Found tortoise, need advice

[Hai]

I found this little guy walking across a street in the city. I like in Tucson az. I showed a desert pet store guy and he said either a desert or sulcata tortoise. I'm thinking sulcata. Any rough idea on how old it is? That is a water bottle cap next to him for size reference. I got him a 20gal tank it came with 2 powersun bulbs one says 125w and 160w. I use the 125w. Also a 100w ceramic bulb and small heat mat for night. Idk if these are to strong or if they will work. I put some reptile bark and small dish for washer and a place for him to hide. How I went the inside to keep non it humid but how do you keep it humid in his hide area or does the humidity just go In there? I appreciate all the info and advise I can get.

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

That's a sulcata tortoise. Quite young. There's a species specific section for Sulcatas on this Forum that has information about proper care. I recommend reading through all that stuff first.

I also live in Tucson, so if I can help with anything, let me know.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Definitely give these a read-
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/
The lights you have in there are likely way too strong, especially in a tank as small as a 20 gallon. MVBs should generally not be used for baby tortoises because of how desecrating they are.

This tortoise needs 80% humidity and above at all times.

Be sure to get a larger enclosure. I would get the biggest plastic tub you can find from Walmart, and cut holes in the lid the size of the lights. Line them with tin foil. You want to keep it as enclosed as possible to keep the heat and humidity in.

Be sure to look for the original owner.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Good advice above. Please feel free to ask lots of questions and understand that most of what you read on caring for this species is all wrong. We've been doing it incorrectly for 3 decades based on incorrect assumptions of how they live in the wild and what they need. The advice in the threads linked above is the correct care info. This is NOT a desert species. They NEED hydration and humidity. They hatch at the start of the hot, rainy, humid wet monsoon season in Africa.

 

[Hai]

I tried going to the houses were I found it with no luck. So I don't mind keeping it, I've always wanted one. So I'm going to be building him a closed chamber this weekend. Probably around 4x2 or bigger if the space I have allows it. Will the 100w ceramic bulb be to strong still? If the powersun bulbs I have are to strong I should just get a 65w flood light with an uvb tube type? If I could I'd prefer to have one type of bulb like the powersun but if not what's the best suggestion? I soak him then feed and let him roam outside. I read through all the links and I get the gist of it. Just having trouble with the proper heating/humidity. The first couple days I had him he was very active and all today he didnt want to leave his hide.

 

[TechnoCheese]

I tried going to the houses were I found it with no luck. So I don't mind keeping it, I've always wanted one. So I'm going to be building him a closed chamber this weekend. Probably around 4x2 or bigger if the space I have allows it. Will the 100w ceramic bulb be to strong still? If the powersun bulbs I have are to strong I should just get a 65w flood light with an uvb tube type? If I could I'd prefer to have one type of bulb like the powersun but if not what's the best suggestion? I soak him then feed and let him roam outside. I read through all the links and I get the gist of it. Just having trouble with the proper heating/humidity. The first couple days I had him he was very active and all today he didnt want to leave his hide.

You should definitely at least post some flyers around the neighborhood, or post about it somewhere. This isn’t a wild tortoise, so it’s likely someone’s escaped pet.

The power suns are too strong, so you should get the 65 watt flood light and use the ceramic on a thermostat to keep night temps and cold side in the 80s and above. Use a tube fluorescent for UVB, or take him outside in an outdoor enclosure with plenty of shade for about an hour a day a few times a week, or an hour per inch of shell a few times a week.

 

[Yvonne G]

More than likely someone in your general neighborhood has a breeding pair of sulcatas and eggs are deposited in the ground. When the babies hatch, birds take them up into the air then fly over cement and drop them, hoping to crack them open so they can eat the insides. I wouldn't worry about trying to find his owner. I doubt they even know or care about the babies.

In my closed chamber, I don't use any other lights besides the fluorescent UVB tube type light. Then for heat, I use a radiant heat panel. I have my babies in a Vision cage. They're pretty expensive, but really work well as a closed chamber:

 

[Toddrickfl1]

What's with all these people finding Sulcata tortoises in Arizona and California lately?

 

[Hai]

I found a 65w flood light laying around. It keeps the tank around 85 all day so does the ceramic at night. It's about 80% to 90% humidity. So my questions Is how big of a uvb light do I need for a 4x2 size chamber? And what is a good thermostat that keeps the lights on at a certain temp?

 

[Hai]

Also the uvb does it need to be tropical or desert type?

 

[Emily Contreras]

What's with all these people finding Sulcata tortoises in Arizona and California lately?

I guess its mating season and babies are escaping lol.

 

[Emily Contreras]

cool, we both found babies in az!

 

[SushiAndReptiles]

Hello and welcome. Good advice above. Please feel free to ask lots of questions and understand that most of what you read on caring for this species is all wrong. We've been doing it incorrectly for 3 decades based on incorrect assumptions of how they live in the wild and what they need. The advice in the threads linked above is the correct care info. This is NOT a desert species. They NEED hydration and humidity. They hatch at the start of the hot, rainy, humid wet monsoon season in Africa.

Thanks for the information Tom, really interesting and i never knew this

 

[William Lee Kohler]

What's with all these people finding Sulcata tortoises in Arizona and California lately?

Maybe females laying eggs out in the yard and little ones going native?

 

[Hai]

When I get a uvb does he need a desert or tropical? What's the difference