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| Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by juepooh |
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Hi all, just got our 2yo Hermann on Friday and I'm just panicking regarding his light & heat. He seems to prefer spending his time buried under his hide and I want to make sure this isn't due to insufficient heat or light as the place we bought him from said a Viv was much better (but I don't agree). I've attached a photo and he has a 50w basking heat bulb at one end and a UV spiral bulb at the other. Any advice would be really appreciated, Julie. | |
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| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Hello Julie, Ideally you would have a proper setup b4 buying a tort.. As it's from a shop it's no doubt imported which the TPG strongly discourages. The cage you've been sold is a waste of money. You need a tortoise table. If the shop won't swop it for a tort table, then blank out the glass so it can't see out. The lighting is wrong, you need a 100W UVB bulb, which gives quality light plus heat. Go to "The Tortoise /.." box & download a Caresheet. A digital thermometer is essential to get the basking spot temp correct. What is on the floor of the cage ? Having come thro' the pet trade the tort' will be highly stressed so minimise handling. Any other ?s after you have read the Caresheet - just come back on the Forum. Tom | |
| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by juepooh |
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Hi Tom thanks for your reply. I had already read the caresheet which is why I decided against a Viv and tried to use a decent substrate etc (I'm not home atm but the brand is Komodo and it's some kind of soil?). I didn't really want a combined heat/light lamp so rather than a strip for the light I opted for a spiral bulb type which is 10% I think. I have a thermometer but with it being open topped I'm struggling to get exact temps other than approx 30 under the heat lamp and 23ish elsewhere. I already have the vinyl on order to shield the glass so it doesn't reflect him. The main issue I'm having is he doesn't seem to spend any time under the heat or the UV light but just stays in the middle under his hide tunnel. I've looked into stronger wattage but my ceramic holders are 60w max anyway plus it says they need to be at least 40cm high from the bottom of the bulb and with it being glass I'm worried of it cracking from the heat. I know a proper wooden tortoise table would be more ideal but with an inquisitive 4 year old year old I thought this a safer option plus I saw a few setups very similar on this website of people using large rabbit cages etc. Thanks Julie | |
| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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OK Julie, UVB bulbs are of a far superior quality to the spiral type. It's only the hot spot you need monitor. 30C is ok. No ht or lt at night. If the substrate is coir it needs to be moistened. As stated it is no doubt badly stressed. These imported torts arrive here in a poor state, only to receive poor treatment in pet shops. Give it a few days to settle. It will be able to go outside in half decent weather [such as today]. Full sun is not necessary [or desirable.]. It's best to make your own wood sided pen. However get it settled first. Keep in touch. Tom | |
| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by juepooh |
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Thanks again Tom. It is coir and I didn't know about keeping it moist so that's good to know, I actually thought the opposite as I thought it might cause respiratory issues. I have just bought a digital thermometer for a more accurate temp and it is actually reaching 41 degrees right under the heat source so I have ordered a thermostat and a CHE which is coming tomorrow so hopefully I can sort that ASAP. The long term plan is to get him a proper powered set up outdoors for the Summer at least but in the meantime we'll be taking him out as much as possible and we have a large and newly turfed garden so plenty space to build a decent enclosure for him. I have also ordered a full weed growing kit so I really am trying to do it right it's just rookie mistakes I suppose and in hindsight I would of bought one from a breeder on here but too late now. One last question please (for now), am I correct in thinking I should turn the heat off completely overnight? Or just until I get the temp more regulated? Or off on Summer nights on over Winter nights? Many thanks again. Julie | |
| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 21/05/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Hindsight is a great thing ! I can see that it will have a good home with you Julie. What's a CHE ? Yes no ht or lt at night. Winter nights incl.. It is a hardy species. Keep wt records & if it grows well it can have 2 or 3mths hibe' rising to 5mths in yr 5. Tom | |
| Re: Help with Hermann Posted: 22/05/2017 by juepooh |
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CHE - ceramic heating element. Really appreciate all the help and advice and will start to keep weight records from today. Thanks Tom. | |