Tom
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  • Hi Tom! Do you mind if I ask question related to sulcata outdoor enclosure? I’ve been planning to build one for my hatchling (2months), but unsure about the temps. I live in Indonesia, during the day temps usually 30-33’c, but I’am afraid it’s too hot. I’m planning to put him outdoor after 3pm when temps is a bit colder, around 24-27’c.
    B
    berrybon
    how long should the hatchling be put in the outdoor enclosure, and what time of the day?

    I usually let him bask under morning sun for about 30-60mins every morning, and let him roam my parents’ lawn once/twice a week for an hour or so. Thank you for your help!
    Tom
    Tom
    This needs to be in a thread, not on my profile. Make a thread in the sulcata section or the general tortoise section for these questions. There isn't enough room to answer adequately here.
    B
    berrybon
    got it, thanks Tom!
    Hi !
    I have two leopards (pardalis babcocki) now 4 inch in size I got them exactly before 9 months when they were may be 3 months old. my question to you is that one is growing very smooth where as the other seems to have a little upper growth especially on the top middle line of scutes. The humidity in their enclosure stays around 60% in the hide and I keep them on coco coir in a tortoise table semi indoors
    J
    jeet131
    Ok once again Thankyou and i shall exactly do the same and I soak them around 45 minutes indoors in warm water so same time I can do in the sun with all the care to be taken as mentioned by you right ?
    J
    jeet131
    I have seen people using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on regularly basis on carapace and they say it helps the tortoise to grow smooth offcourse along with high humidity. But I would like to know your opinion on this ?
    Tom
    Tom
    I've seen it used extensively too. I can say it does no harm.
    Hi Tom you seem like the go to guy for questions. I have multiple tortoises all juvenile. But I have a yellow footed hatching. I am using coco coir substrate but he seems annoyed by it. Is there something else I should be using due to his age?
    Tom
    Tom
    FIne grade orchid bark works best. This is especially important for bot RFs and YFs to prevent shel rot. Use a 3-4 inch layer and the lower layers can be kept damp for humidity, while the upper layer is more dry to prevent shell rot.
    E
    EmmDonovan
    Thank you I hope this helps him. He's a picky guy lol.
    We built the your plan night box. Well Charlie has grown to 78 lbs. When it is time to build a bigger one? At 15 degrees right now in texas and we are having trouble keeping the box at a steady temperature. We hung a small space heater to help with the temps. Is there a better way? Not sure why it is not holding the heat as good and if the fluctuation going from 71-100 is even good every 53 min?
    hi Tom,
    I am new to this site, so my apologies if I’m not reaching out correctly. I couldn’t find a way to PM. We are currently looking for a sulcata baby for my son for Christmas. Yes, we understand the commitment that goes along with owning a sulcata which is why we made him wait 5 years. I stumbled upon your care information and I just want to say thank you.
    K
    Kmomzee
    Cont. My nephew just recently got a sulcata a few months back and they have him in a small Rubbermaid container with an open top and I would have followed suit if I didn’t find your guide. So thank you. Please let me know if you have any sulcata s for sale. We would like to go through a reputable breeder and not a big co. Like Tat. Thanks again, hope to hear back soon
    K
    Kmomzee
    We have bought all our items and are setting up our habitat this week. Let us know if you have any available… we would love to be considered for purchase. Ty
    Hello mr Tom so ive been using the orchid bark and my boy seems to love it but i just cant seem to find the fine grade variant its only ever the bigger chunks i get it in 8quarts bags at Lowes the brand is bettergro
    Tom
    Tom
    I buy it in bulk at the local garden center. You can get 24 quart bags from chewy or petco.com.
    Hi!
    I was wondering what the minimum daily temperature my sulcata tortoises could withstand without getting sick. Now in the summer, the LOWEST temperature during the night can range from 15° (59° Fahrenheit) to 24° (75.2° Fahrenheit), and I let them sleep outside. They have been sleeping outside for 3 weeks now and I do not see any problem with them.

