Tortoise still "lazy?"

[hunterk997]

I got advice on this before, and did use it, but it only worked for a little bit. I'll just start with the conditions. I have a female russian tortoise, she is four inches lng and roughly 3.5 inches wide. She lives in an indoor enclosure that is 4'x2' but itr also has a 1'x2' seond floor. The basking spot and water dish are located on the second floor. The basking spot temperature is usually around 90-95F but this is according to a gauge style thermometer. The cool end apparently reads 75 usually. For lighting I use a zilla 17 watt T8 desert series UV tube. I have only had this for two or so months. She has a kiddi pool outdoor enclosure that is 3' in diameter that she uses in warm weather (like today). Both enclosures have at least one hide, a water dish, and plants in them. They both also have rock "walkways" for interest. The indoor enclosure has a built-in hide on the left side that is 1'x2' and a log hide in the center for climbing/hiding.
My concern is, I always have to wake her up... every day I do. If I don't, she will sleep and just keep sleeping. Once she is awake, she will eat most of her food and go back to sleep (I put the food around on the walkways and then have a main food dish on the second level to make her forage). What could I be doing wrong that is causing this inactivity?
Advice is greatly appreciated!!
P.S. sorry for the long post, just wanted to give all of the necessary information.

 

[hunterk997]

Anyone?


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[mikeh]

Don't know about Russians much, but if she sleeps on lower level does she know upper level is her basking area and that she needs to climb up there for basking to reach operating temp?

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[hunterk997]

Don't know about Russians much, but if she sleeps on lower level does she know upper level is her basking area and that she needs to climb up there for basking to reach operating temp?

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Yeah, once I wale her up that's where she goes first.


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[Joanne]

my Hermann tortoise had a lazy month or so. Put it down to not being stimulated enough. I try and change something in his enclosure once a week to keep him busy.

 

[Zabbi0]

I am not familiar with the UV lamp you are using. Can you expand a little bit on this? Have you ever tried using a mercury vapor bulb and CHE (ceramic heat emitter) for nighttime heat? From my experience, most other bulbs cause issues such as lethargic torts/itchy eyes/ and improper growth. It is possible that she is not getting the proper UVA. How often do you have her outside in natural sunlight ? Does your Russian show any other signs that might at all concern you? Do you see your tort using its water dishes? Is she peeing/pooping ok? Keep us posted.


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Oh and also has she done this the entire time you've had her or has it been a progressive thing ?


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[GBtortoises]

You do not mention what type of basking light you use or the distance that either light is from the substrate. I would recommend placing the basking light, as well as the water dish in the main part of the enclosure and leave the second floor for wandering around.

 

[hunterk997]

I am not familiar with the UV lamp you are using. Can you expand a little bit on this? Have you ever tried using a mercury vapor bulb and CHE (ceramic heat emitter) for nighttime heat? From my experience, most other bulbs cause issues such as lethargic torts/itchy eyes/ and improper growth. It is possible that she is not getting the proper UVA. How often do you have her outside in natural sunlight ? Does your Russian show any other signs that might at all concern you? Do you see your tort using its water dishes? Is she peeing/pooping ok? Keep us posted.


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Oh and also has she done this the entire time you've had her or has it been a progressive thing ?


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It's been progressive. She gets outside at least five hours a week. She was outside yesterday for almost six hours and today for around four. The uv I have now is the only one I experimented with. It doesn't get cold enough at night for me to use a CHE. I would attach pictures but the app doesn't seem to want to cooperate.




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[Zabbi0]

Yeah photos haven't been working for me either.
I would definitely keep a CHE on her at night. She needs to be kept warm 24-7. Nighttime temps should be 80-90. Unless its over 80 at night she might be too cold. How much was the bulb you bought? The zilla? I would also recommend bringing down the dishes and basking to the bottom level. Just to see if it changes anything after a few days.


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Have you ever seen her make bubbles from her nose or scratch her eyes?


