New Russian owner

[Eireinpoland]

Hi all,

I recently became a owner of a Russian Tortoise. Unfortunately after a bit of research, I found that I need to improve things for the little guy. He's currently 7cm so just shy of 3 inches. My current set up is definitely inadequate so I am looking to upgrade him to a bigger terrarium and I am looking at the below options for him. The first one is probably the best solution but I think I would need to line the ground of it with a shower curtain or similar before moving him into it? The second one is smaller but it is foldable which is handy if I ever need to move location.

I currently have a solar UVA / UVB for him which is this https://www.invital.pl/repti-planet-solar-uva-uvb-80-w From reading online, I think I need to buy something similar to this https://www.maxizoo.pl/p/exo-terra-reptile-uvb150-t8-60-cm-18-w-1286918/ as an extra bit of light during the day. I have a temperature gun and I am reading an average temp of about 25C or 77F which is a little on the low side so I plan on buying a heating heating pad to help with this.

Would appreciate any help from the pros on here particularly on what sort of Terrarium to buy. Thanks in advance for your help!

https://diversa.com.pl/product-pol-657-TERRARIUM-150X80X92-Z-PLYTY-NADSTAWKA-ARTISAN.html

Repti-Zoo Terrarium RK 120x45x45cm

Terrarium Repti-Zoo serii RK to wybieg do hodowli gadów, płazów i ssaków zaprojektowany przez czołowych światowych herpetologów, wg. uznanej zasady "Living in Nature". Posiada szereg rozwiązań ułatwiających obsługę, a przede wszystkim montaż akcesoriów takich jak np. oświetlenie, ogrzewanie itp...

www.aquario.pl

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!

You may read this post: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/ to get all needed information on caring for your tortoise. At the end there is a list of heating and lightning equipment and a link to the Temperate species care sheet (with more specific details for Russian tortoises).

1. For the UVB source you need T5 tube lamp (both all-in-one lamp and T8 tube you've linked aren't the best choices). Here is the link to Arcadia ProT5 12% lamp with fixture which are among the best available: https://amzn.eu/d/426IEP8
2. This one can be used for the basking zone: https://amzn.eu/d/2tTR6mQ (if you can find incandescent lamp in a hardware/DIY stores - it will be the same, but cheaper). 100W is probably too much, so it's just as an example. You will need a lamp dome for this lamp - look for the widest diameter, like 30cm.
3. For an ambient light at daytime get "cold daylight" or "neutral daylight" (5500-6500K) LED strip (or ceiling light). They can be bought from a hardware store.
4. Depending on room temperatures, you might need a ceramic heat emitter with a thermostat for nighttime heating. If the cold part of the enclosure stays above 21-22C at night - you won't likely to need that. Don't use heat mats.

For the terrarium - the bigger, the better. Wooden terrariums don't last too long, but if it's a laminated board - then it should last for years (but not for decades, probably). You are right, that you need a shower curtain at the bottom (and probably some silicone to seal the seams). The one you have linked is a 150x80x92, I unfortunately can't read Polish, but if 92cm is a height, you may get a cheaper 150x80x80 model. Tall terrarium makes sense only if you build a second level with a ramp.

Please, ask more questions

 

[Eireinpoland]

Hello and welcome!

You may read this post: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/ to get all needed information on caring for your tortoise. At the end there is a list of heating and lightning equipment and a link to the Temperate species care sheet (with more specific details for Russian tortoises).

1. For the UVB source you need T5 tube lamp (both all-in-one lamp and T8 tube you've linked aren't the best choices). Here is the link to Arcadia ProT5 12% lamp with fixture which are among the best available: https://amzn.eu/d/426IEP8
2. This one can be used for the basking zone: https://amzn.eu/d/2tTR6mQ (if you can find incandescent lamp in a hardware/DIY stores - it will be the same, but cheaper). 100W is probably too much, so it's just as an example. You will need a lamp dome for this lamp - look for the widest diameter, like 30cm.
3. For an ambient light at daytime get "cold daylight" or "neutral daylight" (5500-6500K) LED strip (or ceiling light). They can be bought from a hardware store.
4. Depending on room temperatures, you might need a ceramic heat emitter with a thermostat for nighttime heating. If the cold part of the enclosure stays above 21-22C at night - you won't likely to need that. Don't use heat mats.

For the terrarium - the bigger, the better. Wooden terrariums don't last too long, but if it's a laminated board - then it should last for years (but not for decades, probably). You are right, that you need a shower curtain at the bottom (and probably some silicone to seal the seams). The one you have linked is a 150x80x92, I unfortunately can't read Polish, but if 92cm is a height, you may get a cheaper 150x80x80 model. Tall terrarium makes sense only if you build a second level with a ramp.

Please, ask more questions

Thank you that's a great help. I have been reading a good few of Tom's thread's which are a great information piece. I picked up a few terracotta saucers because of him for food and water and they work much better than what I had bought in the expo I was at. I also am leaning towards a terrarium because of him as well for controlling humidity etc.

