New Young Sulcata

destiny671

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Joined
Sep 29, 2022
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6
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Star
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
 

zolasmum

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5 Year Member
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May 19, 2015
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2,001
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
How long have you had him ? And how old is he?
Angie
 

destiny671

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Joined
Sep 29, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Star
I've had him for 4 days and not sure his exact age but he is around 2 1/2 to 3 inches in size of that helps
I'll also send some pictures when I get home of his setup and of him so you have a better idea of everything
 

Newbabymama

Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2022
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
Hello. I also have a new little sulcata. Mine is 3inches long and 2mns old. Mine little one is a big easter especially first thing in the morning. I turn on all its lights and it aka "tiny baby" with slowly wake up and make its way to the flat Rock where its food is. Have you been handling it much? Possibly still getting adjusted and may be a little stressed. Also does it have a hide away to crawl into to help it feel safe or to cool down?
 

ryan57

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Joined
May 8, 2022
Messages
298
Location (City and/or State)
PA
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
Easy. I got my first tortoise in March. Stump.
IMG_0122.jpg
I cut up greens from the yard with scissors and he nibbled. He was staying in a tank too dry and not hot enough.
If I had it to do again I would get this rig. Get a big muggy box. -w- lighting and a ceramic heating element (CHE).

For this large box it stays in a room that is 70 degrees, the CHE is 60W and the light is 40W and stays on. There is a hole on the front but you don't have to have one. You must however have a temp gun, thermometer, humidity sensor.

IMG_2125.jpg
IMG_2124.jpg
Notice the sensor. It is 94% humidity and a constant 84 degrees right now. The humidity fluctuates between 75 and 95% or so. Temperature is always 84 deg. If he's too hot which he never is, he comes out of the box. I usually have the food outside the box but there is a midnight snack on the rock tonight.
IMG_2123.jpg
This should be good for a couple years at least. You can read about Stump in the introduction section.
The muggy box and lights / stand, cuddle bone, cypress mulch substrate etc was less than $120.

If I had it to do again, I would have done this first.

If you begin cutting his food small with scissors or a chef knife he will eat once warm and humid and be very happy.
Once a few months old I started feeding Mazuri LS small tortoise and will continue for 1 year. Stump is almost 7 months old and 507g. Oh, you'll want a $10 amazon scale too. When I got him he was about 30g.
IMG_2117.jpg
stump 2.jpg
Doggie bed that (s)he loves!!
IMG_2114.jpg
Smooth shell, happy, busy tortoise.

If you can build an outdoor enclosure for nice days it is extremely useful and fun for the tortoise to do tortoise things like dig, eat, explore, etc. safely.

Read Tom's guide on how to care and feed a tortoise. Very helpful. Chop up the food small, treat your tort like a tropical plant and it will thrive!

Good luck!
 

ryan57

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 8, 2022
Messages
298
Location (City and/or State)
PA
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
Oh, and for the soak, I have found that a washcloth is greatly appreciated by the tortoise rather than sliding around. Lol.
IMG_2085.jpg
 

Newbabymama

Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2022
Messages
54
Location (City and/or State)
Kansas
Easy. I got my first tortoise in March. Stump.
View attachment 350393
I cut up greens from the yard with scissors and he nibbled. He was staying in a tank too dry and not hot enough.
If I had it to do again I would get this rig. Get a big muggy box. -w- lighting and a ceramic heating element (CHE).

For this large box it stays in a room that is 70 degrees, the CHE is 60W and the light is 40W and stays on. There is a hole on the front but you don't have to have one. You must however have a temp gun, thermometer, humidity sensor.

View attachment 350394
View attachment 350395
Notice the sensor. It is 94% humidity and a constant 84 degrees right now. The humidity fluctuates between 75 and 95% or so. Temperature is always 84 deg. If he's too hot which he never is, he comes out of the box. I usually have the food outside the box but there is a midnight snack on the rock tonight.
View attachment 350396
This should be good for a couple years at least. You can read about Stump in the introduction section.
The muggy box and lights / stand, cuddle bone, cypress mulch substrate etc was less than $120.

If I had it to do again, I would have done this first.

If you begin cutting his food small with scissors or a chef knife he will eat once warm and humid and be very happy.
Once a few months old I started feeding Mazuri LS small tortoise and will continue for 1 year. Stump is almost 7 months old and 507g. Oh, you'll want a $10 amazon scale too. When I got him he was about 30g.
View attachment 350397
View attachment 350398
Doggie bed that (s)he loves!!
View attachment 350399
Smooth shell, happy, busy tortoise.

