Hi this is 6 month old Myakoda. We found her in the street as a hatchling. Still learning, she's so sweet!

Ray--Opo

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Ok this section of TFO will post pics.
Here are UVB bulbs you shouldn't use because they can injure their eyes.
Screenshot_20200213-035521_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20200213-035411_Chrome.jpg
Here is what you need. If your mesh is small it will block UVB from getting in your enclosure.
Screenshot_20200213-035745_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20200213-035639_Chrome.jpg
Pet stores generally don't know how to care for torts and will sell you what they have. If you send pics of your enclosure. We can give you suggestions.
 
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Tom

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Hello and welcome to the forum. Your first lesson is that you cannot create the correct conditions for a baby sulcata in a low-sided, open-topped enclosure. The cool dry room air is the wrong conditions, and an open top means that the cool dry room air is what your baby is in.

There is a lot of bad advice and old, incorrect care info circulating around out in the world. Breeders, vets, and pet stores are some of the worst perpetuators of this wrong info.

Check these out:

Questions and conversation are welcome.
 

Ray--Opo

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Hello and welcome to the forum. Your first lesson is that you cannot create the correct conditions for a baby sulcata in a low-sided, open-topped enclosure. The cool dry room air is the wrong conditions, and an open top means that the cool dry room air is what your baby is in.

There is a lot of bad advice and old, incorrect care info circulating around out in the world. Breeders, vets, and pet stores are some of the worst perpetuators of this wrong info.

Check these out:

Questions and conversation are welcome.
Thanks Tom, I have been talking with her for a few days. I clicked on the pics of tortoises at the top of the homepage. We were discussing care and didn't realize we were not in the general population here. I found out when we noticed we couldn't attach files. Thanks for chiming in.
 

Myakoda

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AZ.
Ok this section of TFO will post pics.
Here are UVB bulbs you shouldn't use because they can injure their eyes.
View attachment 286161View attachment 286162
Here is what you need. If your mesh is small it will block UVB from getting in your enclosure.
View attachment 286163View attachment 286164
Pet stores generally don't know how to care for torts and will sell you what they have. If you send pics of your enclosure. We can give you suggestions.
Hi, we have one of the lights above. I was talking with my husband a week ago about getting the long one you've shown above. We've tried so many bulbs, some that are $40++ and up. We're gpng to order this one. Also her humidity has been up tp 60%. It never drops below 50%. I am addressing this ASAP. Thank you so much. She is a happy little baby so far. I will send pics of her lights soon. Also, yes a lot of conflicting, mis info out ther. I've read SO much, and this is why I came here.
 

Myakoda

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125
Location (City and/or State)
AZ.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Your first lesson is that you cannot create the correct conditions for a baby sulcata in a low-sided, open-topped enclosure. The cool dry room air is the wrong conditions, and an open top means that the cool dry room air is what your baby is in.

There is a lot of bad advice and old, incorrect care info circulating around out in the world. Breeders, vets, and pet stores are some of the worst perpetuators of this wrong info.

Check these out:

Questions and conversation are welcome.
Thanks Tom, I have been talking with her for a few days. I clicked on the pics of tortoises at the top of the homepage. We were discussing care and didn't realize we were not in the general population here. I found out when we noticed we couldn't attach files. Thanks for chiming in.
Hi Tom, thank you. I'm so glad I'm here. My husband and myself have been scrambling around, going through different lighting, foods, substrates etc.. I have never used pellets or sand. We have reptibark for now and mist it often, however I finally located some organic mulch. Also, I located an organic farm here in AZ that grows animal grasses. We have been mincing these grasses up including wheat geass in her food. I have two UVB lights on her now, and a 100 watt heat lamp for basking. At night, I have a ceramic heater. We found this sweet baby in the street as a hatchling. Her yolk sac was almost healed, we did start soaking her almost everyday her first 4months. Then went to 3 times a week. Now we're back to everyday. We are doing organic foods from Whole Foods, but now mincing grasses into her salads. She's very picky, and will not eat the hays, or torty food in anyway. Perhaps we spolid her in the beginning, due to lack of knowledge.I read a hundred hours at least of info, and changed so many things so often. We' now I see need to address her humidity levels ASAP. I willl post pics of her home soon. PS, we do have a temp gun, and two different temp gages in her home. One is a suction cup of some sort. Hubby knows more about that part than I. I want to provide the best care for her as I can. I am always reading, and I worry about her. I beat myself up a lot, even though I know we've done the best we can these first 5 months. Also she does have a 40 gallon tank, and a hide spot. I feel her basking spot isn't warm enough, my husband disagrees. However 92ish is probably good, because her humidity is only 50%. So now that we'll be bringing her humidity up, the heat will go up. :)
 
