What’s up chelonian peeps!?
I just got my “female” tortoise today via FedEx from an online pet delivery service. I was nervous about having “her” shipped, but I couldn’t find any cherry heads in my area. I know it isn’t ideal, but the current enclosure is a terrarium (closed chamber) with duct tape blocking the view. I plan to move to a tortoise table in 3 - 5 years depending on tort’s rate of growth.
The little tortoise definitely got here in one piece and has been climbing on all of the rocks and wood in the terrarium, which consists of 1 uvb fluorescent lightbulb that is on a 12hr on/off timer, 2 humidifiers that I don’t have connected to any timers yet, and 4 heating elements (2 outside and underneath the tank and 2 ceramic heat bulbs inside). The humidity is holding at 85% over the entire terrarium, and the right side is hotter than the left side, their temps are 88F and 80F respectively with a steady middle gradient. She/he has stopped moving. I’m getting kind of nervous, because now the tortoise is standing directly under the lightbulb. Shouldn’t it be hiding? Won’t the lamp dry out the carapace and cause pyramiding? Or am I just being an overly cautious new parent? Would it help if I switched the warm side and cool side so that the warmer side is on the same side as the light?
Should I just leave her alone and let her explore, or move her out of the light?
And should I be taking this little guy/gal to the vet, or anything? I’m not sure about tortoises, but I know I took my dog to the vet a lot when she was a puppy...
Thank you all in advance for advice and help. This has already been an amazingly helpful community that I’m proud to be a part of!
Cheers,
-c
I just got my “female” tortoise today via FedEx from an online pet delivery service. I was nervous about having “her” shipped, but I couldn’t find any cherry heads in my area. I know it isn’t ideal, but the current enclosure is a terrarium (closed chamber) with duct tape blocking the view. I plan to move to a tortoise table in 3 - 5 years depending on tort’s rate of growth.
The little tortoise definitely got here in one piece and has been climbing on all of the rocks and wood in the terrarium, which consists of 1 uvb fluorescent lightbulb that is on a 12hr on/off timer, 2 humidifiers that I don’t have connected to any timers yet, and 4 heating elements (2 outside and underneath the tank and 2 ceramic heat bulbs inside). The humidity is holding at 85% over the entire terrarium, and the right side is hotter than the left side, their temps are 88F and 80F respectively with a steady middle gradient. She/he has stopped moving. I’m getting kind of nervous, because now the tortoise is standing directly under the lightbulb. Shouldn’t it be hiding? Won’t the lamp dry out the carapace and cause pyramiding? Or am I just being an overly cautious new parent? Would it help if I switched the warm side and cool side so that the warmer side is on the same side as the light?
Should I just leave her alone and let her explore, or move her out of the light?
And should I be taking this little guy/gal to the vet, or anything? I’m not sure about tortoises, but I know I took my dog to the vet a lot when she was a puppy...
Thank you all in advance for advice and help. This has already been an amazingly helpful community that I’m proud to be a part of!
Cheers,
-c
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