change in tortoise behaviour - Page 2

hoppysara · 10-05-2016, 06:42 PM

Thanks for all your advice the bulb is an arcadia bulb and is definitely uva and uvb its a d3 uv basking lamp 11watt. The temperature I'm getting at the moment is about 30/31. He was just so active before spent most of his time destroying his decor but today he went to his hide at about 12 and doesn't come back out. As I'm new to this I'm really concerned I'm doing something wrong. Also how long do you take the temperature for?

CherryBrandy · 12-05-2016, 06:44 PM

hoppysara just double check that ...11w wont provide 30 degree heat. Not sure an Arcadia D3 comes in that wattage. perhaps its 11% Uv power?? Are you bathing him - those heats will dry out a tortoise v v quick and if he is hiding he may be too hot.
Have you weighed him? has he decreased in weight ? good indicator of ill health or big poops or emptied bladder.....! keep us posted and monitor his behaviour. if eating that's good sign. CB

hoppysara · 12-05-2016, 08:16 PM

I think there's been some confusion my bulb is a 80 w and 100% uva and uvb. I tried some of your advice and moved it higher so the temperature was 29 and no success he went into his hide at 10:30 today and never came back out.
I've do bathe him often and yes he is putting weight on.
I really appreciate all your advice Im getting very upset I miss my little naughty tort

CherryBrandy · 13-05-2016, 01:07 PM

sorry, didn't mean to get confused , I think its delay in posts cause you're new member and we catch up. Im not sure you need to worry too much if weight is being put on also. I cant find fault with set up. What it sometimes equates to is the age and growing and change in characters. As babies they need lots of sleep like human babies, and then little ones are manic venture out lots and then its the teenage years, don't get up till late and back to bed etc. The only thing I can think of is Horsfields need lots of stimuli, lots of stones to climb under over in the run, and don't forget they do like to dig loads so for him to bury down is quite fun and then sleep. I don't see some of mine for days under the shingle. my others are simply mad. CB

CherryBrandy · 13-05-2016, 01:10 PM

another thing is where are you in the country ? if its colder ambient temps that does affect behaviour - you cant influence this too much, just keep doing what you're doing.

No spinach ? or carrot ? as too much causes toxins and slow them down too, CB

hoppysara · 13-05-2016, 03:40 PM

Thank you for your advice, I live in North Yorkshire. He only eats dandelions and leaves like lambs lettuce I'm growing my own food but it's taken a while. Would love to try him on other things but not sure what at the supermarket.
I've give him a full clean out today and changed things around so he seems a bit more inquisitive today. But he is eating and putting on weight so I think you maybe right cherry brandy I think he is a grumpy teenager

CherryBrandy · 13-05-2016, 08:04 PM

aaah they are so sweet aren't they. don't worry too much. it all sounds good. Florette 'Crispy', is pretty good I find but my Horsfields only ever touch dandelions, whatever is there is ignored and dandelions go by the ton it seems. Good fun growing though.

Suze65 · 13-05-2016, 08:11 PM

Agree, crispy florette, always goes down well.

12-05-2016, 06:44 PM	#12
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	hoppysara just double check that ...11w wont provide 30 degree heat. Not sure an Arcadia D3 comes in that wattage. perhaps its 11% Uv power?? Are you bathing him - those heats will dry out a tortoise v v quick and if he is hiding he may be too hot. Have you weighed him? has he decreased in weight ? good indicator of ill health or big poops or emptied bladder.....! keep us posted and monitor his behaviour. if eating that's good sign. CB __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

13-05-2016, 01:07 PM	#14
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	sorry, didn't mean to get confused , I think its delay in posts cause you're new member and we catch up. Im not sure you need to worry too much if weight is being put on also. I cant find fault with set up. What it sometimes equates to is the age and growing and change in characters. As babies they need lots of sleep like human babies, and then little ones are manic venture out lots and then its the teenage years, don't get up till late and back to bed etc. The only thing I can think of is Horsfields need lots of stimuli, lots of stones to climb under over in the run, and don't forget they do like to dig loads so for him to bury down is quite fun and then sleep. I don't see some of mine for days under the shingle. my others are simply mad. CB __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

13-05-2016, 01:10 PM	#15
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	another thing is where are you in the country ? if its colder ambient temps that does affect behaviour - you cant influence this too much, just keep doing what you're doing. No spinach ? or carrot ? as too much causes toxins and slow them down too, CB __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

13-05-2016, 08:04 PM	#17
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	aaah they are so sweet aren't they. don't worry too much. it all sounds good. Florette 'Crispy', is pretty good I find but my Horsfields only ever touch dandelions, whatever is there is ignored and dandelions go by the ton it seems. Good fun growing though. __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

13-05-2016, 08:11 PM	#18
Suze65 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,769	Agree, crispy florette, always goes down well. __________________ Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012

10-05-2016, 06:42 PM	#11
hoppysara Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	Thanks for all your advice the bulb is an arcadia bulb and is definitely uva and uvb its a d3 uv basking lamp 11watt. The temperature I'm getting at the moment is about 30/31. He was just so active before spent most of his time destroying his decor but today he went to his hide at about 12 and doesn't come back out. As I'm new to this I'm really concerned I'm doing something wrong. Also how long do you take the temperature for?

12-05-2016, 08:16 PM	#13
hoppysara Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	I think there's been some confusion my bulb is a 80 w and 100% uva and uvb. I tried some of your advice and moved it higher so the temperature was 29 and no success he went into his hide at 10:30 today and never came back out. I've do bathe him often and yes he is putting weight on. I really appreciate all your advice Im getting very upset I miss my little naughty tort

13-05-2016, 03:40 PM	#16
hoppysara Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	Thank you for your advice, I live in North Yorkshire. He only eats dandelions and leaves like lambs lettuce I'm growing my own food but it's taken a while. Would love to try him on other things but not sure what at the supermarket. I've give him a full clean out today and changed things around so he seems a bit more inquisitive today. But he is eating and putting on weight so I think you maybe right cherry brandy I think he is a grumpy teenager

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