Hi from Kansas City, mo

[sing]

My name is sing, just registered not too long ago. But have been reading care sheets. Just got a hatchling Russian tortoise for my daughter's bday. Well, you guys know the drill. I'm stuck taking care of it. Its winter right now, can't really build an enclosure til spring. I have 30 gallon plastic storage bin with a 100 watt mvb and check bulb on thermostat. I keep it 80 to mid 80s all night. There is a humid hide with a temp of 80f and 80% humidity. The whole enclosure is sits at about 40-50% humidity. Would this be okay for now?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Welcome Sing! Have you read the Russian Care Sheet yet? Might answer some or most of your questions.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/b...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/b...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

 

[sing]

Thank you, I've read the care sheet. I almost everything down except for the enclosure part. This is a temp setup for a couple of months til I can get around to building a close type enclosure. That way I can get the right lighting setup. My daughter named it soda. It is active and eating.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Are you able to post a pic of Soda and the enclosure? A picture might be worth a thousand words in this case.

 

[Yvonne G]

Not that I'm doubting you, but like Mizcreant said, a picture is worth a thousand words and I'd like to be sure you really do have a youngster. If you bought the tortoise from a pet store, it's probably almost full grown, and the care for a full grown russian is different from the care for a baby. For example, keeping the enclosure at 80F at night for a grown tortoise is wrong. It should be allowed down to room temp overnight, or about 70F.

By the way, welcome to the Forum!

 

[sing]

I got a hatchling from tortoisesupply, will get pictures when I get home.

 

[sing]

Uploaded photos!!! Eating after a morning soak.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Cute little guy. I would strongly suggest covering the enclosure though so that the heat and humidity are trapped within the enclosure. Would hate to see the little guy start pyramiding!You can purchase a pane of plexiglass relatively cheap to put over it in the meantime. Just be sure to cut out a hole for the UVB lamp. Otherwise the plexiglass filters out the useful rays.

 

[sing]

Cute little guy. I would strongly suggest covering the enclosure though so that the heat and humidity are trapped within the enclosure. Would hate to see the little guy start pyramiding!You can purchase a pane of plexiglass relatively cheap to put over it in the meantime. Just be sure to cut out a hole for the UVB lamp. Otherwise the plexiglass filters out the useful rays.

Thanks, will consider doing that. I have an 100w mvb bulb would that make make the enclosure pretty hot?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Thanks, will consider doing that. I have an 100w mvb bulb would that make make the enclosure pretty hot?

Undoubtedly. You may need to vent a corner a bit to keep the heat at a tolerable level. So long as the humidity stays at an acceptable level, you can adjust the lamp up (or get a less powerful bulb). Seeming as what you have is only temporary until you get a better enclosure, it shouldn't be much of a problem. Put some nice moist coco coir or orchid moss in with it. That does great with humidity. If you want something heftier, there's always a ReptiFogger.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Sing

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Sing, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Soda.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Welcome to the forum!