Help with new enclosure

[mrsrainone9818]

Hello friends,

So I upgraded my Russian tortoise Jenny from a 40 gallon to a 4ftx2ft wood table enclosure. (I know it should be bigger for a one year old ) in the process but this is her enclosure currently . I spoke with Tom and after speaking with him I bought a led light from Lowe’s 6500k, the Acadia 12% UV-b light, I have a 65 watt floodlight, and a 100watt ceramic heat emitter . I live in Rhode Island so the weather isn’t hot all year round. Her cool side is 73% humidity and temp is 70. Her hot basking side the humidity is 37% with a temp of 82, what can I do to add more heat for my Russians enclosure to help it reach 95-100. Thank you for your help @Tom i posted the pictures here since I couldn’t attach in our conversation. Thanks everyone !

 

[mrsrainone9818]

Here are the pictures

 

[mrsrainone9818]

Hello friends,

So I upgraded my Russian tortoise Jenny from a 40 gallon to a 4ftx2ft wood table enclosure. (I know it should be bigger for a one year old ) in the process but this is her enclosure currently . I spoke with Tom and after speaking with him I bought a led light from Lowe’s 6500k, the Acadia 12% UV-b light, I have a 65 watt floodlight, and a 100watt ceramic heat emitter . I live in Rhode Island so the weather isn’t hot all year round. Her cool side is 73% humidity and temp is 70. Her hot basking side the humidity is 37% with a temp of 82, what can I do to add more heat for my Russians enclosure to help it reach 95-100. Thank you for your help! @Tom I posted the pictures here since I couldn’t attach in our conversation. Thanks everyone !

 

[mrsrainone9818]

Here are the pictures everyone !

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What are you currently using for heat?

 

[Tom]

What are you currently using for heat?

65 watt incandescent and a 100 watt CHE.

 

[Tom]

Here are the pictures

Nice!

1. Sink that terra cotta saucer down in to the substrate so that the rim is almost level.
2. Hand pack the coir firmly. You may need to add more after packing it all down.
3. Put the thermometer directly under the basking lamp and let it bake for an our or more to see what your basking temp is. Its 82 over near the basking area, but its probably hotter directly under the bulb.
4. If needed after checking, lower the basking lamp a bit, or get a higher wattage bulb.
5. How high is the HO tube mounted? Should be around 18-20 in most cases.

 

[jeff kushner]

Beautiful! He ought to love the new digs!

A Russian, right? Think he's gonna stay in there? Hmmmm...... he will till he gets big enough to leave......then from what I've read here, he will!

Congrats!

 

[mrsrainone9818]

Tom I know it says the minimum height is 15”, for the uv-b Acadia light and it was mounted 16-17” from her . She isn’t in enclosure yet cause I want to get the temperatures 100% first !! I will 100% make sure that the cotta saucer is leveled with her coconut coir , do I pack it around the water dish or in the whole enclosure . ? Tomorrow am when I wake up I will put the thermometer right under the basking/heating area on top of the rock . If the temp doesn’t go up , do you recommend me to up the wattage for the CHE? Or the actual floodlight too ? Which wattage would you recommend to try ?

 

[mrsrainone9818]

Aw thank you so very much for the very nice compliment , she is such a sweetheart and I love her to pieces ! Her personality is so breathtaking …she absolutely melts my heart ! Yes she’s a Russian tortoise !🐢❤️ oh yes she will stay in there . I made the sides of her new enclosure 8-9” I believe …but I guess in time we shall see and take it from there hah ! But she will definitely get an upgrade to a 8x4 at that point 😊😍

 

[Tom]

Tom I know it says the minimum height is 15”, for the uv-b Acadia light and it was mounted 16-17” from her . She isn’t in enclosure yet cause I want to get the temperatures 100% first !! I will 100% make sure that the cotta saucer is leveled with her coconut coir , do I pack it around the water dish or in the whole enclosure . ? Tomorrow am when I wake up I will put the thermometer right under the basking/heating area on top of the rock . If the temp doesn’t go up , do you recommend me to up the wattage for the CHE? Or the actual floodlight too ? Which wattage would you recommend to try ?

Only a UV meter can tell you the correct mounting height for your HO UV bulb. 16-17 inches is a little closer than where I usually have to set mine when using the Solarmeter 6.5. Having it closer will make the UVI higher at tortoise level, but you are probably still in the safe range, especially if you are only running the tube for a few hours mid day, and the tortoise can get out from under it.

If the basking temp is too cool, I would start by lowering the basking bulb a bit. If that doesn't get the temp where I want it, I would go with a little higher wattage basking bulb. A 100 watt flood bulb would be my next step.