Finally have tortoise!

Hey everyone so I need help once again! Couldn't be more excited my hatchling sulcata tortoise arrived this morning from backwater reptiles and regardless of what you think of backwater reptiles she or he has arrived happy and healthy. I am however still currently in a dilemma about the enclosure which is why I need help. The very top picture is the outdoor kid pool enclosure that it spent about and hour in this morning after I gave it a warm bath to rehydrate and soak up a bit of heat after the long trip. Below the actual picture of the tortoise is the indoor habitat I have now created. Now the last picture I had of my outdoor habitat I put up you all stressed I need an indoor enclosure for safety and humidity purposes. I appreciate the advice and I have followed much of what was recommended to me. The indoor habitat is s medium sized plastic box filled with coconut coir. The lighting is one of those expensive mercury vapor bulbs that provide both UVA and UVB plus heat it is 100 watt. If you look closely in back I have a repti fogger and thermometer. I covered half the top of the enclosure with tin foil to help trap humidity within to promote good shell growth. So now of course the question is what could I do better? Name anything. I of course want the best for my sulcata tortoise. Just a bit more info..... I am worried because it is looking like a tropical habitat with the fog and coconut coir! I realize it is of course common to assume a sulcata needs a dry habitat but is there such thing as too humid? Also the baby has already been nibbling on dandelion greens and hibiscus leaves this morning. It is currently sleeping by the food dish. Thank you all so much! Again please comment whatever you think!

You don't need the fogger

johnsonnboswell said:

You don't need the fogger

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Thanks for responding and yes I've monitored the humidity the past day and have found misting gets the humidity up as it is.

Glad your baby is doing well, it is very cute! Find a way to cover the entire indoor enclosure completely and then you really won't need the fogger. You can put foil over the mesh and just leave openings for your light/heat fixtures. I'd throw in some plants or other hiding places as well, torts don't like big open areas. Spider plants are easy and tolerate high temps/humidity...just make sure it is pesticide free first. Good job getting the indoor tub set up!

+1 on the fogger.
It should be a last ditch effort.
Closing all or most of the top will fix your humidity situation.
Congratulations, by the way.

Careym13 said:

Glad your baby is doing well, it is very cute! Find a way to cover the entire indoor enclosure completely and then you really won't need the fogger. You can put foil over the mesh and just leave openings for your light/heat fixtures. I'd throw in some plants or other hiding places as well, torts don't like big open areas. Spider plants are easy and tolerate high temps/humidity...just make sure it is pesticide free first. Good job getting the indoor tub set up!

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Thank you covering the whole top today will be my next task!

ZEROPILOT said:

+1 on the fogger.
It should be a last ditch effort.
Closing all or most of the top will fix your humidity situation.
Congratulations, by the way.

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Thank you so much!

Tort_nube said:

Thank you covering the whole top today will be my next task!

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Sounds like a plan. Getting the enclosure right can be a challenging and sometimes stressful undertaking (it was for me, anyway). But once you get it all together you will really enjoy watching your tort thrive!

Al the care info is right here.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Looks like you tortoise needs a humid hide and a bigger shallow water dish sunk into the substrate.


What is the wire on top? Is that plastic? Rubber coated wire? Is the bulb melting or burning it yet?

Tom said:

Al the care info is right here.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Looks like you tortoise needs a humid hide and a bigger shallow water dish sunk into the substrate.


What is the wire on top? Is that plastic? Rubber coated wire? Is the bulb melting or burning it yet?

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The thing covering half the top is tin foil and I'm being careful not to have the lamp to close to the plastic sides of the container because that's the only thing that would burn

Tort_nube said:

The thing covering half the top is tin foil and I'm being careful not to have the lamp to close to the plastic sides of the container because that's the only thing that would burn

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In the pic your heat lamp is resting on some sort of black mesh. That is what I am inquiring about.

Tom said:

In the pic your heat lamp is resting on some sort of black mesh. That is what I am inquiring about.

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Oh sorry that is a regular metal top for normal glass reptile aquariums. It won't burn.

If youre using a plastic bin for an indoor enclosure just put the top on and cut out holes for all your fixtures.. line the holes with tin foil so they dont melt that will fix your humidity and heat problems

I don't see a single water dish? Terra cotta planter pot saucers work best. Sunk into the substrate.