Russian tort burrowing

[rltwaddle]

I just got a Russian tort a few days ago from my sister. I know that they like to burrow a lot during the hotter hours of the day, but he's usually burrowed from the time I get home from work (2:30) till later in the day (8:30-10:30).

Sometimes he will only come out from there if I pull him out. He must be coming out atleast to eat because I counted the leafs I put in there in the morning and when I got home they weren't all there.
He is usually out in the morning before the daylight turns on.

I'm using a 100w basking/daylight bulb and the temp only stays around 80-85 by the substrate. Measured about 12-13in above Also using a tubed UVB light and a 75w at night at the same height. Humidity has been around 20-30%. Just want to make sure hes not sick and the conditions are good, that I'm not just freaking out. Lol

 

[Jacob]

Many people have had problems with uv tube bulbs, there tortoises arnt active and don't eat.
They don't put out enough uv rays, either try giving him natural sunlight during the day
or switch to a better bulb, a mvb bulb.
I Perfer the Zoomed Powersun mvb, or an eco terra mvb

 

[Tom]

80 to 85 is not warm enough for a basking temp. He needs something around 100 in the basking spot right under the light.

 

[mira_kaylee]

Many people have had problems with uv tube bulbs, there tortoises arnt active and don't eat.
They don't put out enough uv rays, either try giving him natural sunlight during the day
or switch to a better bulb, a mvb bulb.
I Perfer the Zoomed Powersun mvb, or an eco terra mvb

could someone please provide a link to a picture of what the "zoomed powersun mvb" bulb is? I bought this (picture of product attached below) thinking that it had every requirement met but i guess that i didn't?

 

[ada caro]

Hi there, those lights are great.

 

[mira_kaylee]

the one's that i posted a picture of or the "zoomed powersun mvb" one? i was worried because i think that the uvb light is a coil one that everyone keeps saying will blind my russian tort ayden and i don't want that to happen....

 

[Jacob]

The coil bulbs are usually harmful are the repitsun, 7.0 or 10.o uvb coil bulb..

 

[mira_kaylee]

ooooooh

 

[ascott]

I would try increasing your basking spot to 95-100 for this species, as Tom said earlier the temps for your basking spot is too cool....heat is a major factor for movement....I would do this first before I went out and changed the uvb long tube....does your tortoise ever get natural sun time? These guys really need natural sun....again, in my opinion

 

[Jacob]

I would try increasing your basking spot to 95-100 for this species, as Tom said earlier the temps for your basking spot is too cool....heat is a major factor for movement....I would do this first before I went out and changed the uvb long tube....does your tortoise ever get natural sun time? These guys really need natural sun....again, in my opinion

Yes if your russian gets lots of regular natural sunlight then you don't have to worry about the uv light, its the temp..

 

[Jacqui]

Is the temp your telling us about, measured on the substrate surface right under the light? Or is that the temp the entire tank is sitting at? Looks like with your light set up, you can not lower the light, correct?