proud new forest hingeback owner

[gerrod]

I was told to get a 160 watt mercury bulb for lighting so I spent 60 bucks on one and now all I'm reading is I need low lighting. This bulbs pretty bright so what should I do about that. Also hell only eat bananas. I just gave em some mushrooms a bit ag so ill see if hell eat those. Any other suggestions? Thanx guy
s

 

[egyptiandan]

If possible, I'd return the bulb and get a ceramic heat emitter. If you can't return it, you should be able to sell it on the forum here.
Once you lower the light levels I think you'll see more activity. You can mush up the banana and mix that on other fruits and vegetables. Have you tried any live food?

Danny

 

[gerrod]

Nothing live yet. I have a ceramic heater as well but if I change the light what do I get? Any thing? Is the light in the room enuf? I was told he needs that light to produce proper vitamins.

 

[Itort]

Ambient light is enough. They get D3 from animal portion of diet and mushrooms. The habitat for them is dense rainforest. They do venture into more open areas in morning and evening when light levels are low. A calcium source such as cuttlebone or pure calcium is a good idea.

 

[gerrod]

Ambient light is enough. They get D3 from animal portion of diet and mushrooms. The habitat for them is dense rainforest. They do venture into more open areas in morning and evening when light levels are low. A calcium source such as cuttlebone or pure calcium is a good idea.

Thanx a lot. Would a dimmer low wattage reptile light do? Dang I wish I wasn't steered in the wrong direction cause I wasted 60 bucks I guess. Also as far as humidity, he has a water tray w about 2 in of fresh water daily big enuf to fit about 4 of him in and I spray his cage usually a few times a day w warm water. Does this sound about right?

 

[Itort]

I don't use any lights on my Homes at all, just the light in the room. I do use a CHE for warmth in winter. The humidity sounds good (I like it to smell like a forest in the morning).

 

[gerrod]

Thanx again. The room he's in is prob just about room temp so I've had the CHE on because from what I gather he needs temps around 80 give or take, is that right? I'm also in portland or where unfortunately summer hasn't started yet so it still gets kinda chilly in here at night. Any other advice about anything is much appreciated as this is my first hingeback tortoise. Thanx again, I'm already glad I found and joined this forum today.

 

[Itort]

Be sure to checkout African forum subforum Hingebacks. There is alot of good info there.

 

[Scooter]

When I got my first one all she would eat was bananas also. I found the easiest way to feed her was to get banana baby food and lightly coat all her other food in that. Then I started getting the baby food with banana and other fruits so the banana portion was smaller. Then I slowly started to reduce the amount I put on the food. It took almost a year but she will finely eat a wide variety of food and doesn't need the banana.