What I’m doing wrong ?

[Ricardoleopard]

Hello everyone!
Once again, I could really use your help!
It's been a couple of weeks since I moved my leopard tortoise into a bigger vivarium, and it seems like she still hasn't fully adjusted.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but she sleeps all day, doesn’t seem to explore much, and mostly stays on the hot side of the enclosure, even at night. She rarely goes to the cold side, and she doesn't use the humid hide. I’ve also noticed that sometimes she seems to have a little bubble in her nose, which made me wonder if she might be sick or possibly have a respiratory infection and because of that, I raised the temperatures a bit.Her nose is clean, she's still eating, and she’s putting on weight—currently at 73g! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ricardoleopard]

I’ve never seen my tortoise directly under the basking light—she always hides. She seems scared or stressed. Honestly, I don’t know what else to do to help her feel comfortable.

 

[wellington]

How cold is the cold side?
The enclosure should never get below 80F day and night. Basking 95-100, humidity 80%.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

How cold is the cold side?
The enclosure should never get below 80F day and night. Basking 95-100, humidity 80%.

I attached some pictures of the temperatures of the enclosure with the temperatures cold side:86F

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

How cold is the cold side?
The enclosure should never get below 80F day and night. Basking 95-100, humidity 80%.

With respiratory symptoms you could even raise the ambient to 85F.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

With respiratory symptoms you could even raise the ambient to 85F.

cold side is on 86f~88f, basking 103f I attached pictures in the post! I just don’t know what else to do to make her feel comfortable

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

cold side is on 86f~88f, basking 103f I attached pictures in the post! I just don’t know what else to do to make her feel comfortable

What about night temperatures? Some advice 85F ambient day and night for respiratory infection.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

What about night temperatures? Some advice 85F ambient day and night for respiratory infection.

Night time drop for 84F in cold side but as I mentioned she don’t really go to the cold side of the enclosure, she stay buried in the wood log as I show in the picture, and the temperature there go above of 86f at night !

 

[wellington]

I would lower the basking, no higher than 100. 95-100.
I also would keep all over temps no higher than 85, I personally think 80 is better.
Humidity 80%
I'm thinking it's just too hot. In the wild when it's too hot they will dig in under plants, shrubs to get cooler spots. Being in a confined enclosure that the whole thing is too warm, doesn't give them an area to get cooler except under their hide, but may still not be that cool, but instinct tells them to be under something.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I would lower the basking, no higher than 100. 95-100.
I also would keep all over temps no higher than 85, I personally think 80 is better.
Humidity 80%
I'm thinking it's just too hot. In the wild when it's too hot they will dig in under plants, shrubs to get cooler spots. Being in a confined enclosure that the whole thing is too warm, doesn't give them an area to get cooler except under their hide, but may still not be that cool, but instinct tells them to be under something.

Do you think the bubbly nose could be just stress or infection?

 

[wellington]

Do you think the bubbly nose could be just stress or infection?

One time bubbling nose doesn't mean it's sick. Could be nothing, could be water got it, something else got in. If it only happens once, then everything should be left alone and carried on as normal. A few times, then up the temp by 5 degrees. But this is why I don't agree with keeping them at 85-90 all the time. 80 is good and raising to 85 if sick.
Even my adult leopards, if the winter shed is too hot will just hunker down in a corner furthest away from any heat. In summer if it's too hot, they stay in the summer portion of the shed where it's cooler. In a closed chamber, that's harder for them to do, specially if the temps are already too high.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

One time bubbling nose doesn't mean it's sick. Could be nothing, could be water got it, something else got in. If it only happens once, then everything should be left alone and carried on as normal. A few times, then up the temp by 5 degrees. But this is why I don't agree with keeping them at 85-90 all the time. 80 is good and raising to 85 if sick.
Even my adult leopards, if the winter shed is too hot will just hunker down in a corner furthest away from any heat. In summer if it's too hot, they stay in the summer portion of the shed where it's cooler. In a closed chamber, that's harder for them to do, specially if the temps are already too high.

