New to forum, need advice on my new horsefeild

[Ben mccabe]

Me and my girlfriend has recently bought a horsefeild tortoise (berty) about a year old, we had the shops advise on how to set up bertys home, we have a tortoise table, have used top soil mixed with sand as a substrate, a heat lamp in one corner with a thermo stuck to the side, we keep the heat source on 12 hours a day with the UVB light, the temp stays at around 32 degrees, all advised from specialist at the shop, he has a cave, shallow water bowl, food bowl and some decrative plants.

Iv had a look through some posts on here and it seems like the shop has missed some vital information, they told me nothing about 4temps and that humidity needed to be monitored.. There's probably some other bits I haven't got round to finding too so thought I'd just post and get some advise myself.

Any advise on if Iv set up bertys house wrong or if i need to do anything else would be greatly appreciated as I want a healthy tortoise


Thankyou

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome!
That open topped hamster cage could easily be converted by covering most of the top with a clear sheet of plastic. Not under the lights. (To boost humidity.)
Could you also show us what type of light bulb you have there?

 

[amy&alfie]

None of the shops helped me either! Not the reptile specialists! The forums seem to be the best place for info I've learned a ton from here but still lots to learn! I've heard sand can irritate eyes but I'll let the experts come to you with that because I'm brand new too! Good luck with Berty!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Sand causes trouble because it is easily swallowed and gets impacted. Sand is also SUPER poor for holding humidity.
Even simple potting soil would be a better substitute.

 

[Ben mccabe]

Yeah formus are the place, wish I'd looked on here first but he seemed so convincing in the shop that he knew what he was on about... I was just reading that you need to spray the soil and keep it moist? The guy in the shop didn't say anything about that just too soil and kids okay sand was good and change it every few weeks... These are the bulbs

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum!

What a cute little tort you have - GOD bless. Take good care of it: read the care sheets, different threads, and ask ANY question. You'll get the help you need from the experts here.

Good luck.

 

[Ben mccabe]

With turning the heat lamp off at night, is there anything I could do to make sure there's a back up if it gets to cold for berty?

 

[Ben mccabe]

A very warm welcome to the forum!

What a cute little tort you have - GOD bless. Take good care of it: read the care sheets, different threads, and ask ANY question. You'll get the help you need from the experts here.

Good luck.

Thankyou very much

 

[Ben mccabe]

Sand causes trouble because it is easily swallowed and gets impacted. Sand is also SUPER poor for holding humidity.
Even simple potting soil would be a better substitute.

 

[Lyn W]

With turning the heat lamp off at night, is there anything I could do to make sure there's a back up if it gets to cold for berty?

Hi Ben yes you would think pet shops know what they are talking about but they are in it to make profit with little thought for correct care.

That water dish could be too steep for Berty to get in and out of - a terracotta plant saucer with shallow sides sunk to ground level would probably be safer for him. He could tip backwards trying to get in/out of the one you have and drown. Or try sinking the one you have to ground level and keep an eye on him. Many keepers use a Ceramic heat Emitter (CHE) at night. It fits a bulb holder but only gives heat and if you use it with a thermostat that will keep the temperature even at night. Is the tube for UVB? Only the basking light doesn't give a lot of uva/b. I use a MVB which gives light, heat and uv rays - no coil bulbs though!
Have you found the care sheet for horsefields yet? I also found the Beginner's Mistakes thread useful and Enclosures for ideas. There is such a lot to learn but plenty of help and advice here to keep Berty happy and healthy so welcome to the forum.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Ben, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Bertie.
Cover the enclosure to keep in humidity, no to the sand, coco coir, orchid bark or cypress mulch are all better alternatives and you can use a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) to provide night time warmth and no light, as tortoises need darkness to sleep properly.
Have a look at http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/
and also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
for lots of good information.

 

[Ben mccabe]

Hi Ben yes you would think pet shops know what they are talking about but they are in it to make profit with little thought for correct care.

