So am I right saying you have a CHE in one shade and a uvb spot bulb in the other shade.
Help there's something wrong with my tortoise
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sherlock15
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This is what his plastron looked like before it sunk in. Does it look ok ?
sherlock15
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Was it soft in that photo?
sherlock15
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Yes it has always been soft.
sherlock15
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Right now I only have the Che in the left and a light bulb in the right.
The way you have it set up all your heat us escaping. So there will be cold spots in your enclosure. For example in that hide where your tort wants to hide will be cold and damp. If that was an enclosed a 100w CHE would be enough to warm that size enclosure. What is your plan about uvb bulb?
sherlock15
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Later today I'm getting more tin foil to put on top and on Wednesday I'm getting a new mvb and night time bulb.
How much do mvb bulbs cost.
sherlock15
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28.99 dollars
OK. This is what I would do. Your enclosure looks OK to me, just needs tweaking. At one end can you fix wood across and cut a hole just smaller than your CHE shade. Then sit your shade over the hole. On the underside of this wood instead of a mvb can you get a uvb 10% strip and connections. You would probably only need a 12" length uvb. I don't know where you live, but here that wouldn't cost much more than the mvb bulb. So at this stage you have light and heat at one end. You then need to cover the rest with something. Ideally perspex/plexiglass if you can. For now you can leave that wire mesh in. This will keep a good ambiant temp in your enclosure. Keep a hide at each end so your tort can hide in the warm or cooler end.
I would use the larger shade for your CHE. Also do you have a thermostat to control your heat?
Forget night time bulb. Torts like dark to sleep. Your CHE will provide the heat at night.
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sherlock15
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The Che does not keep the enclosure warm enough though.
I think this is because the heat is escaping. I have a 150w CHE in my 2x4ft viv. And it's more than enough.
sherlock15
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The one I have does not get very hot. My 60w gets hotter than it. I got it from china and think it might be a knock off. So I will probably have to get a new real one. What temp does a 100w usually get too ?
Very hot. If you touch it you will get burnt badly. In your size environment I would say 100w is OK. But if you had a stat you can put 150w in and the stat will control. Without a stat it will get too hot. Stats also save money on electricity.
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Anyfoot is giving you very good advice so all im going to do is repeat it. No night bulb, the CHE is your night heat. If you can tough your CHE when its on then it doesn't work right, it should be like touching the burner on a stove. If you make your enclosure air tight by covering the lid (except where the light and heater are) the heat and warm air will stay in. You really should use that CHE with a reptile thermostat (which you can get for $40). This will turn it on and off so it stays the same temp day and night.
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