Hi people. Before i get flamed for not doing my homework before getting 2 tortoises i would urge you to pop and read my introduction post. This is just a general post to discuss if there is any 100% no no's im doing after rescuing these baby Horsefields.
I will start by stating Mikey & Bowser (we now belive they are both female but the names just stuck) are no longer housed together. Weve already spotted the emotional stress one is starting to show ie not eating as much as it should be, lack of weight gain(both weighed weekly and recorded), lethargy and alertness when the other one is active, etc. No physical attacking or ramming (we also watch them at work through a camera ive installed) but i have now built a not quite so lavish table for little Mikey.
The 6x4 enclosure was made by myself under the stairs, temps seem pretty bang on (sorry, all in degrees) 32-34 hotspot in the centre tailing off to about 29 inside the log and running to about 23 at the furthest end (room temp). Shaded log and plant pots supplied to get out of ditect sun. All surface temps are measure with an IR laser gun that i use for my snakes. Air temp/humidity are measured with a digital probe placed 3 inches above the substrate which reads about 25-28 Under the hotspot were using the tortoise sand substrate (not fine sand or play sand) and that then runs off to coco coir down the far end which is usually where they dig at night. The problem may be my lighting/heat source as i obvioustly rushed out the next day in a panic to get suitable equiptment and was sold, which i read on here earlier was not a good choice a mercury vapour bulb. I have since moved a spare one to the new smaller table ive built for short term housing for Mikey until we can get him back to feeling secure and feeding and gaining weight before i will be force to rehome him due to lack of space for a 2nd big enclosure. Its a shame as weve become very attached to both but theres always been a soft spot for the smaller under dog but im of the belief we do right by the animals needs and not by our selfish wants and desires.
This was just a quick post to see if anyone can give and tips, suggestions or advise on things that i need to change yesterday. Very kind regards, Tom.
I will start by stating Mikey & Bowser (we now belive they are both female but the names just stuck) are no longer housed together. Weve already spotted the emotional stress one is starting to show ie not eating as much as it should be, lack of weight gain(both weighed weekly and recorded), lethargy and alertness when the other one is active, etc. No physical attacking or ramming (we also watch them at work through a camera ive installed) but i have now built a not quite so lavish table for little Mikey.
The 6x4 enclosure was made by myself under the stairs, temps seem pretty bang on (sorry, all in degrees) 32-34 hotspot in the centre tailing off to about 29 inside the log and running to about 23 at the furthest end (room temp). Shaded log and plant pots supplied to get out of ditect sun. All surface temps are measure with an IR laser gun that i use for my snakes. Air temp/humidity are measured with a digital probe placed 3 inches above the substrate which reads about 25-28 Under the hotspot were using the tortoise sand substrate (not fine sand or play sand) and that then runs off to coco coir down the far end which is usually where they dig at night. The problem may be my lighting/heat source as i obvioustly rushed out the next day in a panic to get suitable equiptment and was sold, which i read on here earlier was not a good choice a mercury vapour bulb. I have since moved a spare one to the new smaller table ive built for short term housing for Mikey until we can get him back to feeling secure and feeding and gaining weight before i will be force to rehome him due to lack of space for a 2nd big enclosure. Its a shame as weve become very attached to both but theres always been a soft spot for the smaller under dog but im of the belief we do right by the animals needs and not by our selfish wants and desires.
This was just a quick post to see if anyone can give and tips, suggestions or advise on things that i need to change yesterday. Very kind regards, Tom.