hello... I'm a newbie!

[Nybors]

View attachment 158704

This is their new home until. Spring, summer, and fall they will spend lots of time outside. I do plan on adding more substrate so they can burrow deeper. They eat very well and seem to like their home. Day Temps are staying at 95 to 100 with 110 in basking area. Housing side stays around 80 to 85. At night housing side is in the 70s and closer to the middle stays in the 90 to 95 range.They walk around a lot and two of them always sleep next to each other. .. not always the same 2...I rotate weeds and grass from the yard with spring mix from the store and collard and mustard greens.
Does this seem ok for them for the winter? We live in central louisiana so right now it's 70 outside lol.. not really winter

 

[Tom]

This is their new home until. Spring, summer, and fall they will spend lots of time outside. I do plan on adding more substrate so they can burrow deeper. They eat very well and seem to like their home. Day Temps are staying at 95 to 100 with 110 in basking area. Housing side stays around 80 to 85. At night housing side is in the 70s and closer to the middle stays in the 90 to 95 range.They walk around a lot and two of them always sleep next to each other. .. not always the same 2...I rotate weeds and grass from the yard with spring mix from the store and collard and mustard greens.
Does this seem ok for them for the winter? We live in central louisiana so right now it's 70 outside lol.. not really winter

1. I would replace the red bulb with a CHE and set it on a thermostat.
2. 110 is too high for the basking temp, as that will dry out their carapaces excessively and contribute to pyramiding. 95-100 is best.
3. 70's is too cool on the housing side. Add a CHE or bump up the thermostat.
4. You need a humid hide.
5. Are the top and sides closed in? I can't tell from the pic.
6. What are you doing for UV?

Over all this looks like a great enclosure. A few tweaks and you've got a good thing going there.

 

[Tom]

Double post...

 

[Nybors]

Double post...

The sides are open but we do close them when it is too cold. My house stays at about 72. I have a long bulb across the top for uvb and uva and another bulb the same just round. I will lower the temp in basking thanks. I have 2 infrared lights for at night . I will go on amazon and order the other 2 items.. my husband was iffy bout the Che but I'll override him lol..

 

[Nybors]

1. I would replace the red bulb with a CHE and set it on a thermostat.
2. 110 is too high for the basking temp, as that will dry out their carapaces excessively and contribute to pyramiding. 95-100 is best.
3. 70's is too cool on the housing side. Add a CHE or bump up the thermostat.
4. You need a humid hide.
5. Are the top and sides closed in? I can't tell from the pic.
6. What are you doing for UV?

Over all this looks like a great enclosure. A few tweaks and you've got a good thing going there.

What size che? Watts? I'm sorry I've been looking on here but I'm not sure what a humid hide is?

 

[Tom]

Humid hides:
This is copy pasted from the care sheet linked in post #8 of this thread:

"Humid Hide Boxes:
This offers the tortoise a more humid place to retreat to and sleep and can simulate some of the more damp micro-climates they might utilize in the wild. It is as simple as getting a $2 black dishwashing tub from Walmart, flipping it upside down and cutting out a small door hole. I keep the substrate under the tub more damp than the surrounding substrate and it works great. You can also use plastic shoe boxes. Some people like to put sphagnum moss in their hides or attach a sponge to the top. This is all fine, but I usually don't bother. This is a short paragraph, but this is a very important detail that should not be overlooked."

As far as your CHE wattage: Every enclosure is different. Some only need one 60 watt CHE. Others need two 150 watt ones. Only your thermometer can answer this. I would start with one or two 100 watt CHEs set on a thermostat, and see if those can get your job done.

 

[Nybors]

Humid hides:
This is copy pasted from the care sheet linked in post #8 of this thread:

"Humid Hide Boxes:
This offers the tortoise a more humid place to retreat to and sleep and can simulate some of the more damp micro-climates they might utilize in the wild. It is as simple as getting a $2 black dishwashing tub from Walmart, flipping it upside down and cutting out a small door hole. I keep the substrate under the tub more damp than the surrounding substrate and it works great. You can also use plastic shoe boxes. Some people like to put sphagnum moss in their hides or attach a sponge to the top. This is all fine, but I usually don't bother. This is a short paragraph, but this is a very important detail that should not be overlooked."

As far as your CHE wattage: Every enclosure is different. Some only need one 60 watt CHE. Others need two 150 watt ones. Only your thermometer can answer this. I would start with one or two 100 watt CHEs set on a thermostat, and see if those can get your job done.

Ok thanks! I have 3 caves for them so all I need to do is add more moisture so that's easy! Thanks so much for your advice and patience with me. I did post a pic of their caves and they also have two log tunnels. They seem to enjoy them.