The fact that they dried out means you don't have nearly enough moisture in there. Definitely try covering a good portion of the enclosure. Adding water to the substrate. You could try growing herb plants. Your tortoise won't eat them probably but they make good cover. Sometimes you can find them at grocery stores even and they don't have pesticides because they are made for human consumption. It's going to be much easier to put establish plants in there been trying to grow any in there. Or do you have any friends with house plants that don't have chemicals? Or yard plants that don't have chemicals? I got a great spider plant from somebody that is growing like crazy. And I do not have a green thumb at all so if I can grow it anybody can.
Growth rings or pyramiding?
- Thread starter spud's_mum
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Leigti hs it right. If your substrate is too dry to germinate seeds, it's too dry for your baby.
Okay, I actually just read the whole thread 
with the baby that small I would definitely make a close chamber. The moss in a humid height is a great idea plus you can put it in other parts of the enclosure also. You can plant the seed mixes in little trays and put them into the enclosure once they are established. With the right humidity those weeds or any other plants should grow like crazy. I made a kind of jerryrigged semi closed chamber for my winter enclosure and the plants went nuts.
with the baby that small I would definitely make a close chamber. The moss in a humid height is a great idea plus you can put it in other parts of the enclosure also. You can plant the seed mixes in little trays and put them into the enclosure once they are established. With the right humidity those weeds or any other plants should grow like crazy. I made a kind of jerryrigged semi closed chamber for my winter enclosure and the plants went nuts.
spud's_mum
Well-Known Member
They were in pots so that's why they dried out. The soil is moist and I can't plant the seeds in the substrate as I change it every week or so when it dries out. I'm ordering the sphagnum moss tonight and making a humid hide tomorrow. Thanks. I don't know how to cover it as every thing i mention will block the uv out!
I don't really understand... You change the substrate because it's dry? Why don't you just add water?
I never change the substrate, I just remove the poo and pour some water in with a watering can.
Use a plexiglass sheet and cut a round hole in it, big enough for the lamp.
spud's_mum
Well-Known Member
I try adding water but to be honest it's easier and cleaner if I just change it and use the old stuff for planting. And I will look into plexiglass, I'm making him a humid hide and ordering sphagnum moss tomorrow.
I saw a picture of your Taurus table in another thread. It will be very easy to fix your humidity problems. All you need is to shower curtains your tortoise table is wood right? Is it treated with any waterproofing product? If not get a shower curtain and line The inside of the enclosure with it. That is a mercury vapor bulb I am assuming? Because your tortoise is just a baby I would position the bulb right in the middle of the table. This will D kris the extremes of a warm and cold side. Then take a clear shower curtain, doesn't have to be clear but it's nice to be able to see your tortoise through it, cut it in half and use it to cover both ends of the enclosure. The idea is to have the entire area covered except what is directly under the light fixture.
Also, you are going to go broke if you keep changing out the substrate. And it causes stress to your tortoise to be moved around while you're doing it. When it starts to dry out, especially directly under the heat lamp, just pour water in and stir it around with your hands until it is all a little damp but not soggy. That way all you have to move for just a couple minutes is the furniture. And your tortoise just briefly. The coconut Coir is great and will hold the moisture pretty well. You could also put damp Spaghnum Moss in the hide and maybe in a couple piles around the enclosure.
your tortoise table is wood right? Is it treated with any waterproofing product? If not get a shower curtain and line The inside of the enclosure with it. That is a mercury vapor bulb I am assuming? Because your tortoise is just a baby I would position the bulb right in the middle of the table. This will D kris the extremes of a warm and cold side. Then take a clear shower curtain, doesn't have to be clear but it's nice to be able to see your tortoise through it, cut it in half and use it to cover both ends of the enclosure. The idea is to have the entire area covered except what is directly under the light fixture. Also, you are going to go broke if you keep changing out the substrate. And it causes stress to your tortoise to be moved around while you're doing it. When it starts to dry out, especially directly under the heat lamp, just pour water in and stir it around with your hands until it is all a little damp but not soggy. That way all you have to move for just a couple minutes is the furniture. And your tortoise just briefly. The coconut Coir is great and will hold the moisture pretty well. You could also put damp Spaghnum Moss in the hide and maybe in a couple piles around the enclosure.
