Need help with new cherry head

[Bumicu]

Hi all, we have a new little "guy" who came home about a week ago. He came home with a 75 watt infrared lamp and a Reptisun 10.0 UVB, in a 20 gallon long, Cypress mulch for substrate. I've since added a 75 watt basking light and lots of moist sphagnum moss and some ferns from my yard. He's got 2 hides, one on the warm side (79 inside the hide right now, night) one on the cool side (stays in the 70s). During the day the basking light comes on over a flat rock I put in there too, which raises the temps a bit, but not as much as I though it would. Now, I've read that the little ones hide a lot, but it seems that unless I take him out of his hides he won't come out to eat on his own. Once I take him out he eats pretty well but quickly finds a hide (either one) and stays there the rest of the day. I've been taking him out in the afternoons to get some sun and nibble on grass, then soak him for a bit. Then he finds his hide for the night. Temps reach high 80s throughout the day, but I'm having a hard time maintaining humidity, even though I spray and water daily. I read people use plexiglass on top to keep humidity in?

My concerns are:
Is his behavior normal? Is he cold/hot?
Is he getting enough exposure to UVB light, if he hides all day?
Should the temps be higher? If so, how? Higher wattage lamps?

Any additional advice or suggestions will be appreciated. I'm a little overwhelmed, so much information out there, not sure what to follow.
Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

It's pretty normal for a very young tortoise to hide a lot, as they are prey animals. Also, he's new to this environment and not settled in yet. Just keep doing what you're doing. In the mean time, read the info at the Tortoise Library The Library was compiled and written by one of our moderators.

 

[abclements]

The only number that you gave that was of concern was 70 degrees on the cool side. If your tank is not humid then 70 is fine. But if you have the correct humidity (minimum of 75-80%) then you really shouldn't be letting the temps go lower than high 70s anywhere in the tank.

Your tort is going to outgrow the 20 gallon long quickly and it probably already has (I don't know dimensions of tanks off the top of my head) but it for sure won't last very long... So it might just be a good idea to upgrade now and sell that tank for some extra money.

As far as hiding, my Red Foot didn't really come out a lot until he was about 4.5" long, and now I see him every morning from about 7-9 to eat and warm up and then sporadically throughout the day at random times. I used to pull him out to eat, but it actually will help them trust you more if you let them come out on their own. Don't worry, this is completely normal.

 

[Bumicu]

Thank you both for your quick replies! I will definitely check out the library and make some changes to keep Elmo healthy in his new home. We live in Miami, so I'm hoping soon we can build him something nice to hang out in during the day, at least until he gets big enough to stay out full time.

 

[abclements]

Ya Florida is awesome for cherries!!