mojo_1
Well-Known Member
The timers are just for the lights. Your thermostat should not be on a timer. Your lights should all be 2 prong.
Red foot tortoise humidity m
- Thread starter Dawsonduro
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mojo_1
Well-Known Member
The smart switch is nice till you don't have internet, Ask me how fun that was during a internet black out
Dawsonduro
Member
Ahh didnt even think about this, ill exchange them and get the other ones. I was wondering how often do i need to change substrate and what brands are best for substrate?
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
hiya! So yeah just your ambient lighting(the leds) and UV will need to be on a timer.
The ambient lighting a 12hour timer, we personally have ours from 9am to 9pm. Then your UV fit roughly 4 hours from noon🙂
The ceramic bulbs are going to be on a thermostat, which turns them on/off as and when needed, hence no need for the time with those👍
As for the substrate, in a larger set up, you won’t need to do deep cleans often, every 6-12months, depending how you feel it’s holding up smell wise etc🙂do daily spot cleans, for loose bits of food, poop n stuff👍
Brand wise, I’m not 100% certain what brands you have available, but I believe I’ve seen US members use habistat orchid bark, zoo med reptibark, but also a lot of folks say they go to garden stores and buy bulk bags, you just have to read the small print and make sure it’s 100% natural orchid fir bark, with absolutely no added fertilisers or chemicals, I’m always reluctant recommending that cause I overthink everything🥲but our uk brands aren’t available over there, perhaps mojo will say what he uses😊
If you’re wanting to use coir as a base, I think this brand is available in the US
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FW653X2/?tag=
The ambient lighting a 12hour timer, we personally have ours from 9am to 9pm. Then your UV fit roughly 4 hours from noon🙂
The ceramic bulbs are going to be on a thermostat, which turns them on/off as and when needed, hence no need for the time with those👍
As for the substrate, in a larger set up, you won’t need to do deep cleans often, every 6-12months, depending how you feel it’s holding up smell wise etc🙂do daily spot cleans, for loose bits of food, poop n stuff👍
Brand wise, I’m not 100% certain what brands you have available, but I believe I’ve seen US members use habistat orchid bark, zoo med reptibark, but also a lot of folks say they go to garden stores and buy bulk bags, you just have to read the small print and make sure it’s 100% natural orchid fir bark, with absolutely no added fertilisers or chemicals, I’m always reluctant recommending that cause I overthink everything🥲but our uk brands aren’t available over there, perhaps mojo will say what he uses😊
If you’re wanting to use coir as a base, I think this brand is available in the US
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FW653X2/?tag=
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
I use the reptibark and only that. I spot clean as needed. The spring tails do the rest of the cleaning. If it passes the smell test you should be good up to a year.
Dawsonduro
Member
Okay sounds good thank you guys! I have the Arcadia coming in tmr is that the ambient or UV light? Or does it give out both? Just want to confirm I’m not missing something .
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
That's the Uv light that will be on the 4 hr timer. For ambient light on the 12hr timer I personally use an led floodlight bulb in the 5500K to 6500K range. You can get this at Lowe's as well. The reasoning for the UV light to be on from noon to 4pm is that is the peak uv times of the sun, and we try and keep their enclosure as close to outside light and uv cycle as possible.
Dawsonduro
Member
Okay cool thanks for clearing that up , do you have any recommendations bulb or brand wise or doesn’t matter much?
Gonna head down to Lowe’s here in a bit.
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
You're welcome, This is the one I use.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-Refresh...6-Dimmable-Flood-Light-Bulb-2-Pack/5013961303
Dawsonduro
Member
Hey just wanted to update you guys and see how I’m looking, got everything hung up off clamps, Arcadia hung as well, 2 CHE & thermostats, ambient light bulb. Heat and humidity levels sitting steady 80’s . Also got the tort cam bc @mojo_1 inspired me😂
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mojo_1
Well-Known Member
Looking good. Your tort will be walk tall through there like a boss. I recommend adding a tunnel at some point. I used 4" elbows from the water drain section pipe section at Lowe's. Mojo uses his tunnels at least a dozen times a day.
Dawsonduro
Member
Glad to hear it’s been a process but things are looking a lot better now! Sounds good appreciate you so much seriously , and @Littleredfootbigredheart
I meant to ask where you had gotten those from gonna have to get some !
Also I was wondering are cherry heads able to live in same terrarium with this guy? Probably not anytime soon but I’d like to get another tort someday
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
You're welcome. To answer your question about the cherry head, unless you have a ton of space and more then 3 of the same species of tortoise they are solo living reptiles. If you have 2 of them in the same enclosure one becomes the alfa and bullies the other one. In a group they are fine in pairs it stresses them out and one or both will end up dead. A lot of people confuse their behaviors when in pairs thinking they are getting along and are happy. It's all mind games with them like a starring contest.
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
Here's the links for the parts I used for the tunnel.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Aw thanks for the update! Sounds so much better for your little one now🥰
What was it you’re asking where I got what from?🙂
In regards to another tortoise, as mojo says, you’d have to have at least 3, and if they all ended up males you could still run into aggression, even with the correct ratio, sometimes over time they can start becoming aggressive.
Small groups only work if there’s acres of land, correct male to female ratio, same species(which cherry heads and red foots basically are so they can be housed together), and the same age and size, you couldn’t introduce a small younger tort to a full grown group for example.
Never house any tortoise in a pair, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression.
If I were you, to save the potential stress of having to split a small group up, I’d stick with just the one, honestly they’re happiest alone🙂
Dawsonduro
Member
Ahh damn that’s unfortunate, would’ve loved to have another some day🥲
But good to know thank you! Also I was wondering around what age can I tell if I have a boy or girl🤔 I know it’s based off the way the bottom of their shell is correct?
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
Give it about 5 years. Here's a reference picture for the future.
Dawsonduro
Member
Sorry for the confusion I was referring to the tunnels mojo had for his little guy!
But ahhh yes that makes sense but so unfortunate. Maybe one day when I have enough room 🥲
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
They reach sexual maturity around the age of 5, that’ll be roughly when is best to tell, but sometimes you can tell from 3 upwards depending on their size
Dawsonduro
Member
ahhh im so far off😂 I been waiting to name him or her bc I thought it would be quicker but sounds like we’re going with a gender neutral name lol
