New tortoise keeper

phengx83

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
58
Location (City and/or State)
Spring Hill, FL
Hi everyone. I'm new here and heard this was the best place to receive advice on anything tortoise wise. I am a new tortoise owner and this is my first tortoise. Any advice on anything that would make this tortoise life better here would be appreciated. So far I have been going off of what I research online about these tortoise's. This is what I have so far. I got him in a kid pool enclosure with a built fencing around him to keep predators out. I'm planning on making a better planted one for him. He has a hideaway to get away from rain and plenty of sun and shade. I have grass and couple of edibles growing so for now I give him hibiscuses, collard greens, grass snipping's and dried dandelion mix. He is not liking the dry dandelion and grass though. I soak him twice a week but he is drinking on his own out of his bowl so I don't know if need to keep soaking him or not. Should I get him a bigger enclosure or is it good for now? Anyway here is Tank and his outdoor enclosure. Any input on anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everybody.


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Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
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Jan 23, 2008
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93,405
Location (City and/or State)
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Welcome to the Forum!
 

Hutsie B

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
471
Location (City and/or State)
NC
hello and welcome, nice looking baby.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
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Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Where is Spring Hill?

Outdoors all day is not good for a baby. This info applies to your species too:
 

phengx83

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
58
Location (City and/or State)
Spring Hill, FL
Where is Spring Hill?

Outdoors all day is not good for a baby. This info applies to your species too:
Spring hill is near Tampa. So I should not leave him outdoors all day?
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Spring hill is near Tampa. So I should not leave him outdoors all day?
I've done many side by side growth experiments, and also observed others results, and universally, they do better indoors. Climate doesn't seem to matter. I've advised other tortoise owners in FL of this fact, and when they moved them inside, the tortoises health, appetite, appearance due to pyramiding, and growth rate all picked up.

In my experience the best method for raising babies is to have a large indoor closed chamber AND a large outdoor enclosure for fair weather. The best of both worlds. I like to let babies have an hour or two of sun every other day or so, followed by a 30-40 minute soak on the way back in. I leave them out more and more as they gain size.

Your species in your climate is the one single time that I'll defer to someone with far more knowledge of the species than I have. @ALDABRAMAN also lives in FL and he knows all things for Aldabras. Hopefully he will see this and share what he finds to be optimal for this species in your unique climate.
 

phengx83

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
58
Location (City and/or State)
Spring Hill, FL
I've done many side by side growth experiments, and also observed others results, and universally, they do better indoors. Climate doesn't seem to matter. I've advised other tortoise owners in FL of this fact, and when they moved them inside, the tortoises health, appetite, appearance due to pyramiding, and growth rate all picked up.

In my experience the best method for raising babies is to have a large indoor closed chamber AND a large outdoor enclosure for fair weather. The best of both worlds. I like to let babies have an hour or two of sun every other day or so, followed by a 30-40 minute soak on the way back in. I leave them out more and more as they gain size.

Your species in your climate is the one single time that I'll defer to someone with far more knowledge of the species than I have. @ALDABRAMAN also lives in FL and he knows all things for Aldabras. Hopefully he will see this and share what he finds to be optimal for this species in your unique climate.
Awesome. Thank you for that. I will surely get with him.
 
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