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Ray--Opo

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Hi, I found a way to get here by going thru my content. Dont know why I can't open this thread like normal. While waiting for your fluorescent type UVB. If you get Myakoda out in the sun for about 3 hours a week that will be fine. I wouldn't use the CFL type of UVB light you have. Not sure what your weather is but if it's sunny and 65° with no wind. Myakoda will be fine just don't let her overheat. I noticed with Opo he would start walking faster looking for cover.
The ultimate would be to build a box on top of the enclosure to contain the heat and light fixtures.
Here are pics of what I did. Though it held heat and humidity. I was still using my problem solving skills and not fully reading care sheets here.20181125_124840.jpg20180307_122645.jpg20180307_122559.jpg
Here is the temp/ humidity I use. The dail type are not accurate. Online the cost is under 10 dollars. Put the probes down at Myakoda's level I used 2 in different locations. 20190304_173059.jpg
 

Myakoda

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Hi, I found a way to get here by going thru my content. Dont know why I can't open this thread like normal. While waiting for your fluorescent type UVB. If you get Myakoda out in the sun for about 3 hours a week that will be fine. I wouldn't use the CFL type of UVB light you have. Not sure what your weather is but if it's sunny and 65° with no wind. Myakoda will be fine just don't let her overheat. I noticed with Opo he would start walking faster looking for cover.
The ultimate would be to build a box on top of the enclosure to contain the heat and light fixtures.
Here are pics of what I did. Though it held heat and humidity. I was still using my problem solving skills and not fully reading care sheets here.View attachment 286533View attachment 286534View attachment 286535I know, I couldn't post pics either. I just ordered oechard bark that @tom recomended. I could only find it on Amozon
Here is the temp/ humidity I use. The dail type are not accurate. Online the cost is under 10 dollars. Put the probes down at Myakoda's level I used 2 in different locations. View attachment 286536
 

Myakoda

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AZ.
I know, I couldn't post pics either. I just ordered orchard bark that Tom recomended. I could only find it on Amozon, we're also buying a Torty table. When we do put Mya out in the sun, she'll have 80% shade, and 20% sun in the outside tub. We haven't done that yet. Torty table is for indoors, a tub will be for brief outdoor sunning. Perhaps a few hours, with the Orchid bark in it. If she knows she's had enough sun, we'll watch her, to see if she goes to the shady side. I won't leave ger alone. Of course sprays, and water in the tub, it's large. Also a soak in the sun in the tub outside. Oh, BTW, we at this time have two UVB lights on her, a basking lamp. Then a night time ceramic heat lamp that doesn't get above 72ish.
 
