Advice welcomed (New Russian tortoise)

[LouB]

I've literally just joined the forum so would like to say Hi to you all first off!
We're picking up a young Horsefield tortoise tomorrow & want to make sure we're all set for the little guy/girl's arrival.
The house is 36"Lx18"Wx12"H & we have Pettex Reptile Substrate (herbivore bedding - it smells like hay).
There is an 18" Arcadia Desert 10% tube light above the middle & we did have an Arcadia Mini D3 80W basking lamp at one end but the bulb's just popped.
Are we best replacing like for like or buying an infrared heat lamp to use alongside the UV tube?
We're going to get a temperature/humidity monitor & new bulb when we collect the new family member tomorrow - can't wait!!! ☺️

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome

 

[LouB]

Thank you

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Lou, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
The enclosure will soon have to be bigger, Russian tortoises roam large territories and are very active climbers and diggers, 4' by 8' is about the minimum size enclosure for an adult.
Don't know that substrate.
Have a look at http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
for loads of good information.

 

[Tom]

I've literally just joined the forum so would like to say Hi to you all first off!
We're picking up a young Horsefield tortoise tomorrow & want to make sure we're all set for the little guy/girl's arrival.
The house is 36"Lx18"Wx12"H & we have Pettex Reptile Substrate (herbivore bedding - it smells like hay).
There is an 18" Arcadia Desert 10% tube light above the middle & we did have an Arcadia Mini D3 80W basking lamp at one end but the bulb's just popped.
Are we best replacing like for like or buying an infrared heat lamp to use alongside the UV tube?
We're going to get a temperature/humidity monitor & new bulb when we collect the new family member tomorrow - can't wait!!! ☺️

Hello and welcome. All the info you seek is in the threads that Tidgy's Dad posted for you, but I'll answer your questions too.

Your 18" tube will meet all your tortoises UV needs, so you just need a heat lamp for daytime. Red and infrared bulbs should never be used over tortoises. Just use a regular incandescent flood bulb from the hardware store. Don't use a spot bulb. Use a regular round bulb in a reflector hood, or a flood bulb.

That substrate sounds much too dry and it will contribute to dehydration and pyramiding. They need a damp substrate to burrow into and a humid hide to hang out in.

Be aware that pet shops typically give bad advice and sell products that are useless at best, and dangerous at worst. Some of them mean well, but they don't know any better.

Read those threads ASAP.

 

[LouB]

Thank you Tidgy's Dad & Tom.

I've read through the links but think I'll be re-reading them several times (my memory rivals Dory's!) to keep us on the right track.

My OH's very proud of his handiwork in building the tortoise table so I'm sure he'll love building a bigger one before too much longer.

I'll sort out a more suitable substrate ASAP, worryingly the current one was recommended by our local reptile specialist.

I'm so pleased this forum's available.

My daughter keeps exotic animals (meerkats & a red iguana) so we'll be using her vets if required, they're very good & have been brilliant in sorting any problems out with her zoo.

 

[awesomecs]

Hello and welcome. All the info you seek is in the threads that Tidgy's Dad posted for you, but I'll answer your questions too.

Your 18" tube will meet all your tortoises UV needs, so you just need a heat lamp for daytime. Red and infrared bulbs should never be used over tortoises. Just use a regular incandescent flood bulb from the hardware store. Don't use a spot bulb. Use a regular round bulb in a reflector hood, or a flood bulb.

That substrate sounds much too dry and it will contribute to dehydration and pyramiding. They need a damp substrate to burrow into and a humid hide to hang out in.

Be aware that pet shops typically give bad advice and sell products that are useless at best, and dangerous at worst. Some of them mean well, but they don't know any better.

Read those threads ASAP.

tom, I thought that russain tortoises get sick if there enviorment is too damp and humid???

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nope
Warm and humid = healthy tortoise.
Cold and damp = sick tortoise.
See also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

 

[Gillian M]

I've literally just joined the forum so would like to say Hi to you all first off!
We're picking up a young Horsefield tortoise tomorrow & want to make sure we're all set for the little guy/girl's arrival.
The house is 36"Lx18"Wx12"H & we have Pettex Reptile Substrate (herbivore bedding - it smells like hay).
There is an 18" Arcadia Desert 10% tube light above the middle & we did have an Arcadia Mini D3 80W basking lamp at one end but the bulb's just popped.
Are we best replacing like for like or buying an infrared heat lamp to use alongside the UV tube?
We're going to get a temperature/humidity monitor & new bulb when we collect the new family member tomorrow - can't wait!!! ☺️

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Please do not forget to post pics of your tort and his/her enclosure.

 

[LouB]

Thank you Gillian, we got a 1yr old horsefield tortoise yesterday. Still settling in & trying to choose a name that suits the personality - Demolition Dan seems good so far but we've not set it in stone yet lol
Pics will follow, my OH's a photographer so I'm sure there'll be plenty of good ones (& some not so good ones from me!)

 

[Gillian M]

Thank you Gillian, we got a 1yr old horsefield tortoise yesterday. Still settling in & trying to choose a name that suits the personality - Demolition Dan seems good so far but we've not set it in stone yet lol
Pics will follow, my OH's a photographer so I'm sure there'll be plenty of good ones (& some not so good ones from me!)

Look forward to seeing pics.

 

[awesomecs]

Nope
Warm and humid = healthy tortoise.
Cold and damp = sick tortoise.
See also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

I thought for russains warm and dry =healthy russain
cold an dry = sick russain
warm and humid = sick russain
am I getting wrong info or what????????? I mean my russain is healthy in its warm and dry enclosure

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

For a Russian adult; according to the care sheets, humidity is not too important, but damp substrate for digging and a nice humid hide are necessary.
Youngsters need 50 to 70% humidity.
Tom recommends a basking spot of 100 degrees fading away naturally through the enclosure.

 

[awesomecs]

yeah I have a 100 degree basking spot, but should I make my tortoises substrate wet?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

yeah I have a 100 degree basking spot, but should I make my tortoises substrate wet?

Not wet, moist.
Poor water in and mix it by hand, hot and humid, not cold and damp.