From your post above, it seems that you may not understand how important it is for the tortoises to get the proper amount and type of ultraviolet light. If they do not get the right UV input, they are unable to absorb the calcium needed to grow bone. Since their shells are all bone underneath the scutes, they need to have a lot of calcium available to them AND be able to utilize it. This is why they need UV light, Rep-Cal, and Herptevite in combination.

The way you posted above, it sounds as though you believe the UV bulb you are using is there to provide heat. That is only a side effect of using UV light, and possibly it isn't all that warm under it. Have you checked the temperature of the substrate? There are other far more efficient ways to provide heat than with a UV bulb.

What is your substrate? Hopefully you are using something which will retain a bit of moisture so as not to dehydrate the little guys. Additionally, I recommend soaking ALL three types of Star Tortoises daily until they are at least a year old.

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