Okay, I think @Ricardoleopard said it has happened a few times. But I do understand your temperature point now.

 

[wellington]

Okay, I think @Ricardoleopard said it has happened a few times. But I do understand your temperature point now.

He did say sometimes, but if it's once and then say a few days later it happens, that's not a concern. If it happens a few times a day, a few days in a row, then I'd be more concerned and raise the temps.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

He did say sometimes, but if it's once and then say a few days later it happens, that's not a concern. If it happens a few times a day, a few days in a row, then I'd be more concerned and raise the temps.

But why even with temperatures lower than 100F she does not bask under the light ?
I kept the basking light at 98F and she still not basking under the light she just hide

 

[Ricardoleopard]

He did say sometimes, but if it's once and then say a few days later it happens, that's not a concern. If it happens a few times a day, a few days in a row, then I'd be more concerned and raise the temps.

I saw this bubble a few times already… when she wake up, she does more than 1 time, after the shower ! But her nose is dry, as you can see in the picture

 

[wellington]

But why even with temperatures lower than 100F she does not bask under the light ?
I kept the basking light at 98F and she still not basking under the light she just hide

I feel the whole enclosure is too warm. Get temps down to 80 all over and basking not above 100 but closer to 95 and humidity 80%. If you see bubbles several times in one day for a day or two, then raise the all over temp to 85.
Also what type of basking bulb?
Babies do sleep a lot. Best routine is to give them a warm soak a few minutes after the lights come in in the morning. Place them back in the enclosure after the soak in front of their food. They should eat, roam a bit, maybe bask and then they do find a place to sleep. They will usually do this a couple times a day. That's why food should always be available.
Also, they don't have to be right under the basking bulb to bask. Off to the side is fine, as long as the basking temp is correct.
My first leopard and still to this day, he's 13 now, has always preferred the coolest spot of the enclosure away for any heat source.

 

[wellington]

I saw this bubble a few times already… when she wake up, she does more than 1 time, after the shower ! But her nose is dry, as you can see in the picture

Sounds like it's a cause of the water. If she doesn't do it any other time, I wouldn't worry. If she does it and you didn't just give her a soak, that's when it might be something.
But be sure she and water are kept warm.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

I feel the whole enclosure is too warm. Get temps down to 80 all over and basking not above 100 but closer to 95 and humidity 80%. If you see bubbles several times in one day for a day or two, then raise the all over temp to 85.
Also what type of basking bulb?
Babies do sleep a lot. Best routine is to give them a warm soak a few minutes after the lights come in in the morning. Place them back in the enclosure after the soak in front of their food. They should eat, roam a bit, maybe bask and then they do find a place to sleep. They will usually do this a couple times a day. That's why food should always be available.
Also, they don't have to be right under the basking bulb to bask. Off to the side is fine, as long as the basking temp is correct.
My first leopard and still to this day, he's 13 now, has always preferred the coolest spot of the enclosure away for any heat source.

Basking bulb is this one

 

[wellington]

Basking bulb is this one

Okay great, that's the right one, although a bigger watt than needed.
Have you taken the temp right under the basking bulb to get its actual temp? You need to place a thermostat under it and leave it there for about an hour to get the correct reading. I have never had to use a bulb or che higher than 100watts.

 

[Ricardoleopard]

Okay great, that's the right one, although a bigger watt than needed.
Have you taken the temp right under the basking bulb to get its actual temp? You need to place a thermostat under it and leave it there for about an hour to get the correct reading. I have never had to use a bulb or che higher than 100watts.

My bulb is 100W, but I use a dimmer thermostat on the timer and set a specific temperature for it. I do the same for the night bulb, but this bulb doesn’t have a timer to keep the temperature above 80°F! And yes, I even got an infrared temperature gun... the temperatures are accurate!