1st time posting....need advice - Page 2

kandiekisses · 12-01-2008, 01:26 PM

This is my 1st attempt at posting pictures so forgive me if it doesnt turn out, just wanted you to see if you think its ok or could be improved on.....thanks

**Eire_Ade** · 12-01-2008, 01:42 PM

Hi Sandra,

The only thing that I could see you need to do is deepen the amount of soil you have there, horsefields are ferrocious diggers, and love making tunnels.

The soil does look very dry too. Do you mist if with a spray gun at all? Horsefields can tollerate warm damp soil but not cold damp soil.

You could also plant some greenery in there to for breaking lines of sight to make it a bit more interesting too.

This is my table.

Ade

**egyptiandan64** · 12-01-2008, 01:46 PM

Sandra your set-up isn't bad, but

How long are your lights on for?
Is the florscent bulb a UVB bulb?
Your basking spot could be a bit higher temperature wise, 32C. I would go with a hanging lamp with a reflector and ceramic socket for the basking spot.
If your florscent bulb is a UVB you could go with a regular light bulb. If it isn't UVB, it'd get a combo heat and UV bulb for the basking spot.

Danny

kandiekisses · 12-01-2008, 08:40 PM

Hi Danny,
Yes its a flourescent repti glow uvb 30" and the basking lamp is a 60 watt reflector bulb. I do spray the substrate twice a week, is that enough?

I usually put the light and bulb on about 8am in a morning until about 7pm evening.

I bathed them again today and put their food out but neither of them have eaten they just basked for a while then went into the corner and slept.

I measured my substrate and its 5 inches deep i was afraid to put too much in in case they got too near to the uvb light.

**Eire_Ade** · 12-01-2008, 09:02 PM

Hi Sandra,

5" / 12.5cm / 125mm should be ok for small tortoises, you could do it deeper if you want.

I would spray the enclosure everyday with water, it will keep the dust down and make the soil stick together better for burrowing.

Ade

hbvet · 13-01-2008, 09:23 AM

Hi sandra - not received your messages at work so sorry. If you want me to call you on monday from work just pm me a contact number. I'm afraid we are a really busy practice and my message list is about 4 a4 pages every day: hard to get through so sorry! I promise to call you tomorrow if you send me a number.

Hannah

**Eire_Ade** · 13-01-2008, 12:00 PM

Hi Hannah,

Thanks for contacting Sandra very much appreciated. I am sure she will pm you.

Ade

kandiekisses · 13-01-2008, 04:16 PM

Hi Hannah,
Nice to meet you, yes your practise sounded very busy when i rang. I hav sent you a pm and thank you so much for replying to me.
Sandra

kandiekisses · 13-01-2008, 04:44 PM

Just wondering if i should change the sand and soil back to the hemp which they originally had in the viv. Do you this this would make them happier as i have read on here that torts dont like change. I have bathed them today and they woke and became very lively, put their food down but the just walked away and went back to sleep. I also weighed them both but they have only lost 4gms since i first had them in August. I am trying my best to keep them awake but all they want to do is sleep..........oh to be a tortoise, what a lazy life haha!

**egyptiandan64** · 13-01-2008, 06:19 PM

Try putting some hemp on top of your substrate Sandra in half of the table. That could make them feel more at home.

Danny

12-01-2008, 01:26 PM	#11
kandiekisses Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 25	pictures of set up This is my 1st attempt at posting pictures so forgive me if it doesnt turn out, just wanted you to see if you think its ok or could be improved on.....thanks

12-01-2008, 01:42 PM	#12
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Sandra, The only thing that I could see you need to do is deepen the amount of soil you have there, horsefields are ferrocious diggers, and love making tunnels. The soil does look very dry too. Do you mist if with a spray gun at all? Horsefields can tollerate warm damp soil but not cold damp soil. You could also plant some greenery in there to for breaking lines of sight to make it a bit more interesting too. This is my table. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

12-01-2008, 01:46 PM	#13
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Sandra your set-up isn't bad, but How long are your lights on for? Is the florscent bulb a UVB bulb? Your basking spot could be a bit higher temperature wise, 32C. I would go with a hanging lamp with a reflector and ceramic socket for the basking spot. If your florscent bulb is a UVB you could go with a regular light bulb. If it isn't UVB, it'd get a combo heat and UV bulb for the basking spot. Danny __________________

12-01-2008, 09:02 PM	#15
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Sandra, 5" / 12.5cm / 125mm should be ok for small tortoises, you could do it deeper if you want. I would spray the enclosure everyday with water, it will keep the dust down and make the soil stick together better for burrowing. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

13-01-2008, 09:23 AM	#16
hbvet Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Madeley, Cheshire Posts: 449	Hi sandra - not received your messages at work so sorry. If you want me to call you on monday from work just pm me a contact number. I'm afraid we are a really busy practice and my message list is about 4 a4 pages every day: hard to get through so sorry! I promise to call you tomorrow if you send me a number. Hannah __________________ hb

12-01-2008, 08:40 PM	#14
kandiekisses Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 25	Hi Danny, Yes its a flourescent repti glow uvb 30" and the basking lamp is a 60 watt reflector bulb. I do spray the substrate twice a week, is that enough? I usually put the light and bulb on about 8am in a morning until about 7pm evening. I bathed them again today and put their food out but neither of them have eaten they just basked for a while then went into the corner and slept. I measured my substrate and its 5 inches deep i was afraid to put too much in in case they got too near to the uvb light.

13-01-2008, 12:00 PM	#17
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Hannah, Thanks for contacting Sandra very much appreciated. I am sure she will pm you. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

13-01-2008, 04:16 PM	#18
kandiekisses Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 25	replied Hi Hannah, Nice to meet you, yes your practise sounded very busy when i rang. I hav sent you a pm and thank you so much for replying to me. Sandra

13-01-2008, 04:44 PM	#19
kandiekisses Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 25	should i change subsrate? Just wondering if i should change the sand and soil back to the hemp which they originally had in the viv. Do you this this would make them happier as i have read on here that torts dont like change. I have bathed them today and they woke and became very lively, put their food down but the just walked away and went back to sleep. I also weighed them both but they have only lost 4gms since i first had them in August. I am trying my best to keep them awake but all they want to do is sleep..........oh to be a tortoise, what a lazy life haha!

13-01-2008, 06:19 PM	#20
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Try putting some hemp on top of your substrate Sandra in half of the table. That could make them feel more at home. Danny __________________

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