RatQueen_Irene
Active Member
Hello, nice to meet you all!
My hatchling eastern hermann's tortoise is arriving tomorrow and I'm very excited, decided to name him Kepler (after the telescope) haha
I have everything I think I need to make a good enclosure, having read everything I could get my hands on the past two years.
I'm using a 38 inch by 20 inch plastic tub enclosure to start with (I'm well aware he'll need more room as he grows), with appropriate substrate that retains moisture quite well, staying slightly damp to the touch these past 2-3 days while I prepared it. I have a 75w basking heat lamp, and a 50 UVB fluorescent bulb, both mounted around 12-14 inches high from the basking area.
I am having trouble with the soil just being damp, and not doing much to make the area humid. The temperature here has remained in the 70 F ish range with 50-60% humidity. The soil being slightly damp though seems to make the habitat colder. People recommend open-top enclosures, but how am I supposed to make the air humid inside? The heat lamp only reaches a corner really, and the room quickly airs it out. Should I cover the enclosure partially with the lid (50-90 percent covered)?
I have a 10 gallon glass enclosure a friend gifted me as well, with a wire top (very aware this is small and dangers of glass in general). Still, would that be good to keep him in for part of the day surrounded by cardboard to make sure he warms up with the heat lamp and receives good humidity? For example, an hour or two after his morning soak with some mist to it? I have an extra wooden hide as well for that one if so, which I may switch out for the plastic bucket so he can climb it.
I've attached a picture, I plan to replace the cardboard dry-hide with a different material later on if he tries to eat it or it gets at all soggy/moldy, same with the plant or if any bowl seems dangerous.
My hatchling eastern hermann's tortoise is arriving tomorrow and I'm very excited, decided to name him Kepler (after the telescope) haha
I have everything I think I need to make a good enclosure, having read everything I could get my hands on the past two years.
I'm using a 38 inch by 20 inch plastic tub enclosure to start with (I'm well aware he'll need more room as he grows), with appropriate substrate that retains moisture quite well, staying slightly damp to the touch these past 2-3 days while I prepared it. I have a 75w basking heat lamp, and a 50 UVB fluorescent bulb, both mounted around 12-14 inches high from the basking area.
I am having trouble with the soil just being damp, and not doing much to make the area humid. The temperature here has remained in the 70 F ish range with 50-60% humidity. The soil being slightly damp though seems to make the habitat colder. People recommend open-top enclosures, but how am I supposed to make the air humid inside? The heat lamp only reaches a corner really, and the room quickly airs it out. Should I cover the enclosure partially with the lid (50-90 percent covered)?
I have a 10 gallon glass enclosure a friend gifted me as well, with a wire top (very aware this is small and dangers of glass in general). Still, would that be good to keep him in for part of the day surrounded by cardboard to make sure he warms up with the heat lamp and receives good humidity? For example, an hour or two after his morning soak with some mist to it? I have an extra wooden hide as well for that one if so, which I may switch out for the plastic bucket so he can climb it.
I've attached a picture, I plan to replace the cardboard dry-hide with a different material later on if he tries to eat it or it gets at all soggy/moldy, same with the plant or if any bowl seems dangerous.