The only reason for them to bask is if they are too cool. If your tortoise is eating and pooping, that is an indicator that the GI tract is functioning as it should, which would mean that the tortoise is staying warm enough.
That is pretty cool. Try bumping temps up a bit and see what happens.
Tom each morning at 5 I turn on the Che until the cool end reaches 24/25c and leave it till I go to work at 7, the basking bulb is 100w and 36c, I’m not sure how I can get the temps higher, in your wisdom what do you suggest I do? Should I set the che to stay on until the weather warms here? This is something that’s just started in February, prior to that everything was ok.
Set your CHE on a thermostat to maintain the warmer temp all day instead of just the morning. You can plug your thermostat into an appliance timer, so that the CHE remains off at night.
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If appetite and behavior are normal, I would not worry. I would check temps all around and veryify everything is as it should be.@Tom after following your advice my tort is now seemingly back to normal, more active, basking when needed and eating like there's no end to the food
but i'm still concerned about the plastron, it's a little pink and more so after being soaked, in your opinion is there any need to worry?
My Eastern Hermann‘s plastron gets pink like that from time to time too and just like you’re seeing, it is especially after a soak. I’ve always been told that it’s a sign of good circulation and during a nice warm soak, the blood is pumping even more so to light up those areas. From what you’ve said in this thread, I don’t think you have any need to worry (I know it’s easier said than done though). How old is your tortoise? My guy turns 4 in a few days and it has been sporadically through the years that the pink becomes more visible. I’m not sure if it has to do with growth spurts or possibly the change in seasons.@Tom after following your advice my tort is now seemingly back to normal, more active, basking when needed and eating like there's no end to the food
but i'm still concerned about the plastron, it's a little pink and more so after being soaked, in your opinion is there any need to worry?
Thanks Krista, that makes me feel a bit better, I’ve heard so many stories of sepsis and began to worry, my Pebbles has just turned 3, she’s had a little bit of pink on the plastron but only recently did I notice more and like you said, it’s more so after a soak.
Now knowing that Pebbles is just 3 years old, I feel even more confident that it’s nothing to worry about. Looks like a healthy girl with great circulation in her growing shell! ❤️
