Daisy’s Habitat

[Kristy1970]

Ready and now just need Daisy. Not shipped yet, coming from New Jersey and they are waiting for storms to pass so it will be safe travels! We have the UVB light and ceramic heat lamp. She will be in a warm room at night in this enclosure. What am I missing???

 

[wellington]

What species is this for? Have you checked that the greens are tort safe and the flowers if they aren't fake if they are tort safe.
How old and big is the tort coming? A closed chamber might be needed.

 

[Kristy1970]

Sulcata and I used the list I found in this forum, I’m also planting other variations in pots around my yard. She will be 6 months old. I got the plants from a reputable nursery.

 

[Kristy1970]

My question is how is the set up? Should we cover it at night in the house? My husband is right now building a fine screen cover that sits entirely over the habitat.

 

[TechnoCheese]

My question is how is the set up? Should we cover it at night in the house? My husband is right now building a fine screen cover that sits entirely over the habitat.

You can’t keep baby tortoises outside all day. They need 80% humidity, so you’re going to have to cover it and keep it inside. You can take it outside for a few hours a day (one hour per inch of shell), but be sure that you give a good soak afterwards.
Have you read all of these?
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/
For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/
Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

 

[Kristy1970]

We live in South Louisiana and humidity is higher than that, we will check weather every day and adjust location accordingly... if there is such a thing as too much humidity, ugh then I have a problem

 

[Kristy1970]

I did read those and will now print it out for my head harden husband that thinks I’m an OCD idiot! He’s the one that ordered it as a surprise for me because I’ve always wanted one (obsessed with tortoises). We are buying 2 to 4 acres in country and moving from subdivision and building a house out on new land, husband is planning a 1/4 acre tortoise enclosure, I need to insist he comes here and get good advice, sorry, but men are stubborn!!

 

[Kristy1970]

I did read those and will now print it out for my head harden husband that thinks I’m an OCD idiot! He’s the one that ordered it as a surprise for me because I’ve always wanted one (obsessed with tortoises). We are buying 2 to 4 acres in country and moving from subdivision and building a house out on new land, husband is planning a 1/4 acre tortoise enclosure, I need to insist he comes here and get good advice, sorry, but men are stubborn!!

 

[Kristy1970]

Oh and we also understand about soaking. We have a 4 year old granddaughter that has mild autism and is OCD .. her first word was turtle and anywhere we go she gravitates to anything to do with a turtle. We have already been talking to her and explained how delicate they are and she helped pick out the plants and seeds and put together the habitat. I don’t think she will fully understand until she is older, but I am 47 and husband 53 so she will get Daisy when we die, have to teach them young. As soon as she is old enough to read we will have her part of this forum and she will be the tortoise whisperer with all of this advice! Special My Isabella Genevieve! Her nickname is Bug

 

[TechnoCheese]

We live in South Louisiana and humidity is higher than that, we will check weather every day and adjust location accordingly... if there is such a thing as too much humidity, ugh then I have a problem

No such thing as too much humidity
The problem with raising baby sulcatas outside is also that the sun will dry out their shell, and it is sometimes hard to regulate the heat. It’s good to take them out for a few hours a day, but they don’t do well at all living outside. It really is just best to keep them indoors until they’re 8-10 inches

 

[Kristy1970]

No such thing as too much humidity
The problem with raising baby sulcatas outside is also that the sun will dry out their shell, and it is sometimes hard to regulate the heat. It’s good to take them out for a few hours a day, but they don’t do well at all living outside. It really is just best to keep them indoors until they’re 8-10 inches

U

No such thing as too much humidity
The problem with raising baby sulcatas outside is also that the sun will dry out their shell, and it is sometimes hard to regulate the heat. It’s good to take them out for a few hours a day, but they don’t do well at all living outside. It really is just best to keep them indoors until they’re 8-10 inches

Yay! THANK YOU so MUCH! I’m going to have to SCHOOL my Kevin .. I just signed him up here .. so there you go,,,, so we can bring Daisy outside to PLAY for how long? A day when we are home.

 

[TechnoCheese]

U

Yay! THANK YOU so MUCH! I’m going to have to SCHOOL my Kevin .. I just signed him up here .. so there you go,,,, so we can bring Daisy outside to PLAY for how long? A day when we are home.

One hour per inch of shell is a good rule of thumb

 

[Kristy1970]

8 to 10 inches which way ... lind from head? Sorry ima tortoise virgin

 

[Kristy1970]

One hour per inch of shell is a good rule of thumb

We are outside whenever we aren’t working... about 2 days a week... maybe ....so we love working in yard and swimming... spring is right around corner ! Grand daughter told me today the pool was Good... it’s 50 degrees .. the eyes of a child... she was trying to get us to let her swim

 

[TechnoCheese]

8 to 10 inches which way ... lind from head? Sorry ima tortoise virgin

I’ve been there, lol. 8-10 inches from end to end of the carapace. Here’s an example from my tortoise
I’m not entirely sure if you’re suppose to measure the curve, or just measure strait across. @Tom , which one is it?

 

[Kristy1970]

I love this place

 

[TechnoCheese]

I love this place

Me too [emoji4]

 

[Kristy1970]

I really wish I could retire and become a Sulcata expert and volunteer as a Blue Star Mom.., ugh... sucks to have to work for a living,,, 47 and hubby is 53.., SAVING for retirement!!!!!

 

[TechnoCheese]

I really wish I could retire and become a Sulcata expert and volunteer as a Blue Star Mom.., ugh... sucks to have to work for a living,,, 47 and hubby is 53.., SAVING for retirement!!!!!

You’ll get there sooner or later! Lol

 

[Tom]

I’m not entirely sure if you’re suppose to measure the curve, or just measure strait across. @Tom , which one is it?

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