Hello tortoise friends
I live in the north east of England.
I have had Derek, my marginated tortoise for just over 1 year now, and he is 20 months old.
I like to think I am taking good care of him - but I would love any suggestions to make his life better. He is a June 2015 hatched marginated, from the tortoise shop uk (hull). If anyone has a marginated tortoise from the same "litter" I would love to know.
He lives in a table - many have argued about this but I agree with a table for marginateds and it would take a lot of persuading to convince me that a vivarium is better for them, as I have done lots of research as to which is better.
His table consists of a large section (30"x18") which has a soil and calcium bedding from Amazon, with a tile to eat off. He has a small water bowl (this is getting replaced soon with a bigger one) with large stones around the tile and water to avoid his bedding getting into the water and into his food.
The bedding that came with the table was originally hemp, but I changed it after 1 month as I had read that it can be dangerous for tortoises. - the picture of him (or her!) on hemp bedding was the first day I got him.
He has 2 lamps, a basking lamp, and uvb/uva bulb. They are both close to each other, and they both point directly overhead. The tempteture in the basking area is averaging at 32 degrees Celsius, and the cooler side is around 23 degrees.
There is a separate section where he can go to sleep or hide.
His bedding is 1.5 inches deep.
I spray his bedding with water every morning, and every afternoon to help with humidity levels, and spray a little bit before his lights go of in his sleeping area. - should I be doing this, or does this species not need humidity, or does it need more.
Another issue is his uv bulb. It is not a coil bulb, but it is like the shape of an energy efficient bulb in England. Is this harmful? This is what the breeder has used for all their tortoises and they have all been fine, and all my friends in England who have tortoises use the same bulb. It is an Arcadia d3 compact.
I was wanting to buy a strip bulb as the replacement for his old one, but his old one smashed when i dropped it on the kitchen floor, so I was in need of replacing it quickly, and I couldn't find a holder for a strip bulb.
I would prefer the strip bulb, as it covers more of the table, and it is better for the Tortoise - if anyone in England knows where I can get a strip bulb holder please let me know
Substrate
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pettex-Rept...4123155&sr=8-1&keywords=Tortoise+bedding+soil
Uv bulb
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-Com...upplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=13J2VE6A3GN85TBM2S5Z
I live in the north east of England.
I have had Derek, my marginated tortoise for just over 1 year now, and he is 20 months old.
I like to think I am taking good care of him - but I would love any suggestions to make his life better. He is a June 2015 hatched marginated, from the tortoise shop uk (hull). If anyone has a marginated tortoise from the same "litter" I would love to know.
He lives in a table - many have argued about this but I agree with a table for marginateds and it would take a lot of persuading to convince me that a vivarium is better for them, as I have done lots of research as to which is better.
His table consists of a large section (30"x18") which has a soil and calcium bedding from Amazon, with a tile to eat off. He has a small water bowl (this is getting replaced soon with a bigger one) with large stones around the tile and water to avoid his bedding getting into the water and into his food.
The bedding that came with the table was originally hemp, but I changed it after 1 month as I had read that it can be dangerous for tortoises. - the picture of him (or her!) on hemp bedding was the first day I got him.
He has 2 lamps, a basking lamp, and uvb/uva bulb. They are both close to each other, and they both point directly overhead. The tempteture in the basking area is averaging at 32 degrees Celsius, and the cooler side is around 23 degrees.
There is a separate section where he can go to sleep or hide.
His bedding is 1.5 inches deep.
I spray his bedding with water every morning, and every afternoon to help with humidity levels, and spray a little bit before his lights go of in his sleeping area. - should I be doing this, or does this species not need humidity, or does it need more.
Another issue is his uv bulb. It is not a coil bulb, but it is like the shape of an energy efficient bulb in England. Is this harmful? This is what the breeder has used for all their tortoises and they have all been fine, and all my friends in England who have tortoises use the same bulb. It is an Arcadia d3 compact.
I was wanting to buy a strip bulb as the replacement for his old one, but his old one smashed when i dropped it on the kitchen floor, so I was in need of replacing it quickly, and I couldn't find a holder for a strip bulb.
I would prefer the strip bulb, as it covers more of the table, and it is better for the Tortoise - if anyone in England knows where I can get a strip bulb holder please let me know
Substrate
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pettex-Rept...4123155&sr=8-1&keywords=Tortoise+bedding+soil
Uv bulb
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-Com...upplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=13J2VE6A3GN85TBM2S5Z