- Joined
- Nov 1, 2014
- Messages
- 14
Hi. We just got my 12 year old son a Russian Tortoise for his B-Day. The pet store said is around a year old. This is our first tortoise. We had an iguana that liver for around 14 years that died several years ago so I understand the challenges of reptiles. We also have salt water fish (150g Display, 55g QT, and 29g Biocube), a bunny, and a swiss mountain dog.
I have been reading about the Tortoise for on the last few days and we plan on building a indoor table top enclosure in the next few weeks. For now, we are went with a 30 gallon breeder tank that is 36"L x 18" wide x 12" deep. We did jump into this quickly and really did not do enough research to get an initial setup.
I read aquariums are not best but figured a low 30 gallon breeder would be ok for a couple of months. I want to make sure we have this current setup ok.
The setup includes:
1. Cyprus for the substrate
2. A 100W Exo Terra bulb for Heat in a 8" Dome Housing. I put a thermometer in there and we are around 99 degrees directly under the bulb on the substrate.
3. Exo Terra 13W Reptile UVB 150 in a Exo Terra Compact Top
4. Half Log for shelter
5. Screen on top (lights are sitting on the screen)
6. Then some small bowls for some water and fresh food
7. Cuddle stone
We keep the room around 68 to 72 degrees during the winter, warmer in the summer.
We plan on misting daily and soaking 3 to 4 days a week for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
I ready the aquariums are not great since it offers little privacy, so I am going to block off the sides, back and a small section of the front next to the shelter.
Here are some questions:
1. Is this habitat ok for a couple of months?
2. Is the hot area hot enough at 83 degrees?
3. Is the UVB bulb strong enough? It is in a compact fixture and not a longer typical fluorescent type.
4. How much should we mist?
5. How big should the soaking bowl/pan be?
thanks for the help.
Mike
Edited, corrected temp under hot lamp.
I have been reading about the Tortoise for on the last few days and we plan on building a indoor table top enclosure in the next few weeks. For now, we are went with a 30 gallon breeder tank that is 36"L x 18" wide x 12" deep. We did jump into this quickly and really did not do enough research to get an initial setup.
I read aquariums are not best but figured a low 30 gallon breeder would be ok for a couple of months. I want to make sure we have this current setup ok.
The setup includes:
1. Cyprus for the substrate
2. A 100W Exo Terra bulb for Heat in a 8" Dome Housing. I put a thermometer in there and we are around 99 degrees directly under the bulb on the substrate.
3. Exo Terra 13W Reptile UVB 150 in a Exo Terra Compact Top
4. Half Log for shelter
5. Screen on top (lights are sitting on the screen)
6. Then some small bowls for some water and fresh food
7. Cuddle stone
We keep the room around 68 to 72 degrees during the winter, warmer in the summer.
We plan on misting daily and soaking 3 to 4 days a week for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
I ready the aquariums are not great since it offers little privacy, so I am going to block off the sides, back and a small section of the front next to the shelter.
Here are some questions:
1. Is this habitat ok for a couple of months?
2. Is the hot area hot enough at 83 degrees?
3. Is the UVB bulb strong enough? It is in a compact fixture and not a longer typical fluorescent type.
4. How much should we mist?
5. How big should the soaking bowl/pan be?
thanks for the help.
Mike
Edited, corrected temp under hot lamp.
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