If you can build an outdoor enclosure for nice days it is extremely useful and fun for the tortoise to do tortoise things like dig, eat, explore, etc. safely.

Read Tom's guide on how to care and feed a tortoise. Very helpful. Chop up the food small, treat your tort like a tropical plant and it will thrive!

Good luck!
Love the hole in front idea 🥰
 

destiny671

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Star
I'll also send some pictures when I get home of his setup and of him so you have a better idea of everything
Hello. I also have a new little sulcata. Mine is 3inches long and 2mns old. Mine little one is a big easter especially first thing in the morning. I turn on all its lights and it aka "tiny baby" with slowly wake up and make its way to the flat Rock where its food is. Have you been handling it much? Possibly still getting adjusted and may be a little stressed. Also does it have a hide away to crawl into to help it feel safe or to cool down
He has a half log hide but planning on changing it to a hide with less openings after reading some of the threads. He started eating a little more this morning after I got a humidifier so I'm thinking it might not have been humid enough for him.
 

destiny671

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2022
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Star
Easy. I got my first tortoise in March. Stump.
View attachment 350393
I cut up greens from the yard with scissors and he nibbled. He was staying in a tank too dry and not hot enough.
If I had it to do again I would get this rig. Get a big muggy box. -w- lighting and a ceramic heating element (CHE).

For this large box it stays in a room that is 70 degrees, the CHE is 60W and the light is 40W and stays on. There is a hole on the front but you don't have to have one. You must however have a temp gun, thermometer, humidity sensor.

View attachment 350394
View attachment 350395
Notice the sensor. It is 94% humidity and a constant 84 degrees right now. The humidity fluctuates between 75 and 95% or so. Temperature is always 84 deg. If he's too hot which he never is, he comes out of the box. I usually have the food outside the box but there is a midnight snack on the rock tonight.
View attachment 350396
This should be good for a couple years at least. You can read about Stump in the introduction section.
The muggy box and lights / stand, cuddle bone, cypress mulch substrate etc was less than $120.

If I had it to do again, I would have done this first.

If you begin cutting his food small with scissors or a chef knife he will eat once warm and humid and be very happy.
Once a few months old I started feeding Mazuri LS small tortoise and will continue for 1 year. Stump is almost 7 months old and 507g. Oh, you'll want a $10 amazon scale too. When I got him he was about 30g.
View attachment 350397
View attachment 350398
Doggie bed that (s)he loves!!
View attachment 350399
Smooth shell, happy, busy tortoise.

If you can build an outdoor enclosure for nice days it is extremely useful and fun for the tortoise to do tortoise things like dig, eat, explore, etc. safely.

Read Tom's guide on how to care and feed a tortoise. Very helpful. Chop up the food small, treat your tort like a tropical plant and it will thrive!

Good luck!
Thank you! I got a new digital temp and humidity gauge and found out his humidity was not as high as it should of been. I bought a humidifier for now since my setup is different and he started to eat more this morning. And Tom's guide was very helpful
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hi, I just got a baby sulcata tortoise and he has not eaten since I got him except maybe a few nibbles of food. Is that normal and if not what should I do to help him? He gets fed a mixture of leafy greens like kale, collards, romaine and he also gets zoo med pellets and Timothy hay mixed in and I soak everything in warm water before giving it to him. I've soaked him everyday since I got him and he has a hot side in his tank that stays around 92 and a cool side around 74.
Your temps are too cool. Ambient should never drop below 80 day or night, and it should rise to the low 90s each day. Basking area needs to be around 100.

Humidifiers should not be blowing directly into the enclosure. You can run it in the room if you like. Keep humidity up by reducing ventilation. A closed chamber.

Don't use any moss. It will be eaten and it can cause impaction.

Here is the current care info:

Questions are welcome.
 

ryan57

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 8, 2022
Messages
298
Location (City and/or State)
PA
He has a half log hide but planning on changing it to a hide with less openings after reading some of the threads. He started eating a little more this morning after I got a humidifier so I'm thinking it might not have been humid enough for him.
Great news!! If the enclosure is open you can wet the substrate and even use aluminum foil to keep the moisture in well.
 

ryan57

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 8, 2022
Messages
298
Location (City and/or State)
PA
I hear you. The soak is always after the exercise before bed. My wife said what you did; so she bought 36 hand towels and has a bin for their storage until washed with bleach... then in typical form she has to run a cycle after the bleach before anything else. It's kinda like that around here.
 

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