Sully and his Sully

Sir Sully

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33
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Tucson
Hello all,

My name is Sully and I have a Sully!

After stalking you all covertly and not making an account for almost 3 years, it's finally time to say hello!

My journey into tortoise caretaker has been far too long in the making. I've read up, researched, and even considered where I wanted to live in preparation for my first tortoise.

I had a family friend that owned a tortoise and fell in love, but it was a trip to the Lowry Zoo in Tampa where I knew I couldn't go back. With their zookeeper program I got a chance to mingle with their Aldabras and I won't ever forget it.

I live in Tucson now with my girlfriend, we are in the process of building a house, and planning on just as much space for our new Sully.

World, please meet, MATURIN.

A 5 month old Sully. Weighing in at 91 grams and just under 3 inches long (shell length). Our tortoise is ready to take over the world! (As soon as it is big enough to trounce the kitties.)


20220107_161411.jpg
 

Sir Sully

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Hello and Welcome. Cutie you have. Be sure to get him set up in a closed chamber enclosure with high humidity. He already has a good amount of pyramiding for his young age.
Yes. Slightly concerned about that. He's in glass right now. Doing my best to cover the top, but this Arizona dryness is a bear to deal with.

Humidity running about 70%. Trying to get it higher. Ready for suggestions! Temps are doing well though, 96 at day. 80 at night
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Yes. Slightly concerned about that. He's in glass right now. Doing my best to cover the top, but this Arizona dryness is a bear to deal with.

Humidity running about 70%. Trying to get it higher. Ready for suggestions! Temps are doing well though, 96 at day. 80 at night
Suggestions:

Its very dry here in the CA desert too. A closed chamber solves that problem and saves a bundle on electricity too. When they get older, I add humidity to their outdoor heated shelters and it works out just fine.
11mgkxu.jpg
 

Sir Sully

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Suggestions:

Its very dry here in the CA desert too. A closed chamber solves that problem and saves a bundle on electricity too. When they get older, I add humidity to their outdoor heated shelters and it works out just fine.
View attachment 338834
Thanks Tom!
I see your name pop-up way too much in my searches to argue ;)
As far as closing the top off, how do you feel about the plexi glass with holes cut method?

Where do you keep your humidity for hatchlings?
 

wellington

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Plexi works but if you can cut the hole so only the cord and the socket fit thru it and are able to hang the rest inside it gives less of a space/opening for heat and humidity to escape.
Also a lot of people will make a tent like top over the whole enclosure giving a greenhouse affect.
Humidity should be 80%
 

Lyn W

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Hi and welcome,
If you can follow Tom's caresheet as closely as possible your baby should thrive.
Looking forward to seeing more of your baby as he grows.
 

Tom

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Thanks Tom!
I see your name pop-up way too much in my searches to argue ;)
As far as closing the top off, how do you feel about the plexi glass with holes cut method?

Where do you keep your humidity for hatchlings?
The plexiglass on top method is better than a completely open top, but still not good. Having the heating and lighting outside the cage means you will lose around 80% of the heat your are electrically generating, and it also creates a chimney effect that draws the heat and humidity up and out of your enclosure. A proper closed chamber works much better.

Humidity for sulcata hatchlings should be up over 80% all the time. In the wild they hatch at the start of the rainy season. Hot wet humid monsoon conditions suit them best.
 

Ray--Opo

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Welcome to the forum. A quick fix for the top of the enclosure. You can use tin foil until you get the proper enclosure. Sunlight through glass has most of the UVB filtered out. Make sure you have the proper UVB light. Any of the types of UVB bulbs that screw in a fixture are no good for your sully. They dry the carapace out to much and some damage their eyes. The Arcadia HO 5.0 is a good UVB. Also if you can get him in the sun ,supervised outside 3 days a week for about 1 hour. Weather permitting that will be fine also.
 

Sir Sully

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Plexi works but if you can cut the hole so only the cord and the socket fit thru it and are able to hang the rest inside it gives less of a space/opening for heat and humidity to escape.
Also a lot of people will make a tent like top over the whole enclosure giving a greenhouse affect.
Humidity should be 80%
Ooo! I like the tent top idea! I'll check the forum for pictures.
 

Sir Sully

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The plexiglass on top method is better than a completely open top, but still not good. Having the heating and lighting outside the cage means you will lose around 80% of the heat your are electrically generating, and it also creates a chimney effect that draws the heat and humidity up and out of your enclosure. A proper closed chamber works much better.

Humidity for sulcata hatchlings should be up over 80% all the time. In the wild they hatch at the start of the rainy season. Hot wet humid monsoon conditions suit them best.
Thanks for the tip on the top!
I'm heading out for errands today and will see what I can find. Plexi has been in short supply still. Might try glass.
 

Sir Sully

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Hi and welcome,
If you can follow Tom's caresheet as closely as possible your baby should thrive.
Looking forward to seeing more of your baby as he grows.
Pictures shall abound! I may use up all the forum bandwidth ?
 

Sir Sully

Member
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Joined
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Messages
33
Location (City and/or State)
Tucson
Welcome to the forum. A quick fix for the top of the enclosure. You can use tin foil until you get the proper enclosure. Sunlight through glass has most of the UVB filtered out. Make sure you have the proper UVB light. Any of the types of UVB bulbs that screw in a fixture are no good for your sully. They dry the carapace out to much and some damage their eyes. The Arcadia HO 5.0 is a good UVB. Also if you can get him in the sun ,supervised outside 3 days a week for about 1 hour. Weather permitting that will be fine also.
Thanks Ray! I'll also check into that light. I read A TON about the screw in lights being bad so started with a tube, but I'm definitely going to check the one you have here.

If it's a very large enclosure are multiple lights ok to use?

I've been worried taking it outside because the ground is very cold. Dropping to 40s at night. Is that an issue for little guy to roam? (While supervised)
 

Tom

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Thanks Ray! I'll also check into that light. I read A TON about the screw in lights being bad so started with a tube, but I'm definitely going to check the one you have here.

If it's a very large enclosure are multiple lights ok to use?

I've been worried taking it outside because the ground is very cold. Dropping to 40s at night. Is that an issue for little guy to roam? (While supervised)
Don't let him roam. Make a safe secure enclosure.

Get a temp gun and check the ground temp and the temp of some tortoise sized rocks that have been sitting in the sun in your pen. We are in the 30s and 40s overnight here and all my adult tortoises live outside, but with heated shelters. The sun should warm the ground enough for a baby by late morning.
 

Ray--Opo

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Thanks Ray! I'll also check into that light. I read A TON about the screw in lights being bad so started with a tube, but I'm definitely going to check the one you have here.

If it's a very large enclosure are multiple lights ok to use?

I've been worried taking it outside because the ground is very cold. Dropping to 40s at night. Is that an issue for little guy to roam? (While supervised)
One UVB is enough. If you have the flouresnt tube type now. I am sure your fine. A infrared temp gun like Tom suggested is a must. Not only for outside ground temps. But for any area in your enclosure. I balked on getting a temp gun at first. It is probably the best thing I have for giving proper care to my sully.
Screenshot_20201118-094349_Chrome.jpg
 
Joined
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Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Tucson
Hello and Welcome. Cutie you have. Be sure to get him set up in a closed chamber enclosure with high humidity. He already has a good amount of pyramiding for his young age.
Unfortunately, the pyramiding had already begun before we got our baby (last week), so we're working on getting everything perfect to prevent it from persisting.
 

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