Night Temps for almost 3 y/o RF

[dwright27]

Good morning,
It's me again, lol!

I did a search for answers to this, but the results were all too old for me to be able to respond.

My RF tank has been dropping to about 68°F at night, at least at the one end. Is that too cold for him? He's almost 3 years old and doesn't seem to be having any problems, but I'm not confident that I'd even know.

There is a CHE over the middle of the tank but It's up kind of high (resting on top) and there's a UTH but stuck onto the back of the tank rather than underneath. The warm end seems to stay around 75 at night, 85-90 during the day.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I.M.O. anything below 70 would be too cool with high humidity.
Your daytime temps are good. I like 80-86.
make sure that if you can't keep the temps higher than your 68, your baby is not sleeping on anything particularly damp. Damp and cool equal sick tortoise.

 

[dwright27]

Suggestions for keeping it dry? I've got a fogger that stops running at night, and he's on top of sphagnum moss (which is on top of soil etc)

 

[crimson_lotus]

I would personally boost the night temps up to 75. My 9inch RF has a night temp in the low 80's so I don't have to adjust the humidity or anything, which can range from 80 to 99%.

 

[dwright27]

I have to figure out how to get the temperature up..

 

[TerrapinStation]

Does he sleep in the same spot every night?

Maybe arrange the CHE to be directly over sleeping area? we move the UTH (also mounted on the side of tank) right by his sleeping log in the winter and it boosts the night temps nicely.

 

[dwright27]

I feel like no matter what I do it's not going to be good enough. Just feeling really crappy knowing he might be sick because of this.

 

[dwright27]

Does he sleep in the same spot every night?

Maybe arrange the CHE to be directly over sleeping area? we move the UTH (also mounted on the side of tank) right by his sleeping log in the winter and it boosts the night temps nicely.

He sleeps in the warm end usually, which is near the UTH on the back. The CHE is over about the middle I guess.

 

[dwright27]

Here is his current setup. The tank is 4' long, and he is about 6". Plans are in the works for his future bigger enclosure. There used to be a plant pot in the warm end too, but he kept throwing it against the glass and I thought it would break. The green plant pot is plastic and it was full of dirt and moss, but he tossed it too. He's a bit of a jerk lol.

 

[dwright27]

the rest

 

[TerrapinStation]

If he is still eating, basking, going to the bathroom and looking as healthy as he does in your other posts, with clear eyes, dry nose, moist skin, I think you are doing fine.

Try re arranging the heating elements to maximize their efficiency, especially at night.

 

[dwright27]

ugh, it's not uploading them properly

 

[dwright27]

If he is still eating, basking, going to the bathroom and looking as healthy as he does in your other posts, with clear eyes, dry nose, moist skin, I think you are doing fine.

Try re arranging the heating elements to maximize their efficiency, especially at night.

How should I arrange them?

 

[TerrapinStation]

does the CHE always sit that high up? is it possible for you to get it down in to your enclosure?

It seems like it might lose a lot of its heating potential being above/outside of enclosure?

 

[dwright27]

does the CHE always sit that high up? is it possible for you to get it down in to your enclosure?

It seems like it might lose a lot of its heating potential being above/outside of enclosure?

I agree. I don't know how to get it lower right now. I need to get another stand I guess. The wall behind the tank has this crappy wood paneling that I can't see being able to support a bracket and light. Open to suggestions.

 

[crimson_lotus]

You could try moving one of the lights to the other end of the enclosure to balance everything out. What's the wattage on those bulbs?

I use this (if this isn't already what you're using): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255OUO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I still use it as is for my map turtle, and tuck it in under the aquarium to make sure it doesn't fall or move on its own. The height is adjustable. You could probably make something like it out of wood, if you wanted to go cheaper.

 

[GRohr]

I agree, those CHEs need to be fully in the tank to work well since heat rises up so practically none of the heat is actually going into the tank. I bet you have something that will work to hang it from just in a drawer in your house (or am I the only pack rat here?) Haha.

 

[dwright27]

You could try moving one of the lights to the other end of the enclosure to balance everything out. What's the wattage on those bulbs?

I use this (if this isn't already what you're using): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255OUO/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I still use it as is for my map turtle, and tuck it in under the aquarium to make sure it doesn't fall or move on its own. The height is adjustable. You could probably make something like it out of wood, if you wanted to go cheaper.

There is one light in there, a 100W Powersun MVB. And it is on the Zoo Med lamp stand. I'm more inclined to buy another one than build just about anything lol.

 

[dwright27]

I agree, those CHEs need to be fully in the tank to work well since heat rises up so practically none of the heat is actually going into the tank. I bet you have something that will work to hang it from just in a drawer in your house (or am I the only pack rat here?) Haha.

We have tonnes of crap around here lol.. but finding something the right size, and then I'd have to get a chain I guess, 'cause I can't really hang it from the cord and the cage fixture doesn't have a hook like the lamp fixture does.

 

[dwright27]

It looks like buying another lamp stand is the safest thing I can do with the tank I have. Thanks for the support everyone. This place is so much better and more understanding than FB..