In need of some advise.

I have a 1 yr old hermanns that I took on 10 weeks ago his or her name is Harry. 

When I got him he was showing signs of slight pyramiding but doesn't seem to have got any worse since I've had him.

He is kept indoors on bad days in an 3ft x 4ft table and when the weather is good he is outside in an 12ft x 15ft enclosure.

I have a combined bulb of heat and uv the temp are 32 degrees at hot end and 20 degrees at cooler end. I have no bulb at night time.i use  100% sterile topsoil for his substrate and sphagmun moss in his hide.i also mist the topsoil daily.He eats a mixture of weeds and flowers that I have grown myself and loves his food, I've been using nutrobal dusting his food 3 times a week. His scl is 6cm and weights 67grams. I bath him in lukewarm water for 10-15 mins  every afternoon. Normally he is very active, always on the move and will even come to you when you call him......but he hasn't now for two days! He doesn't seem to move from under the heat bulb unless he moves for food or he goes into his hide to sleep. His heat and uv comes on at 6am and goes off at 6pm. But now he has started to go into his hide and dig down for the night around 2 hours earlier than normal. I have read so many different things and everything I've read tells me to do something different so was wondering if you guys know something I don't or can see I'm doing things wrong?

He was vet checked 3 weeks ago and was in perfect health so could really do with some advice.

I was told by the vet who apparently is a specialist in reptiles....that I shouldn't hibernate him until he is 3yrs old?? 

Your husbandry seems to be fine. Being under a UVB bulb for hours is not good for it, place something beneath it in the centre for the moment, to break the habit.

The vet is wrong, they can be hib'd for a 6-8 weeks in the 1st winter & this will be it's 2nd, so add a month.

Do you handle it a lot ?

Did it come from a pet dealer (shop/centre) ?

Regards,

Tom

Hi Tom, 

Thanks for your reply.

I have just done what you have advised and fingers crossed he perks up. 

He is handled daily and normal loves the attention!

I didn't buy him I adopted him from a couple who no longer wanted or could be bothered with him anymore. I was thinking about hibernating him but worried he won't make it throughout hibernation now he seems to have gone down hill.

If you keep accurate weekly weight checks, you will be able to monitor growth, this will help you decide how long to hibernate it. At that age, hibe is best started in January.

Thanks for the pic - it has unusual markings for a hermanns. Can you post a pic aiming straight down on his carapace please Leanne ?

Were you given any documentation when you acquired it. I use the term "it" as they can't be sexed 'til about 4yrs old.

Tom

The pyramids made it hard to identify at the previous angle. They're not too bad & will not get worse, now it's on a good diet.

The A10 Cert is interesting.

Best wishes,

Tom

Harry seems fine now!

Took him to be vet checked again and the vet seemed happy with him!