Tortoise upside down

[latishab2001]

Recently I have found my tortoise upside down multiple times a week. Now she has a small spot on her underbelly. I've taken everything out of the enclosure so she couldn't climb and get stuck and it seems she's climbing the wall and flipping. She use to be able to turn herself back over. Now she can't.

 

[wellington]

Was under a heat lamp or are you using a heat pad?
What species is she? How old and big is she? Post a pic of the enclosure and her
What lighting and heat are you using and what substrate?

 

[latishab2001]

Pics provided
She's a herman tortoise 9 years old. Never has had any issues but is a picky eater

 

[wellington]

That enclosure is way too small for an adult tortoise. She needs more space, a 4x8 minimum. Does she have an outdoor enclosure?
What kind of bulbs are you using?
Should not use a halogen, mercury vapor bulb or any cfl coil type bulbs.
Should use a tube florescent for uvb, incandescent flood for basking and a ceramic heat emitter if added heat is needed

 

[latishab2001]

Ahh crud ok. She won't grow any bigger so thought that would be suffice I can get a bigger one built. She has NO halogen mercury or coil. I can get a tube uvb if I need to. Can u tell me what wattage then for that or possibly a pic of one on Amazon. We have an apt for her on Sunday but should I keep her out of the water bathing for now?

 

[latishab2001]

That enclosure is way too small for an adult tortoise. She needs more space, a 4x8 minimum. Does she have an outdoor enclosure?
What kind of bulbs are you using?
Should not use a halogen, mercury vapor bulb or any cfl coil type bulbs.
Should use a tube florescent for uvb, incandescent flood for basking and a ceramic heat emitter if added heat is needed

 

[Yvonne G]

Wellington hit on the reason your tortoise is climbing and ending on its back : he's trying to escape because the enclosure is too small.

 

[wellington]

Is that the only bulb you are using? That's a ceramic heat emitter. What are you using for uvb and basking?

 

[latishab2001]

Wellington hit on the reason your tortoise is climbing and ending on its back : he's trying to escape because the enclosure is too small.

Ok working on a bigger one as we speak

 

[latishab2001]

Is that the only bulb you are using? That's a ceramic heat emitter. What are you using for uvb and basking?

Just this one. What else do I need ease?

 

[Tom]

Just this one. What else do I need ease?

Those can burn their eyes and they either hide all the time to avoid the pain, or they try to run and escape and end up flipping themselves repeatedly. Turn that bulb off immediately. Throw it away or return it.

Please read this thread, and look for the temperate species care sheet near the bottom. There is also a heating and lighting breakdown.

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[wellington]

Yes, what Tom said. That is a coil bulb. Turn it off and get the bulbs like I mentioned in post 4.

 

[latishab2001]

Ok looks like this is what's in the threads to get
And the enclosure is indoor 4x8 with pond liner bottom. Can you please tell me what the meter should read? Also her apt is Sunday. Should I be "dry docking" her until then so she doesn't get the perti bark in her open wound?

 

[Tom]

Ok looks like this is what's in the threads to get
And the enclosure is indoor 4x8 with pond liner bottom. Can you please tell me what the meter should read? Also her apt is Sunday. Should I be "dry docking" her until then so she doesn't get the perti bark in her open wound?

Those bulbs look great.

I like a UVI reading between 3 and 6, and I run the indoor UV for about 2 ours a day if they are getting sunshine regularly, or 4 hours a day during inclement weather or winter when they are indoors all day.

 

[latishab2001]

Is this one ok? You named alot and when I typed it in this came up for substrate