Hi everybody,
My Russian tortoise has been displaying some behavior and I am curious/a bit worried.
I initially posted this on the thread of "why does my Russian stay buried" but nobody responded and she is displaying the same behavior again, so I wanted to bring it up again, here because I really want some good advice/information.
Here is the situation:
We were having very hot days here in the Netherlands, and it was a steady 27 degrees or more in my city apartment. Now, the last week is has cooled down a lot to 23/24 degrees Celsius inside, outside it is about 20 degrees.
I think the continuity of high temperatures probably resulted in aestivation of my Russian tortoise. She started becoming less active when the hot days were at their hight and she buried herself for a few days.
I didn't know what to do so after a few days of not seeing her and her not eating I decide to take action.
After reading the thread info about high temps and too dark I decide to get her out of the enclosure.
My light cycle was 12 hours, and I prolonged it to 13 hours a day.
I soaked her for 15 minutes , and then put her back in the enclosure, she ate very good.
Then she went back to sleep. Then after a few days of inactivity I stuck my head in the cage (yes I did) and called her , she was a looking at me sleepy , but after a while she came out of her own. And ate again.
I was very happy. Then she went back to sleep again... and hasn't been active, this is the second day.
She just hides all day and sleeps. I am starting to get worried. I expected her to become more active as the temperature dropped to normal but she isn't. I am especially worried she wants to hibernate, though she has never done before according to the previous owner. I am not planning to hibernate her, I haven't the experience nor option in my city apartment to do so. I hope she becomes active again, I really miss seeing her.
Here is the situation
Specs:
The and the cooler part of the enclosure I estimate about 23/25 degrees.
on 10:00 AM
off 10 PM
( now upgraded to 9:00 AM on / 10:00 PM off , 13 hour cycle)
I have tried to keep the heat out , but the plating ( I don't know what it's called) on the outside of my apartment absorbs heat and I can't get the heat much down.
My apartment is very well lit by big windows but I read in the post it might have something to do with it being too warm and too dark, so I prolonged the light cycle.
I don't want to make it that much more preferably, due to the fact it's a 100 watt lamp and not an energy saving bulb and in my situation I have to be financially aware of all energy consuming things in my house.
I'd appreciate advice / suggestions.
Joey
My Russian tortoise has been displaying some behavior and I am curious/a bit worried.
I initially posted this on the thread of "why does my Russian stay buried" but nobody responded and she is displaying the same behavior again, so I wanted to bring it up again, here because I really want some good advice/information.
Here is the situation:
We were having very hot days here in the Netherlands, and it was a steady 27 degrees or more in my city apartment. Now, the last week is has cooled down a lot to 23/24 degrees Celsius inside, outside it is about 20 degrees.
I think the continuity of high temperatures probably resulted in aestivation of my Russian tortoise. She started becoming less active when the hot days were at their hight and she buried herself for a few days.
I didn't know what to do so after a few days of not seeing her and her not eating I decide to take action.
After reading the thread info about high temps and too dark I decide to get her out of the enclosure.
My light cycle was 12 hours, and I prolonged it to 13 hours a day.
I soaked her for 15 minutes , and then put her back in the enclosure, she ate very good.
Then she went back to sleep. Then after a few days of inactivity I stuck my head in the cage (yes I did) and called her , she was a looking at me sleepy , but after a while she came out of her own. And ate again.
I was very happy. Then she went back to sleep again... and hasn't been active, this is the second day.
She just hides all day and sleeps. I am starting to get worried. I expected her to become more active as the temperature dropped to normal but she isn't. I am especially worried she wants to hibernate, though she has never done before according to the previous owner. I am not planning to hibernate her, I haven't the experience nor option in my city apartment to do so. I hope she becomes active again, I really miss seeing her.
Here is the situation
Specs:
- Temperature:
The and the cooler part of the enclosure I estimate about 23/25 degrees.
- Water:
- Hide:
- Substrate:
- Light:
on 10:00 AM
off 10 PM
( now upgraded to 9:00 AM on / 10:00 PM off , 13 hour cycle)
I have tried to keep the heat out , but the plating ( I don't know what it's called) on the outside of my apartment absorbs heat and I can't get the heat much down.
My apartment is very well lit by big windows but I read in the post it might have something to do with it being too warm and too dark, so I prolonged the light cycle.
I don't want to make it that much more preferably, due to the fact it's a 100 watt lamp and not an energy saving bulb and in my situation I have to be financially aware of all energy consuming things in my house.
I'd appreciate advice / suggestions.
Joey