Please help (closed eyes)

BrookeB

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So first off there are no vets in my area and I called all the normal vets and the will not see me, I can’t drive 150+ miles due to my own health issues but I honestly don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

I have 4 baby tortoises, 2 leopards and 2 sulcata all hatchlings. They all have separate 50gallon setups. I got them on September 29th from LLLReptiles

The temperature is 84-85 degrees throughout the entire tub, Temperature and humidity controlled system.. with a basking spot of 100-105 with a rock base under the heat lamp set on a 14 hour timer... the humidity is at 75-80rh with the use of reptile foggers, I soak them once a day in a mix of carrot and water. I mist them by hand 2x a day... coco core substrate.. I have wheat grass planted throughout the enclosures for grazing. And have been feeding them spring mix, clover and alfalfa sprouts, cactus pads, and original Mazuri, and I give them calcium 2x a week. I have them outside in the sun once a week for a few hours.. so I don’t have a uv bulb in any of the enclosures. (But I can change that)

The issue is they are sleeping all day. The two leopards will not eat or open their eyes. One sulcata sleeps all day and the other one (the only one that still walks most of the day) is bloated. What am I doing wrong.. am I killing them somehow? Please help me I cannot go through losing a group of tortoises again. (I lost two babies about 6-7 years ago and completely stopped with tortoises except frank who is my mbd rescue) tell me how to fix this please. Photos included of my setup

12AD13AC-B80F-49CD-8691-FDB5D1B4CC7D.jpegED1C3C54-1133-4EA3-B0ED-85CA0CCC46E9.jpegAD744528-8745-47BD-8637-2C30F1F0A118.jpegBC7CEC90-E967-4305-B496-8E24D68D81EF.jpeg6945A414-C471-4CE0-AAA6-20642F8C2DDA.jpeg626B46B8-09C1-4336-8C81-1258F2DEC3C1.jpeg8A1B07E5-3286-45BC-92F6-381A66ED8B8A.jpeg3F0B2FC5-73C8-4BC0-A559-ED958C2B1F34.jpeg563D13B3-3580-4B79-8D74-CA81D9B33D0D.jpegB4192D2A-4E76-44FA-A19D-6672D3377217.jpegB6D8C307-BAFD-4854-A702-4428ED7BE2A0.jpeg
 
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Jodie

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Most of this sounds good. I know little about LLLReptiles stock, so will not speak to that, but I do have a couple of questions.
What are your night temps? What are you using for basking area, and night heat? Looks like a CHE hanging inside?
That kind of a setup, what I do is use substrate 4-6 inches deep, and keep it moist. I water my enclosures like a house plant. Allowing the top to dry slightly between waterings. I have never used a fogger, or needed to in a closed chamber enclosure.
 

BrookeB

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Most of this sounds good. I know little about LLLReptiles stock, so will not speak to that, but I do have a couple of questions.
What are your night temps? What are you using for basking area, and night heat? Looks like a CHE hanging inside?
That kind of a setup, what I do is use substrate 4-6 inches deep, and keep it moist. I water my enclosures like a house plant. Allowing the top to dry slightly between waterings. I have never used a fogger, or needed to in a closed chamber enclosure.

the substrate is 3 inches deep 100% Zoo med coco core
the heating at night is the CHE and it’s set at 85 degrees. The basking light is a “heat lamp bulb” a incandescent reflector heat bulb I bought at ace. Picture below4C8F0DB9-B8ED-44F3-988D-868A53992C1F.jpeg
 

ZEROPILOT

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Why a CHE and also a heat lamp?
Use the CHE and replace that bright hardware store light bulb with a "soft white" household bulb. (Or nothing) and see if it's that crazy bright light causing some of the issues.
Especially with the tortoises that can't or wont open their eyes.
 

BrookeB

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Why a CHE and also a heat lamp?
Use the CHE and replace that bright hardware store light bulb with a "soft white" household bulb. (Or nothing) and see if it's that crazy bright light causing some of the issues.
Especially with the tortoises that can't or wont open their eyes.
I was under the impression that you need a basking spot during the day. The CHE is on a temperature control that turns it off when it gets to 80 degrees ambient temperature or turns on if it drops below that....
 

ZEROPILOT

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I was under the impression that you need a basking spot during the day. The CHE is on a temperature control that turns it off when it gets to 80 degrees ambient temperature or turns on if it drops below that....
Since your ambient temp is 80 or above, I'd only be concerned about doing a few simple things to try to determine if they make a difference.
That heat lamp is suspect to me.
My theory is that that lamp is stressing your Loepards eyes.
It's not a light designed for tortoises.
Turn them off for 48 hours and see if the eyes start to open.
Keep the CHEs on.
 

