My tortise (1.5 years old) is trying to dig in his terrarium and is having no success, but outside he has dug a massive hole and loves to sit in it. I'm worried that he is not getting enough sun because he stays in the burrow ALL DAY. (he's a desert tortise, and i live in the desert...) Is that natural? he seems to be more active at night as well.
2007-06-09 15:52:52 · 2 answers · asked by EnglishTea 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
It's natural for it to live in burrows and that is how they thermoregulate. They'll bake in the desert sun and by using a burrow, it can cool off. Reptiles cannot sweat like mammals to cool off and need to heat from external sources.
It is best to keep yur desert tort outside during the summer, but make sure it does not escape (digs its way out). I suggest you build a pen with railroad ties with a screen on top to protect it from predators at night.
If you keep it indoors, make sure it has 4-5" of substrate (soil and snad mixture) in the enclosure. It's best to create microclimates, one side should be heated and side cool, and in the middle, moist (spray daily). I usually keep a hide, upside down plastic container with a hole cut out, over the middle moist part. Underneath the middle, moist part with the hide, I put the UTH (under tank heater) run it 24/7 (only 13 watts). This allows the tortoise to thermoregulate in the tank. The moisture is important and helps the turtle from pyramiding (getting lumpy). You do not need to soak the moisture part, just as long as it is damp.
2007-06-10 01:50:52 · answer #1 · answered by wu_gwei21 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Desert tortoises spend a lot of time in large burrows.
Try http://www.tortoise.org for more info.
2007-06-09 23:22:06 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