Need a little help with my sulcata and box

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“Pictures below” so I’ve had my sulcata tortoise for years now but when I was little my dad got him as a hatchling, a couple years ago I turned 11 and started buying and taking care of him myself, I don’t think he has shell rot or MBd because he lives outside in the summer, he’s starting to be a little lumpy (not shell, actually legs), is that him just getting fat or am I paranoid, I don’t think he had mbd because his shell is hard as a rock and also my box turtle seems to be getting a little fat, I don’t hibernate him so can that be because winter is right around the corner, I’m going to post pictures of both of them, You guys can help me with my question and tell me if you see anything out of the normal in the pictures about my tortoise, I feed the box turtle dried mealworms, lettuce (mealworms are mixed with d3 calcium) and occasionally goldfish and a cricket, sulcata really eats what I get from th market, lettuce, kale, peppers all that and dusted with d3 calcium, so yeah guys I’m just a bit worried View attachment 222973View attachment 222975View attachment 222976View attachment 222977
 
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“Pictures below” so I’ve had my sulcata tortoise for years now but when I was little my dad got him as a hatchling, a couple years ago I turned 11 and started buying and taking care of him myself, now I’m 14 and still take care of him (love him very much) I don’t think he has shell rot or MBd because he lives outside in the summer, he’s starting to be a little lumpy (not shell, actually legs), is that him just getting fat or am I paranoid, I don’t think he had mbd because his shell is hard as a rock and also my box turtle seems to be getting a little fat, I don’t hibernate him so can that be because winter is right around the corner, I’m going to post pictures of both of them, You guys can help me with my question and tell me if you see anything out of the normal in the pictures about my tortoise, I feed the box turtle dried mealworms, lettuce (mealworms are mixed with d3 calcium) and occasionally goldfish and a cricket, sulcata really eats what I get from th market, lettuce, kale, peppers all that and dusted with d3 calcium, so yeah guys I’m just a bit worried
 

Yvonne G

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Tom

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Other than the pyramiding, which is due to overly dry conditions, your sulcata looks fine.

It would help to know where in the world you are. Go into your user profile and type in the general region of the world where you are. Different advice for Southern CA vs. Northern MI, ya' know?

Do you have UV sources for both enclosures over the winter?

Here is how you should be caring for your tortoise:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
It looks like you are using a red bulb, dry substrate, no humid hide, and an open topped enclosure. All of these things are a problem.

Your diet need much improvement too. Here is what you should be feeding your tortoise:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Your box turtle needs much more variety too.

After you read these, come back with all your questions, and we will help you get things all sorted out.
 

JoesMum

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Your sulcata has a very pyramidded shell. It should be smooth like your box turtle and not knobbly like that. The scales on his legs are normal.

This means your Sulcata is being raised far too dry. With correct care going forward it will become less obvious but will never go away completely.

Can we see photos of your enclosures and lighting please? This will help us to help you.

We also need to know the four important temperatures: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum... and the humidity and floor size of each enclosure. And finally we need to know the diet, including supplements and soaking regime for each tortoise.

I can see you are using a red light. These aren’t recommended for tortoises. They need complete darkness by night. And they colour substrate and decor red... tortoises think red food tastes nice, but aren’t very clever and start eating things they shouldn’t like the substrate.
 

JoesMum

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I recommend you read these care sheets for the Sulcata. They’re written by @Tom who is a species expert working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

For those that have a young Sulcata (yours isn’t a baby but this has a good food list)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 
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JoesMum

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View attachment 223014View attachment 223015View attachment 223016

I live in jersey and have no uvb lamps, this lid I have on, is it necessary?

1. Are these two in together? They shouldn’t be as they have very different needs for both environment and food.

2. They will both get very sick without UVB.

Your sulcata needs:
- A basking lamp hung vertically, not at angle, with 95-100F directly underneath. A reflector bulb like this
7841571C-42F5-4B7C-BD25-0677A1DAB685-4268-000003A024A79717_tmp.jpg
- A UVB tube
Both these need to be on for 12-14 hours every day. Your Sulcata also needs warmth at night. How cold is it at night?

Your Box Turtle
I know less about these (@lisa127 are you around?) but they’re a forest species needing UVB tube, general warmth but not specific basking I think... the Boxie keepers will give more detail.

Read those care sheets. You need to make changes.
 
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1. Are these two in together? They shouldn’t be as they have very different needs for both environment and food.

2. They will both get very sick without UVB.

Your sulcata needs:
- A basking lamp hung vertically, not at angle, with 95-100F directly underneath. A reflector bulb like this
View attachment 223017
- A UVB tube
Both these need to be on for 12-14 hours every day. Your Sulcata also needs warmth at night. How cold is it at night?

Your Box Turtle
I know less about these (@lisa127 are you around?) but they’re a forest species needing UVB tube, general warmth but not specific basking I think... the Boxie keepers will give more detail.

Read those care sheets. You need to make changes.

Thank you and there in separate cages
 

lisa127

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“Pictures below” so I’ve had my sulcata tortoise for years now but when I was little my dad got him as a hatchling, a couple years ago I turned 11 and started buying and taking care of him myself, I don’t think he has shell rot or MBd because he lives outside in the summer, he’s starting to be a little lumpy (not shell, actually legs), is that him just getting fat or am I paranoid, I don’t think he had mbd because his shell is hard as a rock and also my box turtle seems to be getting a little fat, I don’t hibernate him so can that be because winter is right around the corner, I’m going to post pictures of both of them, You guys can help me with my question and tell me if you see anything out of the normal in the pictures about my tortoise, I feed the box turtle dried mealworms, lettuce (mealworms are mixed with d3 calcium) and occasionally goldfish and a cricket, sulcata really eats what I get from th market, lettuce, kale, peppers all that and dusted with d3 calcium, so yeah guys I’m just a bit worried View attachment 222973View attachment 222975View attachment 222976View attachment 222977
Your box turtle is beautiful! He needs a better diet though. Diet should be 50% protein foods and 50% variety of greens/veggies/fruit. For protein the best is earthworms/nightcrawlers. That would be your staple....for variety once in a while scrambled eggs, cooked chicken, dusted superworms or mealworms (live), reptiworms, or turtle pