nigelfd
New Member
Hi everyone-
I've been having trouble assessing my tortoise's living arrangements and making it happy and healthy. Hoping to get some advice from the community.
I bought a testudo tortoise last June. At the time, I got a 40 gallon glass terrarium as a temporary home. I knew from research this wasn't ideal (airflow, space as she grows) but again it was temporary. I've used a 26W UVB bulb and and a 100W heat bulb for basking this whole time. For food, I've been giving her romaine lettuce and 2 different kinds of tortoise blend food pellets that I soak to make soft. I sprinkle her food with reptile calcium 2-3 times a week. I soak her about twice a week and she had a large water bowl that she uses to drink from and bathe regularly that I change out every day.
About 3 months ago, I got a new home for her in the form of a small kiddie pool with a diameter of 5 feet. I was eager to give her more space as she had already grown noticeably since I'd gotten her. The substrate I used here was a mixed of cypress mulch, coconut fiber, and fir bark. I had my lighting set up so her basking bulb was above cave dome where she hides, sleeps, and goes on top to bask, and the UVB bulb at an angle so the light covers most of the enclosure.
That lasted about 3 weeks. It was great to see her being more active and I really thought the bigger space and open air was a positive upgrade for her. But I'm not sure how good it was, so I'm hoping for some insight. I would come home and find that she would circle the enclosure for a long time on end. Just walking in circles and constantly trying in vain to climb up out of the side. It made me think that maybe I was mistaking healthy activeness for anxious restlessness. She also was not eating much, and I wasn't finding any poop in her home. I thought she would just need some time to acclimate, but after ~3 weeks of zero poop, I moved her back to the terrarium and she resumed her previously regular eating and pooping habits.
Could it be that I need more lighting for the larger space? I really don't want to keep her in the small terrarium. She is too big for it. Any insight is appreciated.
On a side note: How long is normal for a testudo to sleep in its hiding spot? Today was day 3 of her not coming out at all. I could tell she was alive because I could peak in enough to see that she had shuffled around a bit, but after 3 days of her not emerging, I was kind of concerned and moved her. She's eating right now.
Thank you!
Nigel
I've been having trouble assessing my tortoise's living arrangements and making it happy and healthy. Hoping to get some advice from the community.
I bought a testudo tortoise last June. At the time, I got a 40 gallon glass terrarium as a temporary home. I knew from research this wasn't ideal (airflow, space as she grows) but again it was temporary. I've used a 26W UVB bulb and and a 100W heat bulb for basking this whole time. For food, I've been giving her romaine lettuce and 2 different kinds of tortoise blend food pellets that I soak to make soft. I sprinkle her food with reptile calcium 2-3 times a week. I soak her about twice a week and she had a large water bowl that she uses to drink from and bathe regularly that I change out every day.
About 3 months ago, I got a new home for her in the form of a small kiddie pool with a diameter of 5 feet. I was eager to give her more space as she had already grown noticeably since I'd gotten her. The substrate I used here was a mixed of cypress mulch, coconut fiber, and fir bark. I had my lighting set up so her basking bulb was above cave dome where she hides, sleeps, and goes on top to bask, and the UVB bulb at an angle so the light covers most of the enclosure.
That lasted about 3 weeks. It was great to see her being more active and I really thought the bigger space and open air was a positive upgrade for her. But I'm not sure how good it was, so I'm hoping for some insight. I would come home and find that she would circle the enclosure for a long time on end. Just walking in circles and constantly trying in vain to climb up out of the side. It made me think that maybe I was mistaking healthy activeness for anxious restlessness. She also was not eating much, and I wasn't finding any poop in her home. I thought she would just need some time to acclimate, but after ~3 weeks of zero poop, I moved her back to the terrarium and she resumed her previously regular eating and pooping habits.
Could it be that I need more lighting for the larger space? I really don't want to keep her in the small terrarium. She is too big for it. Any insight is appreciated.
On a side note: How long is normal for a testudo to sleep in its hiding spot? Today was day 3 of her not coming out at all. I could tell she was alive because I could peak in enough to see that she had shuffled around a bit, but after 3 days of her not emerging, I was kind of concerned and moved her. She's eating right now.
Thank you!
Nigel