    Is it good for them to sleep at these temperatures long term?
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    Tom
    Tom
    In the wild, the ground temperatures where they make their burrows stay between 80-85 year round. This is the optimal night time temp. If your day time highs are 100+ every day in summer, like mine, then I don't mind their boxes dropping into the low 70s at night because large sulcatas retain the heat from the day before, and they will heat back up again each day.
    Tom
    Tom
    They should not sleep outside of their protective boxes because of predators and insects, as well as temperature control. I would not be comfortable with my tortoises sleeping outside because of the threat of ants, dogs, coyotes, scorpions, spiders, people, venomous snakes, rats, and anything else that would like to harm or kill them.
    Tom
    Tom
    75 over night in summer time with high daytime ambient temps should be fine. 59 is getting a bit too cold for my comfort. Some of them survive cooler temps some of the time. But some others get sick and die at those temps. There are many variables to consider, like humidity, rain, day time high, amount of shade, evaporative cooling, etc...
    Tom
    Tom
    The venting that is built in to AP cages should be adequate. That is all I use for all of mine. You don't have to get white. Black is okay too. I like to have them install a light socket on each side. I usually use one for a basking bulb and the other for a LED.
    Mulgore
    Mulgore
    helpful as always thanks tom
    Tom, Adopting a young Redfoot in Colorado. Will have an outdoor enclosure but the tortoise will be inside too. Would your 4X3X3 enclosure doubled meet her space needs as a full grown Redfoot? Current pricing with shipping (80526) and availability? We bring our RF home on 03/19. What approach is used with your enclosures to be sure the humidity is at the right level?
    Tom
    Tom
    I don't make or sell enclosures. Sorry. An 8x3 foot enclosure is not large enough for an adult RF. You'd need somewhere around double that. RF is not a good species for CO, unfortunately.
    K
    KiraBeckham
    Oops, sorry for the confusion! Thanks
    Hi Tom planning on buying grass seeds or seed mix from groworganic.com, i want to add to all of my 3 outdoor enclousures (sulcata, leopards(babckoki and giant) and aldabra) a mix of grass seeds(maybe bermuda, orchard, rye or timothy) or the horse pasture mix that you recommend, my question is should i buy all of the above and make a mix to all 3 enclousures?
    F
    frankieinguanzo
    what i need is to have pasture year around for summer and winter i live in a north central part of mexico it doesnt get to cold in winter 28f lowest and not to hot in summer 90f tops!
    Tom
    Tom
    I would try different things in different areas and see what works best for you. Time for some experimentation!
    F
    frankieinguanzo
    Thanks Tom
    Tom hope all is well, going thru some really cold weather . I have my adult Indian stars in a 8 ft enclosure in my garage. I have 2 che’s and 2 heat lamps and a UV bulb. When it gets really cold I also have a heating unit in the garage. I want to get the heating and lighting correct once and for all. What should the heating temp be on both sides and should I be using a thermostat to keep the temp consistent ?
    Tom
    Tom
    Ambient should be no lower than 80 anywhere in the enclosure at any time. Daytime ambient should climb to around 88-93. Basking temp directly under the bulb should be 100.
    Tom, you have helped me so much in the last 10 years and I just wanted to say THANKS! People always chuckle when I tell them that I learned all about caring for Samson from Tom The Dog Trainer, also from this forum. So thanks again and have a wonderful New Year!
    Tom
    Tom
    Thank you. My hope is that Samson is happy, healthy, and living a great tortoise life due to your efforts to house and care for him well. You had to do all the work. I just "led you to the water", so to speak.
    Hello Tom. I have a quick question about enclosure temps for 18 mo sulcata. Should I be monitoring the air temp or the surface temps? Noticed that air temps have been several degrees cooler than surf temps taken with calibrated IR therm (ex: today, CHE temp controllers were reading low 80s but surface and tort shell temp showed low 90s). I don't want to "slow bake" my tort.
    Tom
    Tom
    Air temps in a closed chamber is what you want to look at. I don't find surface temps to be as useful. Surface temp of the carapace is interesting to look at to see what a tortoise is doing while basking, but the basking temp should already be verified safe at tortoise shell height.
    Hi Tom, I have been reading on here and you give out a lot of great information. I was wondering if you set up affiliate links anywhere so people can order what you order. At the same time you can get a kick back?
    Tom
    Tom
    Nah. I've considered doing YT videos with all this info if I had a fried that lived close by that had lots of time, AV equipment and editing skills, but I don't.
    Hi Tom. I’m looking for a few Burmese stars (platynota) to bring home. When will you have babies next?
    Tom
    Tom
    Not until spring time. Try @Markw84 or Gus @G-stars Both start babies as well or better than I do. I'd buy from either of them.
    Hi Tom,
    I've been wanting a radiated tortoise and I live in Cali. Do you have any breeder you would recommend?
    thank you

    -adam
    Hi Tom! Thank you so much for your guides, all of it are very hefpul!
    I have a few questions for my baby sulcata.
    The temperature in the enclosure is around high 80s and low 90s during the day, do I still need to turn on the UVA light for 12 hours?
    I read in your guide that baby sulcata needs to get direct sunlight for 1 hour for every inch of the tortoise. Does that mean 1 hour per day?
    Thank you so much!
    Hey Tom new to the group and tortoise husbandry, I read your article on care for leopards and found all the information fascinating.
    My question is….is this information and guidelines just for hatchlings? I believe I have a yearling and I want to make sure I have everything correct.
    The enclosure is a 4x4x8 ft everything to your specs as well. Just wondering when to switch to different specs as they grow
    Tom
    Tom
    I wrote it with hatchlings in mind, but it includes info about what to do as they grow, such as reducing soaks and giving them more time outside.
    Tinytony
    Tinytony
    Tom my tortoise was born in 2019 is he still classed as a hatchling ?
    Tom
    Tom
    No. Hatchling = up to about 6 weeks. 6 weeks to one year = baby. Yearling or juvenile after that, depending on size and species. These are generally accepted colloquial terms. Not "scientific" in any way.
    What supplements do you recommend?
    B
    Becky7_RN
    @Tom I gave a 1/4 of a cuttlebone and my guy LOVED it. Some say that amount is good to give every 2 weeks. Others say it's not needed if they live outdoors fulltime. Thoughts? I have the 7 year old male sulcata.
    Tom
    Tom
    Living outdoors full time has nothing to do with calcium intake. That would be more about UV. No UV bulbs are needed if they live outside. Most leave cuttlebone available at all times. I just throw some out there when I think about it. With a good diet, the need to supplement calcium is minimal.
    B
    Becky7_RN
    Great! I already prepped the pieces (took the hard backing off) and cut it into 1/4's. I didn't think he'd like it but he smashed it in one sitting so that made me happy. I'm make sure to incorporate it more frequently :)
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