hide/humid box

[kingskettle]

This is what we've concocted as a hide for the boys. Will this be ok to up the humidity and try and prevent any more pyramiding? Whaddyathink?

 

[coreyc]

We need to see a pic

 

[kingskettle]

I had to go away and load the photo into photobucket as nothing showed when I tried to download it from my computer!!! Anyway, this is what we've made. basically just 2 large plastic boxes,one on top of the other with the CHE hanging inside. Dampish coco coir inside. I shut the door at night when they are asleep for the night. Will this be ok?

 

[wellington]

That will work . Might be better if the top wasn't so high. However, the bigger problem I have is the whole enclosure. If the wooden box that the hide is sitting in is their enclosure, it is way to small for the size they are. In fact it's way to small for just one of them, let alone two.

 

[kingskettle]

I have to have the top box that size because the CHE hangs inside there. I love in southern Spain and both leopards are outside from the time they have their first soak in the morning until they come in in the evening and have another soak and go to bed. They will have a larger run inside one of our greenhouses which fills the tennis court, when the weather turns colder but at the moment the weather is mild enough for them to be outside all day in a grass run.

Valerie

www.cactusinspain.com

---

I also LIVE in southern Spain!!! Sorry about that error!

 

[wellington]

Good.Just making sure. That all sounds great then and the hide should work good also.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Looks great!

 

[kingskettle]

Thankyou. Seems to be working,nice and warm inside and they seem to love it so must be OK!

 

[jtrux]

Do you monitor the temp inside, id be concerned that it would get too warm.

 

[Tortus]

I was under the assumption that the CHE was supposed to be directed on the top of the hide, not in it. Wouldn't that dry it out? Having the heat source directly inside?

But I could be wrong. I'm having no luck with a humid hide myself.

 

[Neal]

I'm curious about the results you will see, please keep us updated.

As long as the humid hide is maintaining humidity where you want it, then it's good!

 

[kingskettle]

I decided not to block the door up as it was too hot like that. I also raised the CHE inside as it was too hot for them and they trundled outside the humid box but now they seem happy with the temps. They seem to sleep in the one spot so that doesn't dry out overnight but the area round about them does so I just damp it down again next day while they are outside. Still don't understand why one tortoise is pyramiding while the other is more or less perfectly smooth while both have been in the same conditions,having the same food etc.
Valerie
www.cactusinspain.com

 

[Tom]

I would worry that having the Heat source INSIDE the humid hide would dry things out and defeat the purpose. What is the humidity inside the box when the heat source is on? That sort of heat really dries out the carapace.

 

[kingskettle]

I could hang the heat source above the plastic hide box but will the heat melt the plastic or will the heat cause the plastic to give off toxic fumes? Will the hide be warm enough inside if the CHE is outside the box?

 

[jtrux]

Well the next simplest thing to do would be do put the CHE on a thermostat to regulate the temp inside, 80 degrees will be perfect. You never mentioned what wattage the CHE is?

 

[kingskettle]

Well, I've taken the whole shebang apart and am starting again. I took the box off the top and now just have an upside down plastic box over some dampish coir. I've found sphagnum moss from a site in the UK and that is on the way to Spain. ALL my lights packed up together! So have no CHE at the moment which had been re-sited ABOVE the hide box instead of inside it. The heat for that is coming from a basking heat lamp til the new ceramic arrives. The Mega Ray UV heat bulb has decided, after only a few months of usage, that it no longer wants to work for a living and has taken early retirement so have purchased another make and hope this will last longer than the very expensive Mega Ray. The weather here has been unseasonally wet,cold and windy which was perfect timing for when light and heat pack up! However, my two Leos have not been without heat just having to put up with constant light at bedtime. Have also ordered a device to measure the humidity. So I guess that wraps up my Christmas presents for the next couple of years-----all that spending on my boys! The only good thing to come out of the bad weather is that since the rain, weeds and tortoise food are no problem whatsoever! See-----every cloud etc. etc.

 

[volcom6981]

How old are your torts? I always thought there came a time when the torts get older that keeping them really humid wouldn't have an effect anymore? I'm new so maybe I'm wrong. Plus how come I read that leopard torts are one of the only torts that can't handle high humidity, moderate is ok, but not really high.

 

[kingskettle]

How old are your torts? I always thought there came a time when the torts get older that keeping them really humid wouldn't have an effect anymore? I'm new so maybe I'm wrong. Plus how come I read that leopard torts are one of the only torts that can't handle high humidity, moderate is ok, but not really high.

That's what I thought as well! But having read on here that high humidity is the way to help prevent pyramiding, I'm trying to follow advice. My two are coming up to 7 years old. One is starting to show pyramiding while the other one, the same age and sex,is smooth. Confusion is out there!!

 

[Tom]

High humidity, along with the right temps, good hydration, the right diet, some UV, etc..., will prevent pyramiding. However, in a 7 year old animal, you wont be preventing anything. Whatever is there is there.

Leopards are fine with humidity as long as the temps and set up are correct. If you put them outside in a humid climate, without some sort of supplemental heat, you might end up with a respiratory infection.

 

[lynnedit]

I know what you mean about Christmas presents, probably birthday too? Oh well, who needs perfume or clothing?

I live in southern Spain and both leopards are outside from the time they have their first soak in the morning until they come in in the evening and have another soak and go to bed. They will have a larger run inside one of our greenhouses which fills the tennis court, when the weather turns colder but at the moment the weather is mild enough for them to be outside all day in a grass run.

Valerie

www.cactusinspain.com

Gee, your place sounds amazing. Sounds like your torts will have several options outside. Would they be able to have an area inside the Greenhouse, connected to an outside run?