Tom

Tom

10 Year Member! Platinum Tortoise Club
The Dog Trainer From Southern California
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Viewing thread The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise
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  • R
    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.
    T
    What supplements do you recommend?
    Tom
    Tom
    Calcium once or twice a week, Herptivite once a week. For most species I also like the original Mazuri, 5M21, as a good supplemental food. The Mazuri LS and both of the ZooMed chows are good. Will @Kapidolo Farms sells all sorts of good dried leaf options as well as cactus flour for calcium and other great products.
    Tom
    Tom
    Having said all of that, the best thing you can do is feed a varied diet with a whole bunch of different weeds, leaves, flowers, and grasses for grass eating species.
    L
    Hi Tom, I live in So. Cal. With the drought and water restrictions going on I need to significantly reduce the lawn irrigation. I have a sulcate desert tortoise who loves his back yard and eat the fresh Bermuda grass. I’m considering using the grass and lawn amendment AquaSmart, I would appreciate any input/advise whether this is safe for my tortoise or not. I would appreciate your input so I can order it. Thank you!
    Tom
    Tom
    Sulcatas are not desert tortoises. I don't know what AquaSmart is but whatever it is I would not want my tortoise eating it. I say to hell with their stupid restrictions. I can't water my lawn, but they can build thousands of new homes all around me? You aren't watering your lawn. You are growing food for your animal to eat.
    L
    Luzmary Holt
    Hi Tom, thanks for the reply, I love your hearth fell fire regarding the water restrictions, trust me I feel the same, as a law avidin citizen I thought I would try to accommodate without endangering my pet. Thanks again, have a nice weekend
    C
    Hi Tom,
    New to site. so here's my question? I built the cinder block burrow for my tortoise put the cover on it but before covering it with dirt I peeked in on her and she's digging under the cinder blocks.. How do I prevent the blocks from caving in on top of her. She's got her head under one as I write. help..removing her from burrow for now..thank you
    Bonita and Brownie..
    • Like
    Reactions: Tom
    Tom
    Tom
    Cinder block burrows don't work. This is why.

    What species are we talking about? What size? Where are you? Best to make a thread in the general discussion area, or in the area for your species, instead of on my profile.
    C
    cacowit
    got it..Thank you
    ReptileHabitats0203
    Is grass hay good to out in a baby sulcata enclosure or grass clippings from the lawn ? I feed him mustard greens , kale , bell pepper with sprinkle of calcium powder over each fresh serving. I have not tried flowers yet but have been seeing that 90% of their diet needs to be grass or hay .
    Rocki
    Hi Tom, can one use castor oil instead of mineral oil for a constipated Sulcata? Thanks!
    Tom
    Tom
    I have no experience with castor oil, so I don't have an answer for you. Mineral oil is fine.
    • Like
    Reactions: Rocki
    Tolis
    Hi Tom, my aldabra really likes black eyed peas. Is it best to feed them raw or boil them first?
    Tom
    Tom
    That is not a good food for them. Legumes are too high in protein to be a large percentage of the diet. What size tortoise? Where are you? What percentage of the diet are you making the peas? I don't think it matters much if you feed them raw or boiled.
    Tolis
    Tolis
    Ive been feeding leftovers around once a week. Usually Im giving the pod which they never eat then left over boiled legumes. They like them so much I figured I should cook more just for them or better feed it raw thats why I asked. I m pretty sure I read somewhere they were on the safe list, must have fallen victim to internet misinformation on that one. Tortoise is juvenile 3 pounds in Cyprus. Thanks for the advice!
    Mindy Robinson
    Hi Tom,
    I am starting to build an outdoor night time enclosure for my Sulcata (Sherman Tank), and the thread you had previously posted about your best night box yet has great text, but none of the images are showing up... is that something wrong on my end or has something happened to the post? I remember viewing it previously and would really appreciate that helpful starting point!

    TIA!
    View previous comments…
    Mindy Robinson
    Mindy Robinson
    Awesome, thanks so much! :)
    M
    marley2824
    can you send to me too? a google drive or dropbox link with pics inside a folder could possibly work so you don’t have to continuously send by message. appreciate you sharing your experience with us app!!
    H
    howardb
    Tom, Like others, I've tried to find your post "My best night box design yet," and I've discovered that what's available has no photos or dimensions. If you could send me a file, a link, or whatever's convenient for you, I'd appreciate it. Don't know if this is relevant: I can use SketchUp files (my version is 2017, I think). Thanks!
    Scollins17
    Hi Tom I have a yearling marginated I posted for about a week ago. I bought a glass terrarium like you recommended to help keep better control of the humidity. This terrarium is much taller than the box I was using so my 100w ceramic heating element is only getting the basking spot to about 86F. Should I move up to a 150w element? What element brands do you recommend?
    Tom
    Tom
    CHEs are for maintaining ambient temps, not for basking. There is not enough room here to answer. Make a thread on the forum and I can answer you more throughly.
    Scollins17
    Scollins17
    Ok I posted a thread and tagged you in it. First time trying to tag someone, so hopefully I did it right.
    csheikh
    Hi Tom. I have a Sulcata Tortoise. When l came out to check on him, he had a big chunk of reptibark in his mouth. I quickly took it out and made him drink water to pass it through if he ate anything. Yet he went back and took a piece again. I don't know what sudden behaviour this was. The substrate is ReptiBark. No, he doesn't have a red light. Please help.
    Tom
    Tom
    Too much to type here. Make a thread in the sulcata section and ask the forum. Tag me if you want. Include your temps, lighting, enclosure type and size, what you feed, etc...
    csheikh
    csheikh
    Ok
    huaban
    Hi Tom, question about outdoor enclosure. I bought some pressure treated wood for enclosure walls. Is that safe for tortoises?
    Tom
    Tom
    Yes. Totally fine to use as walls for an outdoor pen.
    huaban
    huaban
    Cool thank you so much!
    D
    Hi Tom do you have any albinos tortoises available or no of any one who do ? Cheers
    Tom
    Tom
    I do, but I can't ship to the UK.
    F
    Hey Tom,

    What are the most reputable sources for adopting or purchasing tortoises?
    Tom
    Tom
    Varies by species. Depends on what you are looking for. Send me a private message and tell me what species you are after?
    G
    Hi Tom,
    Nice to meet you! I just got my baby sulcata exactly 3 days ago. So I'm still a little bit confused about what requirement should I buy for my baby sulcata...
    Now I'm looking for a lamp for my sulcata, should I get a UVA or UVB lamp? or even both? and what number of watt do you prefer?
    G
    g.andinny
    ----However, I found these two lighting brand at my local stores : "Exoterra Daylight Basking Bulb" and "Exoterra Intense Basking Spot Bulb". If this sounds familiar to you, can you kindly tell me the differences between these two? and which one should I buy?

    Thankyou for answering Tom,
    have a nice day ahead
    Tom
    Tom
    G
    g.andinny
    Okay thankyou!
    huaban
    Hi Tom I got a UVB question. I bought zoo med reptisun T5 HO straight tubes + fixture hood. It comes with 5.0 and 10.0 tubes. Which one should I use for me 3 months radiated tort? The enclosure height is about 12 inches. I do not have much opportunities to get him outside.
    Tom
    Tom
    5.0 tubes don't make much UV, so I'd go with the 10.0. You still need a meter to check the levels. You might have to adjust the height depending on what the meter says. I would only run t for 2-3 hours mid day.
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