Replicating natural habitats of tortoises

[EJ]

There are some species that do better in a 'bland' setup. I believe hatchlings to youngsters thrive better in a 'bland' setup.

'Better' is a highly subjective point of view.

Originally Posted by NATURALIS

i think the more natural you can make there enclosures the better , nothing worse than a bland enclosure .

[alley cat]

Originally Posted by EJ

There are some species that do better in a 'bland' setup. I believe hatchlings to youngsters thrive better in a 'bland' setup.

'Better' is a highly subjective point of view.

Yes, hatchlings do seem better off if they have less.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by Merlin M

Actually the UV level can be just as good as the med, parts of the UK get very intense sun when they get it that is! Scotland I know gets a lot of UV in the summer

I'm sure Scotland does get a lot of UV and the levels are good, personally I could do with less UV and more Sunshine as I burn pretty easily.

Forgetting about other factors, i.e. heavy cloud cover etc, UV intensity generally decreases with latitude and increases during the summer until the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, basically it is all to do with the Earth being on a tilt and how much of the earths atmosphere the UV has to pass through, the shortest distance being on the equator.

My Dotty currently lives 1500ft above sea level which increases her UV by 4-5%, so that maybe another factor to consider. (it is about a 10-12% increase in UV per 1000m above sea level because the air gets thinner)

Last year on the 18th of August the BBC were reporting highs of 32°C in the UK.



And this more recently, last Saturday.

[EJ]

I'm curiouse as to the point you are trying to make.

Originally Posted by Levi

I'm sure Scotland does get a lot of UV and the levels are good, personally I could do with less UV and more Sunshine as I burn pretty easily.

Forgetting about other factors, i.e. heavy cloud cover etc, UV intensity generally decreases with latitude and increases during the summer until the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, basically it is all to do with the Earth being on a tilt and how much of the earths atmosphere the UV has to pass through, the shortest distance being on the equator.

My Dotty currently lives 1500ft above sea level which increases her UV by 4-5%, so that maybe another factor to consider. (it is about a 10-12% increase in UV per 1000m above sea level because the air gets thinner)

Last year on the 18th of August the BBC were reporting highs of 32°C in the UK.



And this more recently, last Saturday.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by EJ

I'm curiouse as to the point you are trying to make.

Well I said that our (UK) UV was "not as intense as the Med", after reading Merlin's post I presumed she disagreed with me.

Simple really, I'm certainly not saying UK keepers need the conditions found in their natural range, if that's what your thinking, but a little more Sun would be nice.

As I said before their wild counterparts wouldn't be out in the extremes anyway.

Does that help Ed ?

[Merlin M]

I cant argue with you Levi as I have never looked at the science but I know I burn just as quickly in Scotland as abroad (I too burn very easily!) and still have to wear factor 40 and upwards...

[Levi]

Originally Posted by Merlin M

I cant argue with you Levi as I have never looked at the science but I know I burn just as quickly in Scotland as abroad (I too burn very easily!) and still have to wear factor 40 and upwards...

I agree we get enough UV, but it would help if the weather was nicer like it used to be.
I caught a little sun while I was cutting the grass on Friday, my freckles have come out again.

[Merlin M]

Originally Posted by Levi

I agree we get enough UV, but it would help if the weather was nicer like it used to be.
I caught a little sun while I was cutting the grass on Friday, my freckles have come out again.

yes more nice days would be good, I don't have a proper outdoor enclosure due to a communal garden so I need days where its nice to sit out with them!