Vinny and Ty
New Member
I have a Hermanns, and he is not himself. I was given the tortoise by someone who did not want him any longer. He came in a ZooMed Tortoise House. Given the humidity needs etc it did not seem like the correct habitat.
His house is on the floor in the kitchen which is above the garage so it can be cool. I placed cardboard under the house for insulation. Today I put the habitat on bricks to get him off of the floor. When I lifted the cage there was black mold everywhere-on the cardboard and on the wooden planks of his cage. I took him out and let him sit in water for awhile and tried to clean up. I put 4 inches of new substrate in last weekend and the surface is too dry. Obviously a lot of moisture is leaving through the bottom.
His eyes are not open and seem irritated. In the bath he uses his front legs to wipe his eyes. After the soak, his eyes are open and he perks up. I took him to the vet a couple of weeks ago. It was after a soak and his eyes were open and he was charming. She said he looked healthy and he was probably dehydrated.
I know my answer lies somewhere in the thousands of posts but I feel like this needs immediate attention. I have read about the hydrogen peroxide which I will do, but it seems like his substrate could have mold too, although I have never seem any, even the floor, when I clean his house.
A wooden house that is open does not seem to make sense. I feel like I should buy or make something more suitable for a tortoise that needs moisture and different temperature gradients. Again I know the answer is somewhere, but I am worried about his health. Mold, surface dry even though it is misted, moisture leaving the bottom, correct lighting ( he has a ceramic basking lamp on all the time, he has a UVB light and a heating bulb both on 14 hours - I feel that is messed up), his lethargy and his eyes.
I have had him for 2 years and he has been fine. Not doing too well now.
I have to return him to his house, but I need to make changes ASAP.
Vinny’s mom is dropping the ball and he is not himself.
Thank you. Jill
His house is on the floor in the kitchen which is above the garage so it can be cool. I placed cardboard under the house for insulation. Today I put the habitat on bricks to get him off of the floor. When I lifted the cage there was black mold everywhere-on the cardboard and on the wooden planks of his cage. I took him out and let him sit in water for awhile and tried to clean up. I put 4 inches of new substrate in last weekend and the surface is too dry. Obviously a lot of moisture is leaving through the bottom.
His eyes are not open and seem irritated. In the bath he uses his front legs to wipe his eyes. After the soak, his eyes are open and he perks up. I took him to the vet a couple of weeks ago. It was after a soak and his eyes were open and he was charming. She said he looked healthy and he was probably dehydrated.
I know my answer lies somewhere in the thousands of posts but I feel like this needs immediate attention. I have read about the hydrogen peroxide which I will do, but it seems like his substrate could have mold too, although I have never seem any, even the floor, when I clean his house.
A wooden house that is open does not seem to make sense. I feel like I should buy or make something more suitable for a tortoise that needs moisture and different temperature gradients. Again I know the answer is somewhere, but I am worried about his health. Mold, surface dry even though it is misted, moisture leaving the bottom, correct lighting ( he has a ceramic basking lamp on all the time, he has a UVB light and a heating bulb both on 14 hours - I feel that is messed up), his lethargy and his eyes.
I have had him for 2 years and he has been fine. Not doing too well now.
I have to return him to his house, but I need to make changes ASAP.
Vinny’s mom is dropping the ball and he is not himself.
Thank you. Jill