New inside enclosure

[thetortoiseguy]

Oh don't worry he is out of his enclosure a lot

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And thanks

 

[hunterk997]

Where is he when he is out of the indoor enclosure?

 

[thetortoiseguy]

In my living room

 

[gtc]

Lightning loves it

It looks really nice, but I agree that its kinda small. What kind of tort is that and why do you use that red heat bulb? If its a russian\greek\hermann you dont need the extra heat plus people say the red light can make torts eat their substrate.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

I have permission for night perpouses for the red bulb

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

There are other problems with using red lights as a heat source. Is this light used to keep the enclosure warm at night?

 

[thetortoiseguy]

Yes it is

 

[gtc]

I have permission for night perpouses for the red bulb

Ok....but I see that your tort is a russian. Your tort does not need night time heat indoors. Cooler night temps are recommended for russians. Check out threads by GBtortoises. He has written a lot of good info on russians\greeks\hermanns.

 

[WillTort2]

I would only use the red bulb if the indoor temperatures are going to be less than 60 degrees. That type bulb is not the best for their basking spot.

A spot light will work for their basking; just get a temperature gun to determine a proper basking temperature of 95 degrees.
You can also use a combination bulb to provide both UV and heat. (Recent posts are indicating that the UV spot lights only maintain a good output of UV for 3 or 4 months).

The UV tube lights are thought to provide a longer term output of UV.

Make sure your Russian can select his temperature comfort by being able to move from a 70 degree area to the 95 degree area. They have been thermo self regulating for millions of years; all we need to do is provide the opportunity...."they already know how".

My Russians are most active when the night temps drop to about 65 degrees and the day temps get into the low to mid 70's. But the basking spot needs to be approx. 95 degrees.

Good luck.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

Urge red bulb is for night perpouses only but I'm gunna take it out and replace it with a smaller watt heat bulb like my other one

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

I would replace it with a CHE which provides heat but no light. This helps your tortoise maintain a more proper day/night cycle.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

Ok I will do that

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Or I might put another heat lamp in there to help with the warmth

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Because where i live it is quite cold if you know what I mean it is quite hard to get the temperature right

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Where are you located?

 

[thetortoiseguy]

The shop where I brought lightning was chessington garden centre in the uk unfortunatly the done something quite stupid and used infrared lights to help them get to sleep . And unfortunatly I have to use a red light to tell him that it is time to go to sleep but he dose that when he is ready then I turn the uv off !

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Uk in haselmere

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

I am in the USA. Oregon. We, too have a maritime climate. Beautiful greenery, with gray overcast skies.

 

[gtc]

The shop where I brought lightning was chessington garden centre in the uk unfortunatly the done something quite stupid and used infrared lights to help them get to sleep . And unfortunatly I have to use a red light to tell him that it is time to go to sleep but he dose that when he is ready then I turn the uv off !

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Uk in haselmere

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I live in Norway, which is colder than the UK and I still dont need night time heat indoors for my my tort. How cold does it get in your home at night?

 

[thetortoiseguy]

Enclosure improvements ??



What do I need to improve

 

[thetortoiseguy]

If I left the lamp off It would be like a fridge but with the lamp on it's at a good and normal temp

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Does anyone recommend a hydrometer for my vivarium because I want to know the humidity levels in there thanks guy for all of your help you are all good helpers thanks again

~ Scott

 

[Yvonne G]

RE: Enclosure improvements ??

What do I need to improve

I think we've all told you already where you need to improve this habitat:

1. It is way too small for an adult russian tortoise
2. The lights need to be mounted in reflector-type fixtures and hung straight down


If you allow your russian tortoise to hibernate, then you wouldn't have to worry about an indoor habitat. Let him live outside spring, summer and fall, and hibernate winter.

I don't think you need to worry about humidity for this tortoise. He's an adult. Whatever humidity is in the air naturally is enough for him. You can occasionally wet the substrate to keep the dust at a minimum, and that's enough humidity for him.

 

[thetortoiseguy]

I can't get a new vivarium because there is not enough space that's why I'm going to build an outside enclosure