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[hunterk997]

Yeah photos haven't been working for me either.
I would definitely keep a CHE on her at night. She needs to be kept warm 24-7. Nighttime temps should be 80-90. Unless its over 80 at night she might be too cold. How much was the bulb you bought? The zilla? I would also recommend bringing down the dishes and basking to the bottom level. Just to see if it changes anything after a few days.


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Have you ever seen her make bubbles from her nose or scratch her eyes?


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I've been told russian need a really good cool down though?


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[Zabbi0]

You're right. I'm wrong. Sorry. Yes Russians need cooler temps at night not to go below 65 or so.
Have you seen her use her water dishes and pee/poop ok? Ever seen here blow bubbles or try and scratch her eyes? Sorry just probing questions to get a better understanding.


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[hunterk997]

You're right. I'm wrong. Sorry. Yes Russians need cooler temps at night not to go below 65 or so.
Have you seen her use her water dishes and pee/poop ok? Ever seen here blow bubbles or try and scratch her eyes? Sorry just probing questions to get a better understanding.


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She pees and poops fine. But she does scratch her eyes sometimes. Every now and then they look swollen then she rubbs them then she's okay until the next time.


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[Levi the Leopard]

No night heat..

Hunter, you've been doing a good job trying to get everything right. But you have to remember...you have a Russian tortoise buddy!! They roam some of the largest territories in the wild. They cover miles a day.

What is stopping you from building a nice outdoor enclosure? Seriously...do a nice L shape. 8 or even 10feet each direction. I'll help you design it. Keep the indoor pen for nights, cold days or better yet let her live outside full time.
Otherwise you have to keep changing stuff up regularly cuz a month into the next re decoration she will just be bored again.

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[Zabbi0]

Yeah. It really seems to me that it's a bulb issue. I would highly recommend swapping out the zilla for a MVB. They are kind of pricey but last forever.
Just make sure you have the right kind of lamp for it. I really think this will start to solve this problem. I feel she will gain better UV, energy, strength and it will be easier on her eyes. It will also start helping to stop any bone deficiency she might be developing. You'd be shocked at how big of a deal this can be and how the effects can change long term. I learned this the hard way with my first baby. Once I corrected it after nearly a year of her suffering, she started to thrive.

Here's a link for the bulb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AQDJK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And another for the lamp to go with it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHODG/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This lamp has the on and off switch (dimmers are no good) and fits up to 250W.

Also I agree I think the space could be bigger.

Keep us posted!


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[hunterk997]

No night heat..

Hunter, you've been doing a good job trying to get everything right. But you have to remember...you have a Russian tortoise buddy!! They roam some of the largest territories in the wild. They cover miles a day.

What is stopping you from building a nice outdoor enclosure? Seriously...do a nice L shape. 8 or even 10feet each direction. I'll help you design it. Keep the indoor pen for nights, cold days or better yet let her live outside full time.
Otherwise you have to keep changing stuff up regularly cuz a month into the next re decoration she will just be bored again.

Sent from my TFOapp

The only thing stopping me was my parents... but yesterday I actually convinced them to help me (and allow me) to build an outdoor enclosure. But since I live in New York state, we don't have much warm weather left. And we planned on building it next spring. I am paying for it myself, so that will give me plenty of time to save up. Thanks for the "L" shape idea. I will start to plan it out, and it'd be great if you could help with design. I can't wait until next year! I guess I will just re-decorate the indoor enclosure again and again until the time comes.

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Yeah. It really seems to me that it's a bulb issue. I would highly recommend swapping out the zilla for a MVB. They are kind of pricey but last forever.
Just make sure you have the right kind of lamp for it. I really think this will start to solve this problem. I feel she will gain better UV, energy, strength and it will be easier on her eyes. It will also start helping to stop any bone deficiency she might be developing. You'd be shocked at how big of a deal this can be and how the effects can change long term. I learned this the hard way with my first baby. Once I corrected it after nearly a year of her suffering, she started to thrive.

Here's a link for the bulb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AQDJK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And another for the lamp to go with it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHODG/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This lamp has the on and off switch (dimmers are no good) and fits up to 250W.

