Heating for my baby russian

[Bobo's Dad]

I was wondering if I need to do something different with my lighting now that its winter. I live in a basement apartment and it is pretty cold down there I am using a reptisun powersun 160 MVB is his basking area 95 degrees and also a CHE 100 watt washing over the whole enclosure (cement mixing base). He is not eating and when he does it is a small amount every time I sit him somewhere he falls asleep. It is getting in the 60's at night suggestions?

 

[lynnedit]

60's at night is OK.
95F basking is fine.

What are the temps in the 'cool' side of the enclosure during the day? Can he get to a spot that is 70F?
Is it possible that he is too warm during the day?

How long are your lights on? And you have a tube fluorescent light too, if I remember correctly? So most of your enclosure is bright during the day?

 

[Bobo's Dad]

yeah it is about 70 on the cool side but he never goes there. I have a tube UVB 24" plus the powersun 160 watt MVB. The weird thing is he will turn away from his food when I sit him next to it walk a few inches smell the coco coir substrate and then start eating the fibers?? I use the coco coir that comes in the expandable bricks. I think he needs a change in substrate. The make coco coir that is all smooth and granulated with no fibers in it. What do you think? I am also moving him to a new enclosure 24X27X6.5" he is only 2 inches long and I have him in a 24X37X8" cement mixing plastic tub right now but he never goes in 1/3 of it so I am making it a little smaller so it will be easier to control the temps. He has never eaten a lot at all and if you remember he went through that stage of not eating for over a week. Do you think I need to change substrate I am so afraid of an impaction with those long fibers. All he does is sleep or hide either by burrowing or burrowing under his half log. I will be changing him over to the new mixing tub should I use another substrate?

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I was thinking. What about 50% coco coir (the fine stuff in the bag not the bricks with huge fibers) and 50% Fir bark or that "Repti Bark"

What do you think?

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Oh my lights are on from 7 am to 9 pm

 

[lynnedit]

Sounds like your temps are good.

Yes, switch out to the brick coir. It is very fine. Messy, but holds moisture very well.