That water dish could be too steep for Berty to get in and out of - a terracotta plant saucer with shallow sides sunk to ground level would probably be safer for him. He could tip backwards trying to get in/out of the one you have and drown. Or try sinking the one you have to ground level and keep an eye on him. Many keepers use a Ceramic heat Emitter (CHE) at night. It fits a bulb holder but only gives heat and if you use it with a thermostat that will keep the temperature even at night. Is the tube for UVB? Only the basking light doesn't give a lot of uva/b. I use a MVB which gives light, heat and uv rays - no coil bulbs though!
Have you found the care sheet for horsefields yet? I also found the Beginner's Mistakes thread useful and Enclosures for ideas. There is such a lot to learn but plenty of help and advice here to keep Berty happy and healthy so welcome to the forum.

Hello, the tube is a UVB, if I bought a CHE would it go into the basking light holder and could I use that during the day and at night and get a thermo that you plug that into so if the temp drops below a certain temp it turns on at night? Would that be how it all works? I did try looking for the horsefeild care sheet but couldn't find it.. I managed to find the other threads which have been helpful

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Horsefields are also known as Russians.
click on these links http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
and don't forget the others I posted above.
You should be able to get a CHE to fit the same fitting and change them over, yes.

 

[Ben mccabe]

Hello, Ben, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Bertie.
Cover the enclosure to keep in humidity, no to the sand, coco coir, orchid bark or cypress mulch are all better alternatives and you can use a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) to provide night time warmth and no light, as tortoises need darkness to sleep properly.
Have a look at http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/
and also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
for lots of good information.

Thankyou how much would I have to spray the substrate to make it the correct humidity? And I will look into a CHE for sure! Would it just sit in the same spot as at basking light does during the day at night?

Thankyou for the threads

 

[Lyn W]

Hello, the tube is a UVB, if I bought a CHE would it go into the basking light holder and could I use that during the day and at night and get a thermo that you plug that into so if the temp drops below a certain temp it turns on at night? Would that be how it all works? I did try looking for the horsefeild care sheet but couldn't find it.. I managed to find the other threads which have been helpful

You may find the care sheet under 'Russian tortoises' as I believe they are one and the same - It will be under Species specific section.
Yes the CHE will fit a normal bulb holder but be careful swapping them over because if it breaks the glass would be a real risk to your tort.
Regular handling could shorten the life of the bulb too. You could be losing a lot of heat with the holder you have. I use one which reflects the light/heat down where I want it - but not too close to the tort obviously.

As for using che day and night I'm not sure a more experienced person than me will have to answer that. I only use mine at night. Would think it's OK but wait for someone else to post about it to be on the safe side.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

You need to get a humidity gauge and measure it, pour water into the corners of your substrate or spray as necessary.
The CHE should be ok in the same place, but again measure your temps.
The set up can be expensive and take time, I know, but afterwards life's comparatively easy for you both, honest!

 

[Lyn W]

Thankyou how much would I have to spray the substrate to make it the correct humidity? And I will look into a CHE for sure! Would it just sit in the same spot as at basking light does during the day at night?

Thankyou for the threads

I have a leopard so can't answer that either but there's a simple rule to follow to keep torts healthy
humidity + heat = healthy tort
humidity + cold = sick tort.

So you have to get balance right. The caresheet should tell you more or do a search about it and see what posts are thrown up,
Berty is gorgeous by the way

 

[amy&alfie]

Sorry to be a bit dense but what is a CHE and do I need one!? I'm quite alarmed that I don't know!

 

[Maggie Cummings]

You can get a black light bulb for $4 at K-mart. It's warm at night and my sister has been involved in turtle and tortoise rescue for 35 years or so, she always uses black light bulbs, so do I and not 1 tortoise has complained about them.....Cheaper than a CHE, cheaper to run, some people don't care for them, but the tortoise can't see the blueish hue the bulb puts out...
I just pour water over the substrate and mix it up with my hand.....spraying is too much work, and if you pour the water and mix it around it will dry on top and stay moist underneath, and create humidity.....

 

[Lyn W]

Sorry to be a bit dense but what is a CHE and do I need one!? I'm quite alarmed that I don't know!

A CHE is a ceramic heat emitter - it plugs into a light fitting but only gives heat as torts need temps kept up at night but darkness to sleep and if you use it on a thermostat it will keep temps even. I se one but as Maggie says some use black bulbs - don't know if you can use a thermostat with them though- maybe.....?

This is like mine