What is the ideal basking temp for my hermanns tortoises? also I have the thermometer about 6ins under the lamp, one of those round ones, is that an ok place to put it? or should it be closer to the heat?

Many thanks

Hi

The ideal basking temp for a hermanns is around 30 - 32C, I find for hatchlings and young tortoises, they do better at a slightly lower basking temp of around 28C.  You need to have the thermometer at tortoise level, because that is where you need to know what the temp is, so best place is on the floor of the enclosure.

All the best

Arlene TPG

Thanks, I have a round non-digital one, I also have a digital one with 2 probes,(not used it yet though) what do I do with that one, would the tortoises try to eat the probes?

Once you have the lamp adjusted to give the desired basking temp, unless you move it closer or further away, change the bulb for a different wattage, or the surrounding temperature changes dramatically, the basking temp should remain about the same, and you wont need to constantly monitor it.  The most important thing is to have the basking area at one end of the enclosure, giving a temperature gradient from room temp at the cool end, up to basking temp under the lamp, so that the tortoise is free to move from warmer to cooler area and visa versa.

Arlene TPG

Thanks, you are all helpful :)