MVB lighting & enclosure size

[jedig]

So as I have been reading from a lot of people on here, hatchling tortoises need a good amount of space. The person I got my hermann's from said that I don't need a lot of room right now but eventually I will. I have also read on different websites that hatchlings do good in plastic containers. I am starting to feel bad because both of my tortoises' enclosures are 15" x 24". They both (I also have a leopard tortoise) have a hide with moist sphagnum moss, shallow dishes for water and a flat rock for when they eat sticky stuff like cactus. I use Eco earth and cypress mulch as the substrates and mist it down every other day. I'm a little bummed because I want the best for my tortoises and would hate to think they're unhappy (even though they spend most of their time burrowed). I've done everything correctly so far, or so I think, but I'm wondering if they should be in larger enclosures which also brings up why I'm here in the first place, the lighting/heat. Since the enclosures are not that big, I bought the dual dome fixture from zoo med with a basking bulb and the 10.0 uvb bulb for both of them (the temp on the hot side ranges from 90-98F max depending on whether I have the air on in the room or not). Is that light fixture too small if I decide to go with a bigger space, and also is a MVB too hot for a smaller enclosure? I've had a few people tell me that it's way too hot for the little guys so I'm wondering what I should do. Thanks.

 

[JoesMum]

Posting photos of your torts and their enclosures and lighting will help us to help you.

I will be right back with some things for you to read

 

[JoesMum]

Here goes

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Leopard Tort Care Guide
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

How to raise a young Sulcata (but it applies to Leos too)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[jedig]

Here goes

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Leopard Tort Care Guide
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

How to raise a young Sulcata (but it applies to Leos too)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Both of their enclosures are identical so I just sent the one

 

[Yvonne G]

Baby tortoises are prey, and they know it, so they like to stay hidden most of the time. They are very uncomfortable out in the open. Your habitat is quite open. A few bushy plants placed around inside the habitat would go a long way towards making the babies feel more comfortable.

 

[jedig]

Baby tortoises are prey, and they know it, so they like to stay hidden most of the time. They are very uncomfortable out in the open. Your habitat is quite open. A few bushy plants placed around inside the habitat would go a long way towards making the babies feel more comfortable.

Real or fake plants? If real, which ones?

 

[jedig]

Baby tortoises are prey, and they know it, so they like to stay hidden most of the time. They are very uncomfortable out in the open. Your habitat is quite open. A few bushy plants placed around inside the habitat would go a long way towards making the babies feel more comfortable.

I wouldn't want them to bite fake plants but I'm just wondering which ones would stay alive. I would probably need soil as well

 

[Yvonne G]

Doesn't matter, either kind. I keep the real plants in the pots, dig the pot down into the substrate with about half the pot up out of the substrate. This way it keeps the plant up away from biting little mouths.

 

[jedig]

Doesn't matter, either kind. I keep the real plants in the pots, dig the pot down into the substrate with about half the pot up out of the substrate. This way it keeps the plant up away from biting little mouths.

View attachment 173419

Oh ok good idea what kind of lighting do you use?

 

[leigti]

You have a much better start than most people have at the beginning. Check out the sulcata care sheet and also the Russian tortoise care sheet. Their care is similar to Herman's. You will definitely need bigger enclosures. With a bigger enclosure a mercury vapor bulb, 100 W, should be just fine. At night you will need a ceramic heat emitter so your babies can be warm around the clock. Much of the stuff you need can be found at hardware stores. Here are some examples. They'll give you an idea where to start.
As far as plants go, you can put in herb plants because they are not poisonous but your tortoise won't eat them. You found the right website for all the correct information that's out there. It can get very confusing if you go to multiple sites. Your tortoises are very pretty.

 

[Sara G.]

Spider plants are cheap, hardy plants that are safe for your torts to munch on if they want. Plus you can get pretty large ones that will cover a decent amount of an area.

 

[jedig]

You have a much better start than most people have at the beginning. Check out the sulcata care sheet and also the Russian tortoise care sheet. Their care is similar to Herman's. You will definitely need bigger enclosures. With a bigger enclosure a mercury vapor bulb, 100 W, should be just fine. At night you will need a ceramic heat emitter so your babies can be warm around the clock. Much of the stuff you need can be found at hardware stores. Here are some examples. They'll give you an idea where to start.View attachment 173425View attachment 173426View attachment 173427View attachment 173428
As far as plants go, you can put in herb plants because they are not poisonous but your tortoise won't eat them. You found the right website for all the correct information that's out there. It can get very confusing if you go to multiple sites. Your tortoises are very pretty.

Thank you I'm going to move them into bigger enclosures as soon as I can and get better lighting and heat. How far away do you keep the bulb away from the enclosure? I know it's different for each bulb but I just want to make sure they are getting enough uvb light. Sorry if I'm asking specific or obvious questions but I would like to do everything right. By the way, the night temp doesn't drop below 80. Is that too cold? Also I don't know what the humidity is but I do stay on top of them being hydrated. I soak them every day for 20 min and spritz their shells with water on top of spraying down the enclosure and having a humid hide.

 

[leigti]

I put my 100 W bulb at the correct height to get the correct basking temperature. 80° is good. You don't want to going below that, basking temperature should be more like 95-ish right under the bulb.
Some people feel that the coiled bulbs hurt tortoises eyes, especially baby tortoises. So I would get rid of those quickly and get an MVB. A temperature gun and the humidity gauge are great. They come in very very handy throughout the life of your tortoises.
You can keep the enclosure warmer over all by covering it. Or at least covering everything except what is directly under the light. Just use the lids that came with the bins. And if just spraying the substrate doesn't get it damp enough then pour water in and stir it around with your hands. You don't want it soupy. And you don't want cold temperatures with high humidity because that causes respiratory issues.

 

[TortoiseWarrior]

Nice looking little guys...glad they will be getting off to a good start...can't wait to see them in a few months​

 

[jedig]

I put my 100 W bulb at the correct height to get the correct basking temperature. 80° is good. You don't want to going below that, basking temperature should be more like 95-ish right under the bulb.
Some people feel that the coiled bulbs hurt tortoises eyes, especially baby tortoises. So I would get rid of those quickly and get an MVB. A temperature gun and the humidity gauge are great. They come in very very handy throughout the life of your tortoises.
You can keep the enclosure warmer over all by covering it. Or at least covering everything except what is directly under the light. Just use the lids that came with the bins. And if just spraying the substrate doesn't get it damp enough then pour water in and stir it around with your hands. You don't want it soupy. And you don't want cold temperatures with high humidity because that causes respiratory issues.

I didn't buy the coiled lights because I heard the same thing but apparently I'm reading that the compact ones aren't that great either. So I bought MVBs and new lamps yesterday and getting bigger enclosures for them. Thank you for the advice!

 

[jedig]

Nice looking little guys...glad they will be getting off to a good start...can't wait to see them in a few months​

Thank you, I'm excited too

 

[Turtlesfromcolo]

Doesn't matter, either kind. I keep the real plants in the pots, dig the pot down into the substrate with about half the pot up out of the substrate. This way it keeps the plant up away from biting little mouths.

View attachment 173419

What type of uvb bulb do you use in this enclosure?