Hi tortoise lovers, i am planning to have a new baby hermann in a couple week, but there are some questions regarding the care guides needed to keep it properly;
After reading Chris' guide, here are some questions i would like to address
1. I am planning to use a mix of cocopeat and topsoil as a substrate. But i am wondering about the overall hygiene of the setup. I am talking about pees and poops that will build up deep into the bottom of the substrate overtime. Can it pose a problem to the tort's health? Do i need to make some kind of drainage system on the bottom of the container box such as putting rubber mats with holes to let fluids go down to the bottom so the soil could stay dry and oddoorless? I guess that could lower the overall humidity in burrows, which could be bad.
2. The guide mentioned that the artificial light needs to operate 12~13 hours a day. Does it apply to both the basking light and the uvb fluorescent? Or does it apply to only the basking one?
3. I live a tropical climate in Indonesia. Does all said in the guide apply here? I really plan to follow the guide as much as possible.
4. How much do i need to take the tort outside for natural sun basking? I am planning to care this baby exclusively indoor because i already have redfooted tortoises on my outdoor yards. I dont want any contacts between them and this one. How should i get the tort to bask naturally in this situation?
5. I have a coil type uvb bulb from exoterra. I heard it is bad for the torts eyes. Can i use them?
I greatly appreciate any help and comment that u can provide for addressing the questions. I just want to make sure to do everything right.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Best regards,
Eric
After reading Chris' guide, here are some questions i would like to address
1. I am planning to use a mix of cocopeat and topsoil as a substrate. But i am wondering about the overall hygiene of the setup. I am talking about pees and poops that will build up deep into the bottom of the substrate overtime. Can it pose a problem to the tort's health? Do i need to make some kind of drainage system on the bottom of the container box such as putting rubber mats with holes to let fluids go down to the bottom so the soil could stay dry and oddoorless? I guess that could lower the overall humidity in burrows, which could be bad.
2. The guide mentioned that the artificial light needs to operate 12~13 hours a day. Does it apply to both the basking light and the uvb fluorescent? Or does it apply to only the basking one?
3. I live a tropical climate in Indonesia. Does all said in the guide apply here? I really plan to follow the guide as much as possible.
4. How much do i need to take the tort outside for natural sun basking? I am planning to care this baby exclusively indoor because i already have redfooted tortoises on my outdoor yards. I dont want any contacts between them and this one. How should i get the tort to bask naturally in this situation?
5. I have a coil type uvb bulb from exoterra. I heard it is bad for the torts eyes. Can i use them?
I greatly appreciate any help and comment that u can provide for addressing the questions. I just want to make sure to do everything right.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Best regards,
Eric