New Proud Horsfield Owner : )

[princess]

Hiyya, im new to tortoises, I had a tortoise table for her with 2 lamps, she was in it for a week, she sadly got poorly and ivee just got her from the vets, a specialist who kept her for 6 days. shes fit and healthy now, i have a vivarium with a heat emitter, a UV light, and a thermostat. I have wood chips for the viv, with newspaper for her bedding (she has a wooden house to hide in to keep cool) . any suggestions? x THANKS

 

[tortoisenerd]

Pictures of the enclosure (and the tort) would be great--I'd bet you would get some suggestions then. Do you have a question about anything in particular? What was wrong with her? What kind of wood chips (type of wood)? What are your temperatures like in the warm and cool area (so we have an idea of the range)?

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your tort!

 

[Ruri]

Pictures of the enclosure (and the tort) would be great--I'd bet you would get some suggestions then. Do you have a question about anything in particular? What was wrong with her? What kind of wood chips (type of wood)? What are your temperatures like in the warm and cool area (so we have an idea of the range)?

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your tort!

Aren't wood chips bad for the tort?

 

[Kristina]

Depends on what is actually meant by "wood chips." If that translates into aspen bedding, orchid bark or fine cypress mulch, then no, it would not be bad for them.

Kristina

 

[alice]

i would have kept the tortoise table.
what tort do you have?
what were the reasons for changing to a viv?

 

[princess]

The specialist said table wasnt warm enough, and the straw i had gave her a bad chest. So i got rid and put her somewhere warmer. Thermostat is at 25 degrees in middle and baskin spot will be around 28 and bed area wil be about 22 ish im wil get some pics uploaded asap. thanks 4 replys xxxx

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she puenomia he sed, and infection in her lungs ( from straw) CAN ANY1 TELL ME WOT I SHOULD HAVE IN HER VIVARIUM? SAND? SOIL? ROCKS? SHES A HORSEFIELD IM STRUGGLING AS EVERY1 SAYS DIFFRENT :s xxxx

 

[Kristina]

You should have a 50/50 mix of coconut coir such as Bed-a-Beast or Eco-earth mixed with play sand. Soak the brick of coir to expand it, and then wring the excess water out so that it is damp but not soaking wet. Mix with dry play sand.

If the table wasn't warm enough, I would have simply added more heat sources. I have a 8 X 8 enclosure for my Sulcatas that would be too cold also if I only had one lamp, but I have five lamps around the outside of the enclosure. Not that you would need five, necessarily, but adding something else would have bumped the heat and allowed for more temperature gradient and airflow.

Kristina

 

[Yvonne G]

If the table wasn't warm enough, I would have simply added more heat sources. I have a 8 X 8 enclosure for my Sulcatas that would be too cold also if I only had one lamp, but I have five lamps around the outside of the enclosure. Kristina

Or, you can cover or partially cover the top. That keeps the heat in very nicely.

Yvonne

 

[Kristina]

You always think of the things that I forget to mention. See how you are?

Kristina