Broght my baby home :)

2steps · 12-03-2010, 08:22 PM

I brought my baby horsefield home today, put him into his table and he has buried himself almost completely. I paniced when I went to look and couldn't see him anywhere! Is that ok? He hasn't eaten either

EquestrianBabe · 12-03-2010, 08:24 PM

Burrowing is completely natural for tortoises, so don't worry. They mightn't eat because it has just arrived.

Take this as normal behaviour.

**Bindi** · 12-03-2010, 09:13 PM

Give him a nice bath tomorrow, it will give him the chance to drink, and possibly stimulate his appetite. Don't worry if he doesn't eat for a few days it may take him a little while to settle in. Hydration is the most important thing so regular baths are imo essential

What temperature is it under his basking light?

TortBabe · 12-03-2010, 10:00 PM

We got 2 Tunisian babies today

, one ate after a while, one didn't and at 5 pm they took themselves off and burrowed under this big viv plant I have in their enclosure! I bathed mine twice today, and will continue to do so xx

EquestrianBabe · 13-03-2010, 01:03 AM

Yep,

I was raging, Mums ate and mine didn't. Were we supposed to buy their appetite too, lol? I suppose since mine is smaller it has a smaller sweet tooth for lettuce

I'm starting to make no sense since I'm trying to be funny to keep my eyes open!

2steps · 13-03-2010, 10:41 AM

Thanks guys

He's been awake in the night as he's now half buried somewhere else. My house is really cold and I'm a bit worried about the temperature. It's 28 degrees under the heater but 15 degrees at the other end of the table. I have an infra red lamp that I use for brooding chicks (to give them heat) would it be safe to hang that over the table to increase the temperature?

I had the heater running and it had been higher than that but now the weathers turned colder again and there is no heat in that room so I can't have that on to help

2steps · 13-03-2010, 10:52 AM

Also I wondered how sensitive is their hearing?

EquestrianBabe · 13-03-2010, 04:47 PM

They can hear a little bit, I think.

**Bindi** · 13-03-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2steps

Thanks guys

He's been awake in the night as he's now half buried somewhere else. My house is really cold and I'm a bit worried about the temperature. It's 28 degrees under the heater but 15 degrees at the other end of the table. I have an infra red lamp that I use for brooding chicks (to give them heat) would it be safe to hang that over the table to increase the temperature?

I had the heater running and it had been higher than that but now the weathers turned colder again and there is no heat in that room so I can't have that on to help

28 degrees is a little low, it really needs to be about 32ish under his basking lamp and in the low 20's at the cool end of the table. What lighting do you use at the moment?

re the infra red light, some would say that it's not ideal as it is an unnatural light i.e red. Perhaps others would like to comment on this?

2steps · 13-03-2010, 07:10 PM

Thanks, I have a ceramic heater and a 110w bulb, one on each side of the table and the UV tube is the whole width of one end.

Maybe it'd help if I explained my set up? In my hallway we have two wall in cupboards, one was basically a 'junk' room so I cleaned it out and built a table to fit with storage underneath.

12-03-2010, 08:22 PM	#1
2steps Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 74	Broght my baby home :) I brought my baby horsefield home today, put him into his table and he has buried himself almost completely. I paniced when I went to look and couldn't see him anywhere! Is that ok? He hasn't eaten either

12-03-2010, 08:24 PM	#2
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	Burrowing is completely natural for tortoises, so don't worry. They mightn't eat because it has just arrived. Take this as normal behaviour. __________________ I ♥ Horses

12-03-2010, 09:13 PM	#3
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	Give him a nice bath tomorrow, it will give him the chance to drink, and possibly stimulate his appetite. Don't worry if he doesn't eat for a few days it may take him a little while to settle in. Hydration is the most important thing so regular baths are imo essential What temperature is it under his basking light? __________________

12-03-2010, 10:00 PM	#4
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	We got 2 Tunisian babies today , one ate after a while, one didn't and at 5 pm they took themselves off and burrowed under this big viv plant I have in their enclosure! I bathed mine twice today, and will continue to do so xx __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

13-03-2010, 01:03 AM	#5
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	Yep, I was raging, Mums ate and mine didn't. Were we supposed to buy their appetite too, lol? I suppose since mine is smaller it has a smaller sweet tooth for lettuce I'm starting to make no sense since I'm trying to be funny to keep my eyes open! __________________ I ♥ Horses

13-03-2010, 10:41 AM	#6
2steps Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 74	Thanks guys He's been awake in the night as he's now half buried somewhere else. My house is really cold and I'm a bit worried about the temperature. It's 28 degrees under the heater but 15 degrees at the other end of the table. I have an infra red lamp that I use for brooding chicks (to give them heat) would it be safe to hang that over the table to increase the temperature? I had the heater running and it had been higher than that but now the weathers turned colder again and there is no heat in that room so I can't have that on to help

13-03-2010, 10:52 AM	#7
2steps Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 74	Also I wondered how sensitive is their hearing?

13-03-2010, 04:47 PM	#8
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	They can hear a little bit, I think. __________________ I ♥ Horses

13-03-2010, 07:10 PM	#10
2steps Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 74	Thanks, I have a ceramic heater and a 110w bulb, one on each side of the table and the UV tube is the whole width of one end. Maybe it'd help if I explained my set up? In my hallway we have two wall in cupboards, one was basically a 'junk' room so I cleaned it out and built a table to fit with storage underneath.

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