Posted by:
Amanda_Burke
at Sat Sep 12 21:42:03 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Amanda_Burke ]
I got my first Indian Star Tortoise hatchling last month and I have an indoor enclosure. I'm having trouble keeping the humid microclimate temperatures in the 80's - it is typically in the high 70's or very low 80's(I have a thermometer probe right in there and I use a temp gun). The ambient temperature in the enclosure is around 84-85 degrees with a concentrated basking spot that's about 95. I have a radiant heat panel connected to a thermostat to keep the ambient temps consistent, and the basking area is a ceramic heat bulb connected to a thermostat. A Reptisun 10.0 tube light runs the length of the enclosure. The humid hide is under the radiant heat panel. I initially had a fairly thick hide log (see photos)over the humid portion of the coconut coir, but I figured that the thickness of the hide might be what's preventing the heat from getting through. Now I changed it to a much thinner plastic hide box (not pictured) but the temps are about the same. I am figuring that high 70's/low 80's are too cool, especially combined with the dampness inside the box. How do you guys keep your humid microclimates in the right temp range? Should I take the hide box off so that the heat panel warms the moistened coconut coir directly, and then just make sure it stays damp? Also, I've noticed that he/she doesn't really go into the humid hide on his/her own. Is that normal or do you think it's because it's too cool?
I have made a few changes to the setup in the last week - I planted some plaintain weeds, timothy grass is sprouting, I added a hide box on the warm side, etc. Are there any other suggestions for making the setup better?
Thank you in advance for your advice.
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Amanda Burke
Email
Burke Reptiles Website
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 Humid Micro Climate for Indian Star - Amanda_Burke, Sat Sep 12 21:42:03 2009
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