We keep my tort in a tort table and at one end is the heat lamp, at the other is where we used to keep her hide. A couple of nights ago she stopped using her hide at night and slept in the corner opposite the heat lamp. So we moved the hide in that corner and put a stone against it so not much light is under it because the hide is made out of these twigs built together, and she sleeps in there fine. Is it because it's too cold down there for her at night? Cause I thought the hide had to be in the cool area around 20 degrees.

__________________

I have a little box for my two, but he sleeps in the corner under the heat lamp, she sleeps in the box. How ever, last night, he slept in the box, and she slept just outside of it, and tonight, they are both in the box. Their sleeping positions in the table change every day.

If i was you, i would put the hide back to where it was, and leave the tort to make its own mind up of were it wants to be. They wont let them selves over heat or cool down to much.

__________________

Yeah i wouldnt like my tort sleeping near the heat source because of possible dehydration. just put the hide back where it was and maybe add another hide in the cool end so he can choose.

Jason =)

__________________

At night the heat lamp should be turned of jason. But the tort isnt going to over heat, they arnt stupid like that. The only danger really is of them tipping over under the heat.

__________________

I had half cut (sanded down) plant pots for hides, as well as a house etc..

n all they did was choose their spots, Kiara's was in the corner nearest to where the heat source was (at night when there was no heat on) completely on top of the substrate, sometimes slightly dug in. Even though she's alot smaller than Deemo, n plenty of room to tunnel odd horsfield she is.

Deemo would just bury himself right down n off he popped to sleep.

They don't tend to use hides too much. I tend to have things to break up line of sight on a table just to add interest, rocks etc.

Bring on summer tho when they can go into the garden Can't wait love seeing em outside

__________________

I meant during the day, sorry if it wasn't clear.

__________________

I have known several torts suffer dried urates and other problems by sleeping under the heat lamp. This needs to be discouraged by putting something there they cannot dig down in. It's not natural for them to retire under a lamp, in the wild they would hide away at night. Is the substrate deep enough for them to bury and thremoregulate? Are your overnight temps too warm, they need to drop much lower than 20 degrees to encourage the torts to bury down.

__________________
Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

That is not quite true, they can and do suffer from dehydration sleeping in the wrong conditions. The habitat needs to be changed regarding temps etc If kept too warm overnight they can get confused and sleep in inappropriate places.

__________________
Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

Oh okay thanks. I don't think it'd be a good idea to turn off our heat lamp, I think it would get far too cold. We don't have central heating and her table is near the garden door. Wouldn't she get too cold?

__________________

you have to turn it off or how will he know if its night or day :S

__________________