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| Heat and light help Posted: 05/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Hi I've just purchased a horsfield tortoise Tilly, she's eating, pooping, and moving about well, I've followed closely what to feed her from the advice on here and I sprinkle with a calcium supplement, she has a duel heat and uv lamp I have it positioned at one end of her table, it's about 12 inches abouve the substrate level, she always seems to bask away from the Middle of the lamp, I've higher education and lowered it, but still the same, at the moment the temperture is measuring about 93 f so I've higher education it a bit more, I'm assuming it's too high, I'm worried though that as the lamp is now a lot higher will she still get the same amount of uv?, the temp has now come down to about 90, I'll try to upload a picture, any advice would be greatly appreciated | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 05/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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That was meant to say I've highered the lamp | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 05/10/2014 by Tom |
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| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 05/10/2014 by Tom |
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You've now put a 2nd post without an ansa to the reply on your other post. When you post pics pls state which lamp you have. Tom | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 06/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Hi, Sorry I realised in the first post that I had put it in the wrong place and didn't know how to remove it, sorry. I've tried to upload a pic using the photo uploader but it takes me as far as please wait a few minutes and won't go anywhere else, I'll try again. | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 06/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Hi, It's a exo terra 125watt solar glo dual lamp. | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 06/10/2014 by Tom |
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Hello again JB, That's ok, it's just to keep posts under one heading. It is a UVB bulb, (not uv) this is important, that's why I checked which type - it's uva & uvb. So it's at about 14" ? & 90F at tort. level ? If so that's not too bad, perhaps get a 100W bulb when you need a new one & place at 12." You have it at one end to obtain a temp. gradient - good. Don't worry if it doesn't bask at the centre of the basking spot, that's it's preference. Your tort is eating, etc, well - good. Over the winter you can plan for outside in the Summer. Best wishes, Tom | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 07/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Ah ok I will do that re the bulb change, thankyou, also I'm not sure if it's because Tilly is still settling in but in the morning when we turn on her lamp, she won't come out of her bed, so once the temp has reached right level I have to physically lift her out and place her under, once I've done this she potters around and eats etc, she's very sleepy though is that because she's a baby?, I think I'm a very nervous new mummy so I'm glad places like this are here, she was a present bought for me and unfortunately my husband got her from a pet shop as he knew no different so that makes me even more nervous, I've ordered the wormcount kit just to be sure. | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 07/10/2014 by Tom |
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It takes quite a time to warm up if at the cooler end. No harm lifting her out of cool end, perhaps your table has one of those silly covered sections at one end. Torts do sleep a lot, at any age. Which pet shop was it ? A v good idea to get a worm count kit. Keep in touch. Tom | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 08/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Hi, Yeah it does like a sleepy covered end, is this not good, my partner can remove it if not, he got her from the ark in Plymouth, everything they have told me so far has been correct to what I've seen on here, but I still have concerns regarding her health so I'm definatly going to get her checked, how old has she got to be before I can get her microchipped?, oh and how often should I change her substrate?, they gave me a small piece of hay/straw in her box that she came home in, she seems to like it, but I've read it can be harmful to them, should I remove it? She has been pooping and seeing in her daily baths so not sure how often to change her substrate | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 08/10/2014 by Tom |
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Yes I'd remove it, leaving more space when active. What substrate are you using, in addition to hay/straw ? Why do you want to microchip it ? Tom | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 09/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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It's a substrate which is sand and soil mixed, It's what she came with, it's supposedly meant for Mediterranean tortoises, I thought that they had to be microchipped?, her pet insurance have told me to do it ASAP, is this something that's not necessary? | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 09/10/2014 by Tom |
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The substrate is ok, I was just checking. They don't have to be microchipped. You're not going to let it escape are you. It is size, not age, which dictates when they can be 'chipped.' In another post you stated their length is 2 or 3 - it's meaningless. The insurers want it done, in case you have lots, but are paying to insure just one. There are some infamous cases involving up to six taxi drivers of the same name, with one insurance policy between them. Work out what the insurance will cost over 10 years & study the small print, excesses, etc.. is it worth it? Tom | |
| Re: Heat and light help Posted: 10/10/2014 by greendayjlb |
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Hi sorry it was meant to say 2/3 cm, ok I'll bear that in mind re microchipping, she won't get lost or escape, I guess I worry incase she ever gets stolen, I've heard of things like this happening before, thanks for the advice re insurance, I seem to have a good deal and my excess is only £35.00 with up to 2.500 covered, I've been caught before with my other pets with expensive vets bills, it's only costing my £9 a month and it gives me peace of mind so I'll keep that running. Thanks for all your help | |