So finally I got Leo's tank finished and he is so happy lol. I moved him from a 15gal to a 50gal tank. The substrate is coco core, its about three inch's deep throughout. His hide is a chocolate terracotta pot on its side and I propped it up a bit to make it more of a 45° angle, his hide has a layer of New Zealand Sphagnum Moss, then a layer of coco core, then another layer of New Zealand Sphagnum Moss on top so he can dig and shape it as he likes. I took the coco core and packed it behind and around and on top of the pot so it has a hurried look. I also am using 2 heat pads under his tank, there small ones used for 10gal tanks, one is half under the basking rock and water dish and the other is just outside of the mouth of his hide. Remember they are under the tank and there is 3 inch's of coco core between them and Leo and they don't heat up to hot, just enough to help with some overall warmth and help with keeping some humidity up. I am using a 160watt MVB bulb over the basking rock and a 15watt UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb over the hide area, the fluorescent bulb isn't as much for Leo as it is for the nasturtium seeds and Bermuda grass seed planted on top of his hide hill. The temp right now is 85° (which I am working on getting up more, I may use some plexiglass on a couple of the open spots on top of his tank to get his temp to around 91ish constantly) the humidity is 42% a the moment (that is directly above his hide). Maybe it needs to go up more in the humidity department? When the grass and the nasturtiums grow they will cascade down over and around the hide and will give Leo a little treat and will be able to have a hidden hide in time. I'm glad Leo is doing the pruning tough lol. The three rocks in the tank are from a local wash that my Great Nephew and I gathered from a few months ago (they were washed and soaked in boiling water with some bleach in it, then soaked a few more times in plain water to remove any thing that could harm Leo). I have added pictures from start to finish, let me know what y'all think. Its going to look a lot different when the plants grow.
Leo's new tank finally finished...
- Thread starter Keith D.
- Start date
I hate these threads. You are so enthusiastic and proud of what you've done there, but years of experience tell me what needs to be improved and I feel like I'm peeing on the parade every time this happens. This is all constructive criticism intended to help you make a better home for your tortoise.
1. You need more substrate and you need to hand pack it down. Its too messy when its loose like that.
2. Are you using a coil type cfl UV bulb? Those can damage tortoise eyes and should not be used. Also, plants don't need UV, they just need light.
3. Under tank heating pads are dangerous and should not be used, especially for burrowing species.
4. Where is the water bowl?
5. Your tortoise needs a humid hide. Open flower pots will not hold in humidity.
6. 50 gallons is okay to start a brand new hatchling in, but its too small for an older tortoise like yours. Once you add in all the "furniture", there is hardly any room to walk. Tortoises need to walk. A lot.
I'm gonna leave these links right here. They explain a lot of this in more detail. I hope you will take the time to read them.
I realize you have a DT, but care is the same for them and russians. I've raised dozens of baby DTs using these exact same tanks and set ups.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
For outdoor housing in a hot climate:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/
1. You need more substrate and you need to hand pack it down. Its too messy when its loose like that.
2. Are you using a coil type cfl UV bulb? Those can damage tortoise eyes and should not be used. Also, plants don't need UV, they just need light.
3. Under tank heating pads are dangerous and should not be used, especially for burrowing species.
4. Where is the water bowl?
5. Your tortoise needs a humid hide. Open flower pots will not hold in humidity.
6. 50 gallons is okay to start a brand new hatchling in, but its too small for an older tortoise like yours. Once you add in all the "furniture", there is hardly any room to walk. Tortoises need to walk. A lot.
I'm gonna leave these links right here. They explain a lot of this in more detail. I hope you will take the time to read them.
I realize you have a DT, but care is the same for them and russians. I've raised dozens of baby DTs using these exact same tanks and set ups.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
For outdoor housing in a hot climate:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/semi-underground-russian-box.98590/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/heating-an-outdoor-russian-night-box.116180/
Hiya Tom, your advice is always accepted by me
I have 3inches of hand compacted coco coir in the tank. (Leo really doesn't dig for some odd reason) I am using a 160watt MVB (not a coil bulb, not ever) for the plants to be green and healthy they will need some UV. I only use the pads to help with a little more heat and they help with raising the humidity a bit (I would def shut them off and not use them if Leo was digging) I use a 9inch terracotta basin for his water dish. As for the tank its the largest I have available at the moment, as soon as we move I will be getting him either a 100gal or 250gal tank. As for his hide it seems to be working for now, I put my hydrometer into the back of the hide and its reading 68% humidity and when I water the Bermuda seed it goes up to around 85%, and if my assumption is correct when the plants grow and cascade and cover the entry it should hold the humidity more.
In my comment number 2, I was referring to the above quoted bulb. What type of bulb is the 15 watt UVA/UVB florescent over the hide area?
Plants do not need UV. They just need light.
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