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Ray--Opo

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I know, I couldn't post pics either. I just ordered orchard bark that Tom recomended. I could only find it on Amozon, we're also buying a Torty table. When we do put Mya out in the sun, she'll have 80% shade, and 20% sun in the outside tub. We haven't done that yet. Torty table is for indoors, a tub will be for brief outdoor sunning. Perhaps a few hours, with the Orchid bark in it. If she knows she's had enough sun, we'll watch her, to see if she goes to the shady side. I won't leave ger alone. Of course sprays, and water in the tub, it's large. Also a soak in the sun in the tub outside. Oh, BTW, we at this time have two UVB lights on her, a basking lamp. Then a night time ceramic heat lamp that doesn't get above 72ish.
72° is to cool. You need at least 80° everywhere.
Also outside time in the yard supervised will give Myakoda the chance to explore. Keep your eyes on her all the time. You have critters and birds to look out for.
 

Myakoda

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72 is to cool, at night? It's usually between 72 & 78. I posted on the forum, we ordered her a nice Tortoise table, and the Orchid bark. We're going to get this right. We use to have her heat at night at 80ish, then we changed it last month. I read it was to hot for night time. So going to put that bulb back in! I feel bad, :confused: ugh! I'm 53, and feel like a kid learning all this. So glad I got on here in time. She's six months old this month. My husband said as I read this, it gets higher than 72, I was wrong above. Still feel bad, I've seen it at 72.
 
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Myakoda

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125
Location (City and/or State)
AZ.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Your first lesson is that you cannot create the correct conditions for a baby sulcata in a low-sided, open-topped enclosure. The cool dry room air is the wrong conditions, and an open top means that the cool dry room air is what your baby is in.

There is a lot of bad advice and old, incorrect care info circulating around out in the world. Breeders, vets, and pet stores are some of the worst perpetuators of this wrong info.

Check these out:

Questions and conversation are welcome.
Hi Tom, I just saw your post. This is her set up for now. Has been since we found her almost 6 months ago. In the photo I posted with my Husband holding her, it appears shallow. I now see what you and Ray meant lol. We have on the outside, all around cardboard, so she doesn't go nuts trying to go through it. I read this too, on those other care sheets. They said, the Torty's shouldn't see through the glsss? Before we did it, she did pace, and push her head against the glass. This lasted all of less than 2 days. I read what to do as soon as I noticed. All the lights are on to show her enclosure, she was soaking when we took this a month ago. We had redone her lights for the 4th time. We had a night light that was red, I didn't think that was any good, so we bought a no light night time ceramic heat lamp. It gets up to 72 to 78. Ray--Opo just informed me after reading on another post I did about her night time temp being to low. I agree, now I'm worried. Ugh! I have good news, we ordered a nice Tortoise table, and I found the Orchid substrate you recommended. I ordered 2 bags from Amozon. I can't wait until both arrive. I'm feeling like a bad Torty Mom, I've read so much like I've mentioned. My heat was to low, humidity not high enough, then heat was to high with to low humidity. Night time heat to low in the 70's. :( I will say this often, I'm so glad to be here, I feel it's in the nik of time. She seems healthy, nice shell, a good eater. However, we're stepping her care ASAP! A question, she sleeps in her log a lot. It's up against the glass, so it's not open on both sides. It's more humid in there. However, if she's in there all the time, aside when she eats, soaks, and basks. How can she get the UVB she needs? I've also decided to buy a non clear tub for outside, I will put the Orchid substrate in there, water, and have it 50/50. Half shade, half sun. Also her log as well. I feel she really needs real sun NOW. Also a nice water soak when she's out in the sun. We will not leave her in the tub unsupervised. Also a make light screen for her with chicken wire over the tub. So I'm going to watch her behavior, and see if she seeks shade after sunning. I am open to all advice. Thank you to you both. :)
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Ray--Opo

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The lights you are using might be hurting Myakoda's eyes. That might be the reason she stays in her hide.
I am not sure what you have outside as a yard. If you don't fertilize your grass let Myakoda roam around. ( supervised). I stayed right next to Opo because of the hawks.
Chicken wire is good any fine screen or sunshine thru glass. Will reduce the UVB.
You giving her a soak after being in the sun is a good idea.
Dont worry it gets easier as they get bigger. It also gets more expensive.
But hey you gotta love-em!?
 
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