Species of my sulcata?

[huntevans20]

Hello. I was hoping someone could help me identify my sulcata. We bought him at a local pet store and i have noticed he is extremely light in coloration compared to others that i have seen in person and on YouTube etc. i looked up ivory babies and he seems to match their coloration more than anything. I could be totally wrong! Just wanting to check! Thank you in advance for the help!

 

[KhairulTort]

Looks like a pretty normal sulcata hatchling to me! I’m sure he’ll grow up nice and pretty. If his eyes are dark in colour he’s not an albino or “ivory” as you say.
I’d love to see the rest of your enclosure and set up for your tortoises.
The general consensus around here is that keeping tortoises in pairs is a bad idea, particularly since you’re keeping a leopard tortoise and a sulcata together. As the sulcata will quickly outgrow your leopard tortoise and my stress and bully them.
And I’m sorry to have to bring up more issues, but the wood chip bedding which you’re using might be dangerous and cause problems for your tortoises if they eat it or are exposed to loose saw dust.

Do you have warm humid hides in your enclosure for the tortoises?

UVB lighting?

And what are the temperatures in the enclosure?

 

[Yvonne G]

The sulcata looks normal to me too.

As to the bedding you're using - I'm assuming it's cypress mulch, which is one of the ones we recommend. Since your babies are so small, it might make it a little easier for them to walk on if you add a layer of coco coir over the top of it. Moisten it and pat it down with your hand.

I also agree that it's not a good idea to keep a leopard and a sulcata together in the same enclosure. Besides the mixing species thing, it's really not a good idea to keep tortoises in pairs. You always end up with a dominant and a submissive, and the less dominant tortoise doesn't fare well.

 

[huntevans20]

Looks like a pretty normal sulcata hatchling to me! I’m sure he’ll grow up nice and pretty. If his eyes are dark in colour he’s not an albino or “ivory” as you say.
I’d love to see the rest of your enclosure and set up for your tortoises.
The general consensus around here is that keeping tortoises in pairs is a bad idea, particularly since you’re keeping a leopard tortoise and a sulcata together. As the sulcata will quickly outgrow your leopard tortoise and my stress and bully them.
And I’m sorry to have to bring up more issues, but the wood chip bedding which you’re using might be dangerous and cause problems for your tortoises if they eat it or are exposed to loose saw dust.

Do you have warm humid hides in your enclosure for the tortoises?

UVB lighting?

And what are the temperatures in the enclosure?

I have a tortoise table set up for hatchlings. Once they get to be different in size and i think bullying will be an issue i will be moving them to separate enclosures! I have a humid hide that i spray down daily with warm water so yes it is a warm humid hide. I soak them once a day as well. The cypress mulch has been sifted with the smaller pieces laying over the bigger pieces and I spray down the enclosure a few times a week to keep the saw dust From getting loose! Does that answer all your questions? I appreciate the feedback!

 

[KhairulTort]

Awesome! Well good luck! ☺️ I think I mistook your cypress mulch for something worse. It’s not common where I am.

 

[huntevans20]

The sulcata looks normal to me too.

As to the bedding you're using - I'm assuming it's cypress mulch, which is one of the ones we recommend. Since your babies are so small, it might make it a little easier for them to walk on if you add a layer of coco coir over the top of it. Moisten it and pat it down with your hand.

I also agree that it's not a good idea to keep a leopard and a sulcata together in the same enclosure. Besides the mixing species thing, it's really not a good idea to keep tortoises in pairs. You always end up with a dominant and a submissive, and the less dominant tortoise doesn't fare well.

I touched on this in the other post. But so you get the notification I’ll let you know as well! I have hatchlings in one enclosure and then will separate when i feel they have a size difference large enough to impact their daily routines! Thank you for the feedback

 

[TechnoCheese]

Be sure to 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/

Tables should not be used for hatchling tortoises because of their high humidity needs. Be sure to get them separated and into new enclosures ASAP. Just being around eachother is a huge factor of stress that is affecting their lives even if you can’t see it, and mixing species is a huge risk for the spread of disease. They cannot and should not be housed together.

 

[huntevans20]

Look at Kamp Kenan’s baby tortoise enclosure. I modeled mine off his.

Be sure to give these a read-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/How-To-Raise-A-Healthy-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/

Tables should not be used for hatchling tortoises because of their high humidity needs. Be sure to get them separated and into new enclosures ASAP. Just being around eachother is a huge factor of stress that is affecting their lives even if you can’t see it, and mixing species is a huge risk for the spread of disease. They cannot and should not be housed together.

It has the exact same lay out as mine and also has mixed species. He seems a little more reputable than this.

 

[huntevans20]

Look at Kamp Kenan’s baby tortoise enclosure. I modeled mine off his.

It has the exact same lay out as mine and also has mixed species. He seems a little more reputable than this.

