Growth Input

[AppalachianTortoise]

Hello everyone,

I got my first leopard tortoise back in April and wanted to get some opinions on its growth. I'm not new to tortoises, but this is my first baby and my first leopard.

It weighed about 57 grams when I got it and now weighs around 82 grams. It has a good appetite and eats a mix of clover, dandelion greens, broadleaf plantain, collard greens, Mazuri LS, and other weeds when I can find them. I also soak it for 30 minutes every day.

I've been following Tom's guide as closely as I can. Humidity stays above 80%, the cool side of the enclosure stays above 80°F, and the basking spot is around 100–102°F.

The only thing I'm a little unsure about is the shell growth. As it's grown, the edges of the scutes have become slightly raised. I know some growth rings are normal, but I'm not sure if this is normal growth or the start of pyramiding.

I've attached some pictures. I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Tom]

I think you are okay. I'd drop the basking temp down closer to 95, and what kind of basking bulb are you using?

 

[AppalachianTortoise]

I think you are okay. I'd drop the basking temp down closer to 95, and what kind of basking bulb are you using?

I am using an incandescent heat bulb. I will get a lower wattage bulb to lower the peak temp a little.

 

[Tom]

I am using an incandescent heat bulb. I will get a lower wattage bulb to lower the peak temp a little.

What kind of bulb? Flood? Spot? Halogen? What wattage?

 

[AppalachianTortoise]

What kind of bulb? Flood? Spot? Halogen? What wattage?

I believe it is a 75w spot bulb. I got it from my local Walmart after the previous bulb blew. My uvb comes from an arcadia t5 14% bulb.

 

[Tom]

I believe it is a 75w spot bulb. I got it from my local Walmart after the previous bulb blew. My uvb comes from an arcadia t5 14% bulb.

That is likely your problem. Spot bulbs should not be used. They focus too much desiccating IR-A into too small of an area. You need a flood bulb. Arcadia sells them.

Check the temperature under your bulb by laying a digital thermometer that records highs and lows directly under the bulb, and letting it cook there for an hour or more. I'll bet its much hotter than 102 under a spot bulb.

Do you have a Solarmeter 6.5? The 14% bulbs are fine to use, but they need to be mounted higher up than the 12% or the 10% HO tubes. How high is your UV tube above the tortoise, and how many hours a day is it on?

This chart explains it better than I ever could:

 

[AppalachianTortoise]

That is likely your problem. Spot bulbs should not be used. They focus too much desiccating IR-A into too small of an area. You need a flood bulb. Arcadia sells them.

Check the temperature under your bulb by laying a digital thermometer that records highs and lows directly under the bulb, and letting it cook there for an hour or more. I'll bet its much hotter than 102 under a spot bulb.

Do you have a Solarmeter 6.5? The 14% bulbs are fine to use, but they need to be mounted higher up than the 12% or the 10% HO tubes. How high is your UV tube above the tortoise, and how many hours a day is it on?

This chart explains it better than I ever could:
View attachment 401268

I do not have a solar meter 6.5 yet. I am going off of memory here as I am currently at work. I believe my uvb is mounted 16-18 inches above the tortoise, I know it is at least 16 inches. It could be a little higher than that. The basking temp comes from a temperature probe that stays right next to the basking spot. Which exact bulb would you recommend for the heat?

 

[Tom]

I do not have a solar meter 6.5 yet. I am going off of memory here as I am currently at work. I believe my uvb is mounted 16-18 inches above the tortoise, I know it is at least 16 inches. It could be a little higher than that. The basking temp comes from a temperature probe that stays right next to the basking spot. Which exact bulb would you recommend for the heat?

16 inches is too close for a 12% bulb, so its way too close for a 14%. The normal recommendation for 12% bulbs is 18-20 inches from the tortoise, so the 14% should be higher than that. You really need a meter to know what is happening under your bulb.

Put a digital thermometer under the heat lamp as described above, and I think you'll find out that it is way too hot.

No one can recommend an exact bulb because every enclosure is different. You have to adjust things as needed to get the correct temperatures. I would start with an Arcadia 75 watt incandescent flood bulb. Check the temperature under it, and raise or lower the bulb to get the correct temperature. If you can't raise or lower the bulb, then get a higher or lower wattage bulb.