new elongated tortoise

Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
4
Hi! I am a newbie into keeping tortoises though I have been wanting one for years. I recently purchased a female (i think) elongated tortoise and i was wondering how you keep yours? Do you provide basking spots? I read that they are not fond of basking. How often do they poop? Mine seems to go on an irregular basis. I am from the Philippines and she gets to bask everyday so I didn't purchase uvb lighting. I am conflicted if I should put any heating/basking light. Her tub temperature gets to 32 degrees without heating already and that is when I put the tub inside my room yet she doesn't poop everyday. Thanks for your inputs! :tort::)

20160416_074515.jpg 20160417_081157.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

SarahChelonoidis

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Messages
1,895
Location (City and/or State)
Toronto, Canada
I don't provide a basking spot, but do see mine occasionally basking in a warm sun patch. My guy has very regular bowel movements - every night in the bath he poops in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter he poops every other night. Are you bathing her daily? 32 is plenty warm for them. Is there a place that is cooler than that for her to get too when she wants to cool down? That enclosure is well planted but fairly small for a tortoise that size.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

That's a very pretty tortoise.
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
4
I don't provide a basking spot, but do see mine occasionally basking in a warm sun patch. My guy has very regular bowel movements - every night in the bath he poops in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter he poops every other night. Are you bathing her daily? 32 is plenty warm for them. Is there a place that is cooler than that for her to get too when she wants to cool down? That enclosure is well planted but fairly small for a tortoise that size.

Yes I do bathe her. Every night. Maybe she's still just adjusting to the environment? She does burrow sometimes to cool down. I don't always place her tub under the sun. Her tub is usually placed by a screened window inside my room and sometimes it gets to 32 degrees. Usually 29-30. At night it drops to an average of 27. She seems pretty active. Just not pooping regularly. She pooped 3 hours ago while I was bathing her which is good. :) and the tub is temporary. I couldn't find a bigger one and can't really build her a large outdoor enclosure due to space issues which sucks. I was thinking I'd purchase another one of these tubs and find a way to somehow connect the 2.
 

joel0226

New Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
Southern Philippines
Hi Kenneth, welcome to the forum. I am also from the Philippines and also new to this forum, I would like to ask what substrate are you using? I bought my tortoise more than a month ago in one of the pet store in Davao and I think we maybe having the same source. Mine usually bask for more than an hour daily and poop once or twice a day. I believe basking light is no longer needed (although I bought one unit) and I am also planning a bigger enclosure outside the house. Does your tort having a good time with the squid shell? I have not tried giving one to my tort but plans to do the same since this is available in every pet stores here in Davao.

Joel
 

Kenn Batingal

New Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
28
Hi Kenneth, welcome to the forum. I am also from the Philippines and also new to this forum, I would like to ask what substrate are you using? I bought my tortoise more than a month ago in one of the pet store in Davao and I think we maybe having the same source. Mine usually bask for more than an hour daily and poop once or twice a day. I believe basking light is no longer needed (although I bought one unit) and I am also planning a bigger enclosure outside the house. Does your tort having a good time with the squid shell? I have not tried giving one to my tort but plans to do the same since this is available in every pet stores here in Davao.

Joel
Hello, Joel. I bought mine at Percell's. I allow my elongata to bask at least 30 mins under the sunlight and i also bought a uvb bulb. Is your elongata male or female?
 

joel0226

New Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
Southern Philippines
Hi Kenn, I also got mine at Percell's, there were 4 at that time I got one tortoise. It is still unsexed according to Jong who is the owner of that pet store. I still have to wait around two years to determine its sex. How was your tortoise doing? What is the substrate you're using?
 

Kenn Batingal

New Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
28
My tortoise is doing okay. A bit shy. I am using cocopeat as substrate. How about yours? Can you show me a pic?
 

joel0226

New Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
Southern Philippines
Hi Kenn, I posted a thread under Introduction, title is Newbie to Tortoise (Elongata), April 26. I posted a lot of pictures of my tortoise in that thread. I keep mine in the aquarium since I am still observing its behavior, but I also have a bigger area full of plants and shade, I take time to transfer him/her in that area during the day for better sunlight and a walk for exercise.
 

Calatrava

New Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
7
Hi Kenn, i think the Philippines is quite close to Elongata's original habitat in terms of temp, humidity, plants, etc. So I would not provide UVB for it if i were you. I am from Shanghai where the temp will drop to below 20 C when Autumn is coming so I have to put it into an indoor enclosure where the air can be heated up. But during summer time, I will just let my Elongata roam in my apartment. I soak him every three days. He only poops during soaking, making my life much easier.

Mine doesn't like basking at all. Whenever I walk it under direct sunshine, it goes to the nearby shades as soon as possible. Other's seem don't like direct sunshine as well. So I guess as a rainforest tort, elongata might not need basking as much as Afraican tortoise might do, but you can always make the place for basking available to it just in case.

I also feel the tub is a bit small for it. Anyway, nice tort and welcome!
 

Gillian M

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
15,417
Location (City and/or State)
Jordan
What a cute tort! GOD bless.

Yep, torts take long to adapt to a new environment, and here a lot of patience is required. ;)

And a very warm welcome to the forum. :D
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
First time I ever even heard of an Elongated Tortoise! Gorgeous. As I said before, I love this site.
 

Huckleberry

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
68
My elongated tortoises love to eat cuttlebones (squid shell). It is much easier for them to eat if you peel off the hard shell first.

How is she doing?
 
Top