as youall know we have nutter in a rabbit cage but in the pet shop he was kept in a viv now you have seen the pics of his enclosure so know where everything is in his enclosure the question i have is why wont he go to the cooler side of the cage? hes allways up by the basking light side and doesnt stray to far away from there his water bowl in in the centre and being put in at room temp but it feels cold to touch im a cold blooded person myself and the water feels cold even to my hand. as i said he refuses to use the water bowl yet in the viv he was in he would regularly use the water bowl we saw this ourselvs so not something we were told but something we saw him doing. could it be that the water bowl is not warm enough we are worried because hes not using it to drink either what would you suggest we do to encourage him in to his water. he also burrys at night up by the basking lamp

Hi Angel, its best to put two thermometers one in the cool end and the other in the basking area.  It may be that the temp in the cool end is too cool so he is staying in the warmer end, so best to keep an eye on the temps.  Torts do tend to go directly under the lamp until they are warmed up then go on the edges of the main heat spot to stay warm, its best to let the tort decide what heat he wants to be at.

As for the water bowl room temp is fine, when you change it have it slightly warm and it will cool gradually, its more for drinking than bathing, you do that separately in warm water.  He was probably drinking more in the petshop viv because he was overheating he needed to rehydrate also they stand in the water to cool down.   He will be taking in water when you bathe him even if you dont see him drink they absorb water thru the cloaca (back vent passage), so try not to worry.

Regards Vivienne

both sided are regularly checked temp wise and the cooler end allways stays between 23-24c so its not too cold for him we use warm water to fill the water bowl but it allways seems to go really cold we do bath him seperatly but still he never uses the water bowl for anything he seems have a look and walk away we thought it may have been because the viv was too warm.

No if he is getting regular baths, he probably isnt thirsty,  can he can climb in ok?  I put some large pebbles in mine to act as stepping stones and make it easier to climb in and out.

Regards Vivienne

hi yes he can get in and out fine we have set up as close to the set up he had previously so he felt alittle more at ease and home. hes just not interested in the water bowl at all just gives it a dirty look and walks away  the uv light is next to the lamp it covers mst the cage to be honest he just really loves the heat