Cool side too hot

[taylor25]

Hi all,

I'd love some advise. Recently got a horsefield tortoise for my autistic brother in law he loves it. But we have noticed that the cooler side of the viv is reaching 32 degrees. We have set up exactly as the pet shop said and used pictures we had taken of there set up.

We was given a 60watt basking spot bulb from the pet shop but is it too high for the size viv. Its 3ft long by 15inch wide.

Any advise would be amazing.

Thank you

Taylor

 

[wellington]

First mistake is following a pet stores advice. That is wrong substrate, wrong spot bulb and I'm going to assume wrong uvb bulb.
Get a flood bulb for basking and for/orchid bark or coconut coir for substrate and a tube uvb fluorescent bulb for uvb.
If your tort is an adult it needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot enclosure.

 

[SinLA]

What a wonderful gift!

Ok sit back and be prepared - pretty much everything the pet store told you is probably wrong. Definitely wrong food and substrate, I'll let experts advise you about lighting and space size (its too small)

Meanwhile - https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/#post-2036954

start reading that and forget EVERYTHING the pet store (who exists to sell you things) told you.

 

[SinLA]

First mistake is following a pet stores advice. That is wrong substrate, wrong spot bulb and I'm going to assume wrong uvb bulb.
Get a flood bulb for basking and for/orchid bark or coconut coir for substrate and a tube uvb fluorescent bulb for uvb.
If your tort is an adult it needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot enclosure.

Jinx

 

[wellington]

First mistake is following a pet stores advice. That is wrong substrate, wrong spot bulb and likely wrong uvb bulb.
Follow this care sheet for your Russian?
Thread 'The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...ise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

 

[wellington]

Jinx

Lol, too funny and it didn't let me see that my post had posted.

 

[Ink]

Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your new tortoise. Please post pictures of the tortoise when you can.

 

[taylor25]

First mistake is following a pet stores advice. That is wrong substrate, wrong spot bulb and I'm going to assume wrong uvb bulb.
Get a flood bulb for basking and fir/orchid bark or coconut coir for substrate and a tube uvb fluorescent bulb for uvb.
If your tort is an adult it needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot enclosure.

Hi she is 10 months old. Thank you so much for the help

 

[Tom]

Hi all,

I'd love some advise. Recently got a horsefield tortoise for my autistic brother in law he loves it. But we have noticed that the cooler side of the viv is reaching 32 degrees. We have set up exactly as the pet shop said and used pictures we had taken of there set up.

We was given a 60watt basking spot bulb from the pet shop but is it too high for the size viv. Its 3ft long by 15inch wide.

Any advise would be amazing.

Thank you

Taylor

Hello and welcome.

32 during the day really isn't all that bad for a horsfield, but like everyone else has already said, you have received the typical wrong info and wrong pet shop products. Click the link the SinLA left for you and your eyes will be opened.

 

[LJL1982]

Hi she is 10 months old. Thank you so much for the help

The enclosure is far too small. It doesn't allow for the level of lighting which you need without compromising the ability to have different temperature zones, without consideration of the requirement of most tortoises for significant space to move about in to maintain their health and happiness.