BrookeB

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Ok so I replaced the bright heat lamp with my extra CHE I had a few and put a normal household light in. It’s not nearly as bright. Both the new CHE and new light are on the same timer. I’m going to continue to soak them and I really hope this helps them all out.
 

BrookeB

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Ok sooooo I asked This exact question on my Facebook group and nearly got chewed out for my enclosures “extreme conditions” they said my humidity and heat where both way too high and that was my issue. The only thing I’ve changed is the heat lamp like I said above.. they also told me to stop with the alfalfa sprouts and that binds calcium...
 

Toddrickfl1

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Ok sooooo I asked This exact question on my Facebook group and nearly got chewed out for my enclosures “extreme conditions” they said my humidity and heat where both way too high and that was my issue. The only thing I’ve changed is the heat lamp like I said above.. they also told me to stop with the alfalfa sprouts and that binds calcium...
Avoid the Facebook groups. Most of them are run by the same people and they spread all kinds of ridiculous information. You'd be best sticking to what the experienced keepers here on TFO tell you.
 

Maro2Bear

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Ok so I replaced the bright heat lamp with my extra CHE I had a few and put a normal household light in. It’s not nearly as bright. Both the new CHE and new light are on the same timer. I’m going to continue to soak them and I really hope this helps them all out.

It would really be better to have your CHE hooked up via a thermostat and not a timer. A thermostat with a probe on 24/7 will help maintain your ambient temps. (You might have one, disregard if so).

Good thermostat - http://www.lllreptile.com/products/13883-zilla-1000-watt-temperature-controller
 

ZEROPILOT

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Ok sooooo I asked This exact question on my Facebook group and nearly got chewed out for my enclosures “extreme conditions” they said my humidity and heat where both way too high and that was my issue. The only thing I’ve changed is the heat lamp like I said above.. they also told me to stop with the alfalfa sprouts and that binds calcium...
I was quickly IN and OUT of a FACEBOOK Redfoot tortoise group myself.
Crazy and uninformed.
At the TFO, it's people actually trying to help. Not judge. And these keepers are from all over this planet offering their knowledge and first hand experiences to try to help.
It's a wealth of knowledge.
Your issue will no doubt help others in the future.
I like FACEBOOK.
But get out of that chat group.
 

ZEROPILOT

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BrookeB

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They do seem to be sleeping in different spots. They are not “hiding” in the grass or in the corners anymore. It’s still early in the morning here.. I will let everyone know if I see any improvement and I’ll definitely leave the Facebook group.. I should know better about Facebook anyway lol
 

BrookeB

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And just to be clear my new setup is as follows temperature is 84-85 79-83 degrees throughout the entire tub, Temperature is a CHE and humidity controlled system on a thermostat and humidity gauge.. with a basking spot of 100-105 95-99 with a rock base under the heat lamp a different new CHE set on a 14 13 hour timer with a normal-non coil household bulb... the humidity is at 75-80rh with the use of reptile foggers, I mist them by hand 2x a day... coco core substrate.I have them outside in the sun once a week for a few hours.. so I don’t have a uv bulb in any of the enclosures. (But I can still change that)
 

BrookeB

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Should I put in a uvb and if so what kind? What size? can someone just link me What I need on amazon. I already have a temperature gun also. I would need something small like 2-21/2 feet. Is a new uvb light going to be too bright like my old heat lamp? It’s getting cold and i think I should get a uvb until they are older.
 

BrookeB

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So I bought a few things to try as well pictures below bought the same bulb in 18 and 24in because I wasn’t sure which one will fit.. now my question is if I put this in my enclosure is it going to be too bright like the heat lamp?

8B21058C-8046-48AE-8AD9-25DBF98AA703.png ADF5818F-F591-47AE-AA80-F6849457BEE1.png 04816CAF-326F-4472-825E-D73F71E6B00C.png
 

Gijoux

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the substrate is 3 inches deep 100% Zoo med coco core
the heating at night is the CHE and it’s set at 85 degrees. The basking light is a “heat lamp bulb” a incandescent reflector heat bulb I bought at ace. Picture belowView attachment 282918
Infrared heat (IR,) heats from the inside out. I am not sure how to tell if your Tortoises' internal temperature is getting to hot, but that would be my thought. When too hot, tortoises estivate much like hibernating, but not so deep.
 
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