Chloebark
Member
Hang tight, this might be long...
I have recently joined the TFO and have found so much information for my new baby leopard tortoise that I feel a little overwhelmed. I have slowly been making changes and I know there is still a lot to do. I would appreciate some feedback for what I have already.
Rhae is about 2 months old, I purchased it from a reptile show 1 month ago. I am currently keeping Rhae in a 40 gallon tank until the end of June, when I will be able to make something larger and closed. I currently have foil covering the top of the tank to retain the humidity and heat, but I am still struggling. I use a 100 watt MVB and a 100 watt CHE, the CHE I leave on day and night. I spray the tank multiple times a day and can get the humidity to 90%, but it always falls throughout the day and I’m constantly spraying. I also have a humid hide with sphagnum moss for humidity, and the rest of the substrate is coco coir. I have read on here that it constantly needs high humidity or pyramiding will occur, and I’m not sure what else I should be doing?
The heat seems ok, it is 78-80 degrees everywhere, and about 90-95 in the basking area. I use a digital indoor/outdoor hygrometer near the basking area and the zoomed thermometer/humidity gauge on the cooler side. I soak Rhae every morning for 15-20 minutes and usually after work I’ll set Rhae in its water dish where I watch it drink vigorously, followed by munching on some greens.
Overall Rhae does not seem extremely active. I do find it in different parts of the tank but whenever I watch it is always sleeping (except right after the soaks). I had been feeding Rhae spring mix and dandelion weeds, and I recently purchased seed mixes to grow myself as well as hay for fiber. I also bought Mazuri but none of my tortoises seem interested in it. I have calcium powder and a calcium spray but I only use it once a week.
I have only taken Rhae out twice in the sunshine but it has been unbelievably hot and I don’t have a proper outdoor area made yet. I had read that outdoor time should be limited at this age, but I know I could do more.
Ok, sorry I think my post kind of went all over the place but I think I covered everything I’m doing. Let me know if there is anything I should change right away or recommendations to make things even better. Raising an older Russian tortoise has been relatively easy, but this baby leopard has me feeling like a worried mother all of the time!
I have recently joined the TFO and have found so much information for my new baby leopard tortoise that I feel a little overwhelmed. I have slowly been making changes and I know there is still a lot to do. I would appreciate some feedback for what I have already.
Rhae is about 2 months old, I purchased it from a reptile show 1 month ago. I am currently keeping Rhae in a 40 gallon tank until the end of June, when I will be able to make something larger and closed. I currently have foil covering the top of the tank to retain the humidity and heat, but I am still struggling. I use a 100 watt MVB and a 100 watt CHE, the CHE I leave on day and night. I spray the tank multiple times a day and can get the humidity to 90%, but it always falls throughout the day and I’m constantly spraying. I also have a humid hide with sphagnum moss for humidity, and the rest of the substrate is coco coir. I have read on here that it constantly needs high humidity or pyramiding will occur, and I’m not sure what else I should be doing?
The heat seems ok, it is 78-80 degrees everywhere, and about 90-95 in the basking area. I use a digital indoor/outdoor hygrometer near the basking area and the zoomed thermometer/humidity gauge on the cooler side. I soak Rhae every morning for 15-20 minutes and usually after work I’ll set Rhae in its water dish where I watch it drink vigorously, followed by munching on some greens.
Overall Rhae does not seem extremely active. I do find it in different parts of the tank but whenever I watch it is always sleeping (except right after the soaks). I had been feeding Rhae spring mix and dandelion weeds, and I recently purchased seed mixes to grow myself as well as hay for fiber. I also bought Mazuri but none of my tortoises seem interested in it. I have calcium powder and a calcium spray but I only use it once a week.
I have only taken Rhae out twice in the sunshine but it has been unbelievably hot and I don’t have a proper outdoor area made yet. I had read that outdoor time should be limited at this age, but I know I could do more.
Ok, sorry I think my post kind of went all over the place but I think I covered everything I’m doing. Let me know if there is anything I should change right away or recommendations to make things even better. Raising an older Russian tortoise has been relatively easy, but this baby leopard has me feeling like a worried mother all of the time!