1) For the UVB light, I think this is the same as the Amazon one and has a quicker delivery time for me, plus it's slightly cheaper. So I will order it tomorrow. https://allegro.pl/oferta/arcadia-zestaw-24w-pro-t5-uvb-kit-12-uv-lamp-12083317741
2) I can get a 75W of the same brand, so will look at that. The lamp dome seems to be the hardest thing to get, most are coming in at 21cm but will try a few other online shops for it.
3) Thanks, does this need to be on in sunny days as the room that he is in is very bright?
4) We live fairly high up in a well insulated apartment block, for now I think we might be ok as the weather is getting warmer here but definitely would need it in the colder part of the year.

In terms of lights, is it best to have a spare on hand in case of a failure and roughly how often would they need replacing? I am buying a timer plug for the lights as well to automate things slightly.

Unfortunately, I can't really read Polish either but google translate in Chrome helps a bit to get the gist of things 😉. 92cm is the height, the only reason, I was going for it was that I thought it looked neater for storing things and hiding the light fixed as a had a small storage space. However, I think I will just for for the 150x80x80 version as it's a nice bit cheaper. I could always do a small diy job to add a second level at he get's bigger.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

1. Yes, the lamp from Allegro is the same. You can order it.
2. 75W is a fine middle ground. Only temperature gun can tell if it'a enough. I was able to find 30cm domes only in farm supplies shops (brooder lamp shades) ) If it's not an option - get the most wide and shallow aluminum dome available.
3. LED lights usually needed in late autumn and winter to trick the tortoise, that it's not the time for brumation. More on that here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/
4. I would get ambient heating.. As younger tortoises need higher humidity they shouldn't get too cold as well. Thermostat will keep it off if additional heat is not required. You can measure temperatures at night in the cold end and decide if it's needed right now.

Timer sockets are great ("set and forget" is always good). Arcadia UVB lamp has a lifespan more than a year, before UVB output degrades (when you use it 4 hours a day). Exact time can't be told without a radiometer. Having a spare is not necessary - tortoise can live without UVB at least for a couple of weeks and natural sun is usually an option. But I would get a spare basking bulb.

80 cm high enclosure is enough, even for two level enclosure. One important thing: UVB lamp should be hanged at approximately 45-50 cm above substrate.

 

[Eireinpoland]

Thanks for the response. The UVB lamp and the terrarium have been purchased and hoping for it to arrive this weekend. The 30cm dome is proving to be more problematic so I might have to go slightly lower on the size and this is the biggest I could find easily online https://allegro.pl/oferta/exo-terra...wiecacy-w-ciemnosci-25-cm-ex-0569-14982195667 would this work for basking?

For the ambient heat, would something like this work or does it need to be stronger? https://allegro.pl/oferta/emiter-ciepla-exo-terra-ceramic-heater-40w-terra-12221626152

I've bought a few timer sockets now as well and I am looking into how best hang the UVB bulb as well in the terrarium. How essential is a heat monitor for temperatures to monitor when lights should be turned off etc?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

This dome looks good. Only glowing in dark coating is a bit of concern for me - never seen them before, but with the right lamp timer settings you should be fine. 30cm domes usually aren't sold in the pet shops, but in farming supplies stores (for chicken heat lamps).

I can't tell for sure if 40W heater will be enough - thermometer should tell you. Usually 60W or 100W are used with a thermostat. But if room temperatures aren't very low, it can work.

Ideally, you should know that nighttime temperatures don't get too low (to adjust heating and such). However, with an ambient heating set on a thermostat you can be more or less confident that they are high enough. I use a "smart" thermometer/hygrometer sensor to get precise graphs, but that's a "redfoot thing"

 

[Eireinpoland]

Thanks, have pulled the trigger on that and a 75W heater bulb. I have been spotted checking the temperature at night and it's usually around 20/21 degrees most times, I have checked.

What kind of smart thermometer do you use, as I definitely will need one in the winter when it will be cooler in the apartment?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks, have pulled the trigger on that and a 75W heater bulb. I have been spotted checking the temperature at night and it's usually around 20/21 degrees most times, I have checked.

What kind of smart thermometer do you use, as I definitely will need one in the winter when it will be cooler in the apartment?

I have a couple of these: https://www.tp-link.com/en/smart-home/smart-sensor/tapo-t310/ (it needs a Smart Hub device to work, so account for this, also there is a model with a display).
Also these are known to be good: https://us.govee.com/collections/smart-thermo-hygrometers/products/wi-fi-temperature-humidity-sensor (this model works without a hub device directly connecting to WiFi, they also offer cheaper bluetooth sensors which send alarms only if the smartphone is nearby).
State of the art are SensorPush devices, but it's an overkill, I think.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks, have pulled the trigger on that and a 75W heater bulb. I have been spotted checking the temperature at night and it's usually around 20/21 degrees most times, I have checked.

What kind of smart thermometer do you use, as I definitely will need one in the winter when it will be cooler in the apartment?

Nighttime temperatures are good 👍

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!