DarwinTheTortoise
New Member
Hi!
I’ve been lurking this forum for a few months now and I’m happy to have finally joined as a tortoise owner! 2 days ago we welcomed Darwin the Russian tortoise into our family. I spotted him in a pet store in a glass tank being fed only dry, ‘fruity pebbles’ and hay. I figured I could give him a better home, bought all the equipment I needed, set it up and went back the next day to bring him home. I’m guessing he’s WC but as far as I can see he’s in good shape. He’s alert, he is feeding well on the dandelion leaves, mustard greens and spring mix I got him, he’s enjoying being soaked and is comfortable eating from my hand. I’ve kept a bit of the hay and ‘fruity pebbles’ but he’s not touched them, it seems he’s preferring the real stuff! He’s in a very large plastic storage tub until I finish building his table this weekend. He has a 100w bulb creating a basking spot at one end which my thermometer says is about 93° on the rocks below and this fades to room temp at the other end. Coco coir substrate, terracotta water dish, cuttlefish bone, a hide, rocks, and I’ll be using a strip UV light in his finished enclosure. Now for my immediate questions: my infrared thermometer arrives tomorrow, what do I aim it at to obtain my four temps once he’s in his permanent enclosure? My house stays in the late 70s/early 80’s at night, is this too warm for him? Should I get him checked over by a vet? Thanks, we are very happy to be here!
I’ve been lurking this forum for a few months now and I’m happy to have finally joined as a tortoise owner! 2 days ago we welcomed Darwin the Russian tortoise into our family. I spotted him in a pet store in a glass tank being fed only dry, ‘fruity pebbles’ and hay. I figured I could give him a better home, bought all the equipment I needed, set it up and went back the next day to bring him home. I’m guessing he’s WC but as far as I can see he’s in good shape. He’s alert, he is feeding well on the dandelion leaves, mustard greens and spring mix I got him, he’s enjoying being soaked and is comfortable eating from my hand. I’ve kept a bit of the hay and ‘fruity pebbles’ but he’s not touched them, it seems he’s preferring the real stuff! He’s in a very large plastic storage tub until I finish building his table this weekend. He has a 100w bulb creating a basking spot at one end which my thermometer says is about 93° on the rocks below and this fades to room temp at the other end. Coco coir substrate, terracotta water dish, cuttlefish bone, a hide, rocks, and I’ll be using a strip UV light in his finished enclosure. Now for my immediate questions: my infrared thermometer arrives tomorrow, what do I aim it at to obtain my four temps once he’s in his permanent enclosure? My house stays in the late 70s/early 80’s at night, is this too warm for him? Should I get him checked over by a vet? Thanks, we are very happy to be here!