Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Just to check, how are your temps reading?(temp gun will come in handy) if they’re all fine this is highly likely him having a tantrum, they’re very dramatic little creatures🥲
Looking for some help with new tortoise
- Thread starter Stephenxiii
- Start date
Stephenxiii
New Member
Okay and how long should I be worried that he’s not eating
Stephenxiii
New Member
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Let me ask @Tom
If you can I’d try and get yourself some digital monitors because the dial ones aren’t very accurate, but even if you could get a temp gun in the meantime to check that’d be good🙂
Stephenxiii
New Member
I’m currently waiting on a digital one coming I just bought then until it arrived just to make sure
This is much too hot. That is almost 37C, and its on the wall, not even under the heat lamp. That temperature is perfect if the thermometer was sitting directly under the heat lamp cooking, but that means the whole enclosure is much too hot. You likely need a lower wattage basking lamp.
Also, hand pack your substrate down. It is too loose and fluffy.
It looks dim in the picture. They won't eat if temperatures and lighting aren't right.
Are you doing daily warm soaks to get him hydrated and get him moving? Leave him in the soaking water for 30-40 minutes and keep it warm the whole time.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Perfect, hopefully that’ll give you a more accurate idea🙂
Stephenxiii
New Member
Okay I’ll sort some new wattage lamps
Yeh he gets daily soaks and then gets to run around the house and we’ve had him supervised in the garden a few times too
It’s only dim looking the now as the room he’s in is our family room and we’re currently watching a film so the lights off and the blinds are closed
It’s usually pretty bright during the day
What does packing the substrate down do, I’m assuming he’ll still dig down but just make it more compact
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Stephenxiii
New Member
I can move the lamp up another 3/4” would that help or am I better getting lower wattage
Alex and the Redfoot
Well-Known Member
Can you make on overall photo of the enclosure so the basking bulb and thermometer can be seen? Rising a lamp should help - 3-4 inches is a meaningful difference.
Hand packing substrate will make it less dusty and messy. And it will hold humidity better.
Stephenxiii
New Member
So this is it currently but I can raise it as I said another 3/4” but I’ve also ordered another lamp with lower wattage.
Update on the new enclosure, we’ve got Ann the materials ready for it and is a wodden enclosure with a waterproof material to help the wood from rotting, it should roughly be about 8x4ft give or take a inch or two and about 12” inches height
Update on the new enclosure, we’ve got Ann the materials ready for it and is a wodden enclosure with a waterproof material to help the wood from rotting, it should roughly be about 8x4ft give or take a inch or two and about 12” inches height
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Alex and the Redfoot
Well-Known Member
If you can turn (not tilt) the lamp so it shines over the corner of the enclosure (over the stones, for example) and rise it - this should help to lower temperature. Unstick the thermometer from the wall and move it around or use temperature gun to get measurements in the hide, in the middle, in the cold corner, directly under the lamp. Leave the thermometer for an hour or so to let it warm up and cool down.
Great news about new enclosure! Please keep posting updates!
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Good advice from Alex, hopefully it sorts things temporarily whilst you get the new enclosure together, the plans sound awesome and I can’t wait to see the results!😁
Stephenxiii
New Member
Sorry for being a pest and I feel like an idiot but this is all knew to me and there was so much miss information from the pest shop it’s unbelievable.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Oh no please don’t worry! You’re in no way shape or form an idiot! Like you say, this is all new to you and no one is born knowing this stuff! Every member here started somewhere, you’re doing great honestly❤️
They should never run loose around the house. So many things can go wrong. Everyone thinks its perfectly safe and they can't imagine what could go wrong. Some people get upset and argue with us when we tell them that. Eventually something will happen and they learn the hard way, just a little too late. The floor is not safe, too slick, carpet fibers are dangerous if there is carpet, its too cold, and eventually something will go wrong. Keep the tortoise in its enclosure, or in a large outdoor enclosure. Related to your issue, when they run around loose like that, it makes them "unsatisfied", for lack of a better term, with their enclosure, which can hamper appetite.
Dim while you are watching a movie isn't good for your tortoise. It needs to be bright and "sunny" in there all day if you are trying to stimulate his appetite. They often don't eat on a cold cloudy day. Tortoises are solar powered! Make it sunny!
Packing the substrate down makes it much easier for them to walk on, and yes, they can still easily dig down into it.
Only your thermometer can answer this question. Lay a digital thermometer on its back directly under the heat lamp at tortoise shell height, and let it cook for an hour or more.
Another way to control the temperature is to add in a rheostat, and simply dial in the correct temperature. Not a "dimming thermostat", but a "dimmer switch" or "rheostat". If you get one of those, you can keep your current bulb and just adjust the wattage up or down as needed.
We are all here to talk tortoises and NO ONE is born knowing this stuff. Due to all the wrong info, it can be confusing and difficult to learn the right stuff. You are doing a great job so far. This tortoise is lucky to be with you. We are all thrilled that you have taken on this task and happy to help you. There is not one person here who thinks you are being a pest or an idiot. Just the opposite. You RESCUED a tortoise in need. That is commendable and we are happy to help you on your journey.
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