horsfield not digging!

[bezmiester]

Hi.. how do i help my horsfield dig? She is 2 years old, we have her in an indoor rabbit hutch one half filled with top soil and the other side a little bit of topsoil and hemp. She digs in the hemp easily but will not try in the soil even though it is deep enough. Can anyone help????

[tortoise_dude]

How deep is the soil?

[bezmiester]

hia, its about 4inches deep at the moment but it could go deeper!

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by bezmiester

hia, its about 4inches deep at the moment but it could go deeper!

It needs to be deeper than this and of the same consisitency as garden soil, ie damp at the bottom and dryer on top. You will need twigs, bits of moss, stones, slates etc to help the soil to hold together while tunnelling.
Have a look here www.tortsmad.com/russians.htm

[bezmiester]

Thanks a lot Sue, will have a look at the link and sort her out. She has been out in the garden and seems to enjoy walking around but has never attempted to dig so hopefully this will help.

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by bezmiester

Thanks a lot Sue, will have a look at the link and sort her out. She has been out in the garden and seems to enjoy walking around but has never attempted to dig so hopefully this will help.

Hopefully - they grow such nice shells if they behave like normal russians. The tmeps will help too. You need a good drop in temp overnight. If she is kept too warm she will just become lazy and not feel the need to do things naturally.

[bezmiester]

Hi.. the temp drops down to about 16-18 at night. We have the lamps on for her for approx 12 hours each day. We haven't built her an outdoor enclosure yet but will do for the summer. She is in a large rabbit cage at the mo so we can move her into the garden which she loves. Do you think the night temp is ok??

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by bezmiester

Hi.. the temp drops down to about 16-18 at night. We have the lamps on for her for approx 12 hours each day. We haven't built her an outdoor enclosure yet but will do for the summer. She is in a large rabbit cage at the mo so we can move her into the garden which she loves. Do you think the night temp is ok??

Fine, mine are in an unheated conservatory when not outdoors and never have extra heating overnight.