Winter, nighttime, oh my!!

[PatMurray]

Hey everyone!!

Well I mixed the sand and the organic soil during his soak yesterday. I'm not gonna lie I was quite angry because when I put him back in he went straight for the food, which is the usual routine, but then when he was laying in the basking area he started slightly munching the sand/soil. The only reason I mixed it was because you guys said that is wasn't stable enough which is understandable, but when he started to pick away at the ground I wanted to flip. I of course stopped him from consuming it and have had an eye on him constantly ever since. To try and stop this terrible habit I sprinkled some cypress mulch on top of the areas where he was munching. (It was mainly in the basking area) This stopped him from doing it last night but today is a whole new day so we will see. Maybe its something in the organic soil that he thinks is tasty? I know of course, him eating dirt cannot be a good thing. Right?

He is currently sleeping and I'll let you guys know the days progress.

One more question...well I live in New Jersey and the weather is starting to get quite chilly. We had our first little bit of snow today. What should his perfect temps be during the day and at night. Now the daytime temp is 94 in the basking and 65 on the right side. The night is what worries me. His nighttime routing consists of me dimming the spot lamp to barely nothing and he gets the hint and walks himself to one of his favorite hideouts. Its just that lately he has been sleeping quite long and he always walks straight back to under the basking light after doing anything. He is eating like a champ and all seems well, its just I don't want him to freeze during the night. I'm almost positive that the temp at night for him doesn't go below 58. The left side is his basking area which consists of a 100 watt zoo med Repti basking spot lamp with dimmer. Its is about 10-12 inches from the ground. The other light is the Reptisun terrarium hood with a 15watt 5.0 UVB hung above at 13''.

I really appreciate all the great information you guys have given me and its probably why Filbert is doing so well!! Thank you!

Sincerely,
Patrick & Filbert (3 months old)


--pictures are below--taken yesterday--

 

[Jacqui]

Sorry you got mad at us, but more sorry about the worry you have been feeeling because of it.

I think it's pretty much natural for any animal to fully check out new things added to their environment, which often means trying a taste test. Normally they figure out, it's not food and stop. In the wild they do eat some soil and it's believed it's to pick up minerals and things they need that it contains. A properly hydrated healthy tort should have no major problems eating some of the substrate you made. Since you know he has eaten some, just watch him (as you would any how) to be sure he is acting normal, eating, soaking, and creating waste material.

 

[Melicia]

I have a leopard, about 2 months old, so I am still very inexperienced, but would like to see the answer to this. I use a organic mulch for substrate. I have caught him eating it a couple of times, but I haven't worried too much, based on the fact that human babies stick dirt in their mouths aswell, and the reasoning is that it does them no harm.

I'll be watching to see where this one goes!

 

[Yvonne G]

Eating sand or dirt can cause an impaction. That means that there's a glob of dirt plugging up the tubes that lead out of the stomach into the intestines. This could be fatal. Or it could be very expensive...surgery. One way to make sure there isn't an impaction is to be sure the tortoise is well hydrated. You can't make him drink, but you can soak him every day to give him the opportunity to drink. Also, feed him on a tile or a rock. If you notice a favorite dirt-eating spot, cover that spot up with something not harmful. Some tortoises are just very persistent in wanting to eat the substrate, and it can be pretty hard to change their minds. It might be that the dirt has some properties that he is missing in his diet, so be sure to sprinkle vitamins and minerals on the food at least once a week.

Yvonne

 

[PatMurray]

Eating sand or dirt can cause an impaction. That means that there's a glob of dirt plugging up the tubes that lead out of the stomach into the intestines. This could be fatal. Or it could be very expensive...surgery. One way to make sure there isn't an impaction is to be sure the tortoise is well hydrated. You can't make him drink, but you can soak him every day to give him the opportunity to drink. Also, feed him on a tile or a rock. If you notice a favorite dirt-eating spot, cover that spot up with something not harmful. Some tortoises are just very persistent in wanting to eat the substrate, and it can be pretty hard to change their minds. It might be that the dirt has some properties that he is missing in his diet, so be sure to sprinkle vitamins and minerals on the food at least once a week.

Yvonne

Thanks Yvonne,

You have been like the #1 person I listen to when I have questions with him. He did stop eating the dirt yesterday and I gave him a soak just because hydration was the first thing I thought to be the problem. The humidity is 63%. I will see if he go's to the bathroom today just to be super sure everything's good.

Can I ask you just two little questions please?? First one is how long should a 3 month old eastern Hermann's sleep at night? Its just that lately he has been sleeping a very long time. Like 15 hours a night. It has become cold here in New Jersey and me and Filbert both live in the basement. The temp at the lowest gets to 60. I was scarred yesterday due to the sand/soil issue because he wasn't waking up. I kinda bothered him a little bit every once in awhile just to make sure he was going to get up. He is still eating like a pig and looks as healthy as ever. Does he just really enjoy his sleep?
He has dug himself two homes which he sleeps in at night, its just him waking up is the issue. I think I worry too much. Lol

Lastly, for now I have been giving him organic spring salad, ground up grassland tortoise pellets, and sprinkling phosphorous free calcium with vitamin D3 ultra fine powder everyday. I soak him 2-3 times a week. Is this sufficient or do I need to make a change? I really appreciate all your advice and information!! Thanks so much again!!

Sincerely,
Patrick

 

[samstar]

I am not expert and quite a newbie to tortoises but what i can suggest is to put him more in water so it could poop out the substrate it ate, please correct me if I'm wrong friends.

 

[Yvonne G]

First off, you have to understand that I don't keep Hermann's tortoises and I don't know anything about them...at all!

Since he lives in the basement, is it possible that he is noticing the shorter, cooler days? An indoor tortoise should not be able to notice any difference in his days/nights or temperature or length of day. So keep the lights on for 12 to 14 hours a day and be sure the habitat stays as warm as its supposed to be.

I think 2 to 3 times a week for soaking would be fine. Babies dry out quicker than adults, so we have to soak them more often.

Yvonne

 

[samstar]

i soak mine for 10 minutes tops every day or every other day and they poop everytime I soak them. Good to clear up their system I guess.

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...Just double checking that your sand is play sand, and NOT a reptile sand with calcium in it from a pet store.
Good luck
Patsy

 

[PatMurray]

Hi...Just double checking that your sand is play sand, and NOT a reptile sand with calcium in it from a pet store.
Good luck
Patsy

Heyy,

Yea its play sand from Wal-mart. He stopped eating the sand/organic soil and has gone to the bathroom a couple times so everything is well. I just get nervous when things happen with him other than the normal. He is doing very well and enjoying life!

Patrick