Also I agree I think the space could be bigger.

Keep us posted!


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So the bulb I'm using isn't good? It says it supplies UV and UVB. I paid thirty or forty dollars for the whole setup and I can't afford the MVB for a while.

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http://www.petco.com/product/115855...Strip-Light-Fixture.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

This is the link to the bulb and fixture I have.

 

[mikeh]

Consider placing your outdoor enclosure in more sunny area and you may still get some good use of it for rest of the summer. Even on cooler (70F) but SUNNY, calm summer days, direct sunlights radiant heat will warm up your torts shell. As everyone will tell you, sun is the best source for your tort wellness. Ofcourse always provide available shade.

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[hunterk997]

Consider placing your outdoor enclosure in more sunny area and you may still get some good use of it for rest of the summer. Even on cooler (70F) but SUNNY, calm summer days, direct sunlights radiant heat will warm up your torts shell. As everyone will tell you, sun is the best source for your tort wellness. Ofcourse always provide available shade.

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She definitely gets enough light at where it's placed... it gets direct sun from 11 am to 7 or 8 pm.

 

[hunterk997]

Also, i have to wake her up. Should I just leave her be and she will give in and come out on her own? I'm afraid she might aestivate if I do that...


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[thatrebecca]

Also, i have to wake her up. Should I just leave her be and she will give in and come out on her own? I'm afraid she might aestivate if I do that...


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I have desert torts which are different obviously, but I have noticed that when they sleep inside, they sleep later and sometimes I have to wake them up. When they sleep outside they wake up on their own. Just an observation -- something about that morning sun hitting the burrow really gets a tort's motor running. I wonder sometimes if living inside messes with their natural cues.

 

[mikeh]

Re: RE: Tortoise still "lazy?"

No night heat..

Hunter, you've been doing a good job trying to get everything right. But you have to remember...you have a Russian tortoise buddy!! They roam some of the largest territories in the wild. They cover miles a day.

What is stopping you from building a nice outdoor enclosure? Seriously...do a nice L shape. 8 or even 10feet each direction. I'll help you design it. Keep the indoor pen for nights, cold days or better yet let her live outside full time.
Otherwise you have to keep changing stuff up regularly cuz a month into the next re decoration she will just be bored again.

Sent from my TFOapp

The only thing stopping me was my parents... but yesterday I actually convinced them to help me (and allow me) to build an outdoor enclosure. But since I live in New York state, we don't have much warm weather left. And we planned on building it next spring. I am paying for it myself, so that will give me plenty of time to save up. Thanks for the "L" shape idea. I will start to plan it out, and it'd be great if you could help with design. I can't wait until next year! I guess I will just re-decorate the indoor enclosure again and again until the time comes.

---

Yeah. It really seems to me that it's a bulb issue. I would highly recommend swapping out the zilla for a MVB. They are kind of pricey but last forever.
Just make sure you have the right kind of lamp for it. I really think this will start to solve this problem. I feel she will gain better UV, energy, strength and it will be easier on her eyes. It will also start helping to stop any bone deficiency she might be developing. You'd be shocked at how big of a deal this can be and how the effects can change long term. I learned this the hard way with my first baby. Once I corrected it after nearly a year of her suffering, she started to thrive.

Here's a link for the bulb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AQDJK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And another for the lamp to go with it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHODG/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This lamp has the on and off switch (dimmers are no good) and fits up to 250W.

Also I agree I think the space could be bigger.

Keep us posted!


Sent from my iPhone using TortoiseForum mobile app

So the bulb I'm using isn't good? It says it supplies UV and UVB. I paid thirty or forty dollars for the whole setup and I can't afford the MVB for a while.

---

http://www.petco.com/product/115855...Strip-Light-Fixture.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

This is the link to the bulb and fixture I have.

---

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Your zilla UVB will do for now, how long is the tube? Try to get her out as much as possible weather permitting. Pics of your enclosure would really help to guide you.

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