When you read 40% humidity, you were reading the old info. Most books, vet, experts and breeders, still recommend that they be kept dry. They are wrong, and people like Neal and I, have the smooth tortoises to show it.
You've got to decide which way you want to go and then go that way. If you raise your tortoise the way the books say to do it, it WILL pyramid. If you follow Neal's care sheet, or mine, it won't.
I would never raise a tortoise in an open cage like the one you describe. I did in the past and got lots of pyramiding. Now I use closed chambers because they make maintaining perfect temps and humidity easy.
Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-32333.html
About the CHE: You leave it on 24/7. The thermostat turns it on and off depending on the temperature. Beck explained it well.
You've got to decide which way you want to go and then go that way. If you raise your tortoise the way the books say to do it, it WILL pyramid. If you follow Neal's care sheet, or mine, it won't.
I would never raise a tortoise in an open cage like the one you describe. I did in the past and got lots of pyramiding. Now I use closed chambers because they make maintaining perfect temps and humidity easy.
Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-32333.html
About the CHE: You leave it on 24/7. The thermostat turns it on and off depending on the temperature. Beck explained it well.