thank you for the suggestionIf thats the position of the lamps you want, screw a couple of 3/8 straps over the clamp part of the fixture to keep it from moving.
Thank you for the suggestionIf thats the position of the lamps you want, screw a couple of 3/8 straps over the clamp part of the fixture to keep it from moving.
Hello!Looks incredible!
A few tweaks to do:
1. Move thermometer down, 1-2 inches over substrate - you need to know temperatures where your tortoise is.
2. Hang the dome with CHE from the ceiling, clamps are unsafe and it will work better pointed straight top down
3. And some "anti-slip" measures on the ramp - thin wooden planks, rubberized mat for kitchen cabinets or something like that.
4. Reenforce the basking lamp clamp to prevent it from falling. Or add a metallic cord/chain from UVB fixture frame to the dome so if clamp fails the dome would hang on it. Of course, hanging the basking lamp on adjustable stand is better.
The wonderful day is coming! Give Sunny a welcome warm soak and keep us updated!
It fits nicely in that corner next to the window. . . looks like it belongs there! And I love the LED lighting under the 'eaves'!Hello!
Today was a successful adoption day and Sunny is now home! It was hard to capture a picture of his sweet face because I think he was nervous being in his new environment. Hopefully with some time he will be more comfy with us he went straight to burrow himself in the mulch!
Here are the updated photos of the indoor enclosure! The rescue said everything looked good to go, so we feel relieved. A HUGE THANKS to everyone who helped me along the way and answered all my questions. thank you @Alex and the Redfoot for every suggestion and all your advice. You truly made such a difference and helped us to create a safe environment for Sunny to thrive in! View attachment 371566
View attachment 371567View attachment 371569View attachment 371570View attachment 371571Adoption is ENCHANTING
Thank you! I feel very proud, especially since I'm a total newb. I feel incredibly grateful for this community!Congratulations! You've done a great job! Sunny must be definitely happy!
One more minor suggestion :
Looks like the basking lamp dome blocks some UVB over the basking area slate. If it's possible to move it further to the right this should work better. Also place a termometer right on the slate for 1-2 hours and if the temperature is higher than 100F you can raise the basking lamp a little bit.
Thank you, Carol!Beautiful enclosure. The only suggestion I have is to replace the feeding dishes with terracotta saucers (the kind you place under a flower pot). The terracotta saucers will help keep his beak filed down when he eats.
Thank you! We designed it and built it to fit our small space I'm so happy with how it turned out and the lights were @Alex and the Redfoot's idea! So many great helpers on this forumIt fits nicely in that corner next to the window. . . looks like it belongs there! And I love the LED lighting under the 'eaves'!
Testudo species are more cold tolerant. Adults usually do fine in room temperatures when adequate basking area is provided. 60F is somewhat a safe minimum to ensure that tortoise stays healthy (especially with higher ambient humidity like 50-70%). Daytime temperatures should be a bit higher than that - e.g. 65-70F.Thank you! I feel very proud, especially since I'm a total newb. I feel incredibly grateful for this community!
I'll work on figuring out a way to bring the basking bulb out further to the right. I'll look for a long hook at the hardware store and thanks for the tip on putting the thermometer directly on the slate. I'll definitely do that moving forward.
I do have a question about the CHE. On the FAQs thread it says that it should be above 80 degrees for tropical species but for Testudo above 60 degrees at night. Does that mean it should just be above 60 degrees at all time or just at night?
I'll be sure to send updates on the outdoor enclosure too. We still got more to do for that one but wanted to focus on the indoor one so Sunny could come home
That's super helpful! Our house stays pretty warm, even with the air conditioning on because we have old windows (it's a historic home and the windows have never been replaced). We should have no problem maintaining that temp for him. In the winter, we will likely need to use the CHE more often but it works great and hanging it like you said really seem to help disperse the heatTestudo species are more cold tolerant. Adults usually do fine in room temperatures when adequate basking area is provided. 60F is somewhat a safe minimum to ensure that tortoise stays healthy (especially with higher ambient humidity like 50-70%). Daytime temperatures should be a bit higher than that - e.g. 65-70F.
There are reasons to keep ambient temperatures higher (70-80F):
1. When you try to prevent tortoise from winter brumation and stay awake.
2. When tortoise is sick and you support the healing process.
3. When humidity is high (e.g. 70-80%). Such humid environment is not needed for an adult Russian tortoise.
In this thread (if you haven't read it already) Tom explains temperature and humidity requurements in details (including nighttime drops):
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...tortoiseforum.org
That's so heartwarming thank you for you kind words and I'm happy for you and Edward tooI remember the day I adopted Edward very vividly! I am happy for you and for your tortoise getting an amazing home
CHE with a thermostat will do the work for you, most likely it will stand idle through the summer.That's super helpful! Our house stays pretty warm, even with the air conditioning on because we have old windows (it's a historic home and the windows have never been replaced). We should have no problem maintaining that temp for him. In the winter, we will likely need to use the CHE more often but it works great and hanging it like you said really seem to help disperse the heat
Thanks for linking the thread! I'll check it out
Sunny hasn't moved from his little burrow spot. Should I be worried or is this normal behavior with his environment change?
We decided to take him out of his little burrow and attempt to feed him so we could start a routine like you and Alex suggested and he has been so bright and ate so much! He still seems timid but better than yesterday thank for your reassurance!With consistent routine he will get used to you feeding him, cleaning the enclosure etc. and maybe even being bathed. Even though he might never like getting pets or anything like that, I assure you that with good care, in a few weeks he will be more active and less scared.
Right! That thermostat is so helpful!!CHE with a thermostat will do the work for you, most likely it will stand idle through the summer.
Yes, he needs some time to adjust. Tortoises don't like changes, especially sudden and drastical. In a week or two you will see him more active and exploring. He might refuse food for the first week too - keep his weekly weight track to see how he's doing. And set up routines - same things at the same time and in the same place.
I envy this tortoise! And Sunny is so handsome!Right! That thermostat is so helpful!!
Surprisingly he ate a bunch of the testudo sprouts this morning! I took him out from his little burrow and placed him next to the patch of sprouts and he went to town on them! I also gave him a couple of dandelions and clovers as a little welcome home treat we will definitely start the routine. What does your routine look like?View attachment 371612View attachment 371613View attachment 371614