What am I doing wrong? Humidity hating tortoise lol

[Benda183]

I’m struggling here…I’m new to tortoises and have had my rf for about a month now.
She lives outside and I bring her in for the night where she lives in this box.

I changed things recently to accommodate her behaviors and me trying to understand her needs. She had this box outside at first where she slept, but since I made her enclosure bigger, she didn’t set foot inside for over a week, just burrowed behind it in the corner when she wanted to sleep.

so I took it inside and put her smaller house I had for her inside out.
well since then, she won’t sleep in the humid back part of the house and just stays on the dry, open side. I put her favorite plant in there too, thinking she’ll go there, but nooooo.

she hates soaking, she never goes in the water dishes I have spread out for her, I don’t see her drink, but she does pee…so she must drink when I’m not watching ?

I do spray the outside grass where she is during the day twice a day and spray her while I’m doing it.
Is that enough for her?
I’m confused and concerned, that she’s not having enough humid time.
Outside is on average 60% daily.

 

[Hotsause]

They love to ruin all our plans don’t they. Maybe put a cover on the entire enclosure and make the whole thing humid.

 

[TammyJ]

Seems like she is bossing you around, eh? Just keep her humidity at the correct level as much as you can, wherever she goes day and night.

 

[wellington]

First its likely those two disc gauges in the second pic is way off. Replace those with one like the other one you have and put them at tort level.
Also cover the whole enclosure to make the whole thing humid. RF need high humidity. The substrate she be very damp under the top layer.
Next, every time you change things, adding or taking something away, etc, they will pout for a few days or weeks.

 

[Sarah2020]

For soaking have a high-sided bowl with wa4m shallow water and place it in there for 30 mins. Over time they do get used to it. Hydration is very important and that will help. Fresh water dish they can easily walk in and out of in the enclosure 24x7 is required.

 

[Totoboo]

First its likely those two disc gauges in the second pic is way off. Replace those with one like the other one you have and put them at tort level.
Also cover the whole enclosure to make the whole thing humid. RF need high humidity. The substrate she be very damp under the top layer.
Next, every time you change things, adding or taking something away, etc, they will pout for a few days or weeks.

Do I need to use a heat lamp/UVB light for my rf (I live in Kaneohe). I don't know how old he/she is, probably only 3.5inches long currently, it needed a new home so I just took it in. This forum is such a great resource and I'm trying to soak it all in.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Do I need to use a heat lamp/UVB light for my rf (I live in Kaneohe). I don't know how old he/she is, probably only 3.5inches long currently, it needed a new home so I just took it in. This forum is such a great resource and I'm trying to soak it all in.

Hello! If you don't mind - please start your own thread in Introductions section. Of course, with photos of your new little guy and his enclosure.

A short answer:
If you can keep temperatures in 80-88F in the enclosure (not just in the room) and let him out for sunbathing at least for 15 minutes every day (shade and supervision are required) then you don't need UVB/heat lamps. Full day outdoors is not advised for small tortoises, just in case.

 

[Totoboo]

Hello! If you don't mind - please start your own thread in Introductions section. Of course, with photos of your new little guy and his enclosure.

A short answer:
If you can keep temperatures in 80-88F in the enclosure (not just in the room) and let him out for sunbathing at least for 15 minutes every day (shade and supervision are required) then you don't need UVB/heat lamps. Full day outdoors is not advised for small tortoises, just in case.

Oh sorry, I’ll go ahead and start new thread/intro. Thank you kindly for your response.