Be sure to give these a read-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/How-To-Raise-A-Healthy-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/

Tables should not be used for hatchling tortoises because of their high humidity needs. Be sure to get them separated and into new enclosures ASAP. Just being around eachother is a huge factor of stress that is affecting their lives even if you can’t see it, and mixing species is a huge risk for the spread of disease. They cannot and should not be housed together.

what do you recommend i keep them in if not a table? They can’t be kept in glass tanks cause of stress. Can’t be kept in a table because of stress. Can’t keep them together because of stress. What do u recommend

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

what do you recommend i keep them in if not a table? They can’t be kept in glass tanks cause of stress. Can’t be kept in a table because of stress. Can’t keep them together because of stress. What do u recommend

If you read the thread that Techno posted for you then you should know

 

[huntevans20]

I have my tortoise table covered with glass so the moisture stays in. As well as a humid hide. There’s no winning on this page. My tortoises are happy and healthy. Just because you guys follow the cardinal rules that have been laid out saying “they shouldn’t be together because they aren’t together in the wild” is crazy because these are all captive born and know no different. We can’t make these guys feel like they’re in the wild. It will never be possible. As long as they’re healthy what’s the big deal?

If you read the thread that Techno posted for you then you should know

table

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

there are people here that have decades of experience and know what they are talking about . Sorry if your feelings are hurt but its not about you.. its about the well being of the torts.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Look at Kamp Kenan’s baby tortoise enclosure. I modeled mine off his.

It has the exact same lay out as mine and also has mixed species. He seems a little more reputable than this.

Kamp Kenan definitely is not a reputable source. I followed his information when I first got my tortoise, and now he has a band of pyramiding that will never go away. He follows and gives out extremely outdated and even flat out incorrect advice that should not be taken as correct. Do a search for him on the forum if you want more information.

 

[huntevans20]

there are people here that have decades of experience and know what they are talking about . Sorry if your feelings are hurt but its not about you.. its about the well being of the torts.

I’m doing fine. I’ll sleep the exact same and my torts will too. I have plenty of experience with these guys as well. I was simply reaching out because my sulcatas coloration was strange to me. They are plenty healthy. If you must know i plan on building them all separate enclosures an a month or so anyway. Just haven’t found the layout i want to re create. If you have any that you recommend please send them my way! I’m not trying to be rude. I truly would like your opinion!

 

[huntevans20]

Kamp Kenan definitely is not a reputable source. I followed his information when I first got my tortoise, and now he has a band of pyramiding that will never go away. He follows and gives out extremely outdated and even flat out incorrect advice that should not be taken as correct. Do a search for him on the forum if you want more information.

Really? I have no seen any of this. I will do this ASAP!

 

[TechnoCheese]

what do you recommend i keep them in if not a table? They can’t be kept in glass tanks cause of stress. Can’t be kept in a table because of stress. Can’t keep them together because of stress. What do u recommend

The links I gave you have all of the necessary information that you need. Please read them. You need a closed chamber enclosure with very little ventilation to retain humidity. Glass tanks absolutely can work if enclosed properly, and the notion that they cannot be used likely came about with people putting adult tortoises in 40 gallon tanks and pushing off stress as the fault of the glass and not the size of the tank. If the top of your enclosure is completely covered with no gaps, then great, you have a closed chamber.

 

[huntevans20]

The links I gave you have all of the necessary information that you need. Please read them. You need a closed chamber enclosure with very little moisture to retain humidity. Glass tanks absolutely can work if enclosed properly, and the notion that they cannot be used likely came about with people putting adult tortoises in 40 gallon tanks and pushing off stress as the fault of the glass and not the size of the tank. If the top of your enclosure is completely covered with no gaps, then great, you have a closed chamber.

I have a closed chamber! As I said to another member. I plan on building another enclosure to separate them here soon! I just haven’t found a design to recreate. If you have any that would be good for all these necessities please send them my way! Feel free to pm me and get my email or phone number if you would like to speak one on one and help me out.

 

[huntevans20]

I have a closed chamber! As I said to another member. I plan on building another enclosure to separate them here soon! I just haven’t found a design to recreate. If you have any that would be good for all these necessities please send them my way! Feel free to pm me and get my email or phone number if you would like to speak one on one and help me out.

I have a closed chamber! As I said to another member. I plan on building another enclosure to separate them here soon! I just haven’t found a design to recreate. If you have any that would be good for all these necessities please send them my way! Feel free to pm me and get my email or phone number if you would like to speak one on one and help me out.

Also, the top link would not open!

 

[TechnoCheese]

Also, the top link would not open!

Huh, looks like it’s time for me to update my Auto fill list. I have it so that I type “sulcatacare” and those 3 links go in.

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

I know it can get really annoying with all the conflicting info, but I'm glad that you ae receptive to the help being offered.

It can get very confusing with different people contradicting each other, but we've all been down this road before and we can look back at where you are now. I've personally made the mistakes you are making now, and some of the people commenting here on your thread have too. We all followed that old wrong advice from people like Kenan who sound like they know what they are talking about, but really don't. He's not a bad guy. I've met him. He means well, and he makes videos with high production value, but he just doesn't know what he doesn't know.

I had a conversation similar to this one with another member recently. I was telling them how to care for their leopard tortoise, the right way, and they mentioned Kenan too. Then they had an epiphany when they watched the video with Kenan treating 5 sick leopard tortoises in his tortoise infirmary. All five leopards were heavily pyramided. None of my leopards are pyramided. None of my sulcatas either. Growing a smooth tortoise in humid Florida is easy. Growing one here in the CA desert is not. None of my leopards are sick. I don't even have an infirmary because none of my dozens of tortoises ever get sick.

We all mean well. We're just trying to prevent you from making the mistakes that some of us have already made. After you finish the care sheet, please come back and ask all your questions. We are happy to explain further.

And your sulcata is normal colored. Here are some of mine that hatched a month ago for comparison: