Water Bowl?

Katti

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Hey everyone :) OK so were bringing in our big boy, Panzer (120lb Sulcata tortoise) inside for the winter because we don't want to attempt to do his first winter outside without having everything ready first. There fore he will be inside his 8x8 indoor play pen we normally dont have him indoors long, normally if there is bad weather or if we go on vacation.... well im having a problem finding a water bowl big enough for him.... i dont want him to go without but i also dont want him spilling it constantly like hes been doing... should i glue it too the bottom of his pen or find something else to use instead? For soaking he has a big chemical container that my husband cut in half so basically its a big indoor pool... maybe im over thinking this but help?
 

Tom

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8x8 is wayyyyyyyy too small for Panzer. Tortoises have a digestive system similar to horse, in that locomotion helps move things along the GI tract. There is not enough room for a 120 pound tortoise to move in an 8x8 area.

It doesn't sound like you have room for a water bowl, so in this case, I'd suggest soaking him in warm water in his tub a couple of times a week in winter, and skipping the water bowl. Feeding opuntia pads, or cucumber and romaine mixed with grass or grass hay, and soaked Mazuri pellets, will also all help with the hydration.

Housing adult sulcatas is not cheap or easy in any climate, but its especially difficult if you have frozen winters. As responsible keepers, we cannot fail to meet our tortoise's needs due to our own limitations of space or heat or anything else. It can certainly be done in your climate, but it won't be cheap or easy.
 

Katti

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An 8 foot by 8foot pen is too small?? He walks around in it and seems fine it’s not as big as his out door pen but I mean he has room to walk around... I can make it bigger but I didnt think it needed to be... should I extend it? I dont want him outside it will bother me to the point of breakdown.... how big should his pen be?
 

JoesMum

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An 8 foot by 8foot pen is too small?? He walks around in it and seems fine it’s not as big as his out door pen but I mean he has room to walk around... I can make it bigger but I didnt think it needed to be... should I extend it? I dont want him outside it will bother me to the point of breakdown.... how big should his pen be?
Given that 4'x8' is needed for a 4lb Russian... Yes 8'x8' will send a 120lb Sulcata stir crazy in a very short period of time
 

Katti

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Given that 4'x8' is needed for a 4lb Russian... Yes 8'x8' will send a 120lb Sulcata stir crazy in a very short period of time

He’s only going to be in it for about a week long enough to finish his outside habitat
 

Yvonne G

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You can use those non-tip dog water bowls. They come in all sizes


web_browning-no-spill-dog-bowl.jpg
 

ZEROPILOT

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As big as you can possibly manage is always best.
That's the rule of thumb for most tortoises.
Make it as large as you have room.
8x8 would be better suited for a yearling or a juvenile small species.
An adult Sulcata needs an entire back yard.
 

Katti

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That's the rule of thumb for most tortoises.
Make it as large as you have room.
8x8 would be better suited for a yearling or a juvenile small species.
An adult Sulcata needs an entire back yard.

Update: Panzer is back outside thanks to everyone who didn’t jump down my throat about him being cooped up for a couple days
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Please don't take anything you hear here as overly critical.
We just want to help.
Well, to be fair to all, it should be said that Katti did post, " inside for the winter".
Not "a couple of days".
So I think this is why some reacted as they did.
 

Katti

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Too be fair I did say until it was ready.... and people assume I’m going to have him indoors forever... I do appreciate advice but there are a lot of people on this site that tend to be harsh in there wording
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Too be fair I did say until it was ready.... and people assume I’m going to have him indoors forever... I do appreciate advice but there are a lot of people on this site that tend to be harsh in there wording
I understand.
It can sound harsh, but people love tortoises so much here that sometimes we panic when we see something that could be misconstrued as being bad for the tortoise, and when you say 'have everything ready first" , that could be ten years for those of us who don't know you.
I know that you care deeply for your beloved and beautiful rescue tortoise, but I and the others here have just misunderstood your meaning.
i am very happy to hear that the gorgeous Panzer is now sorted. :):<3::tort:
 

Katti

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For real you JoesMum and Yvonne G are life savers y’all have helped with almost every situation I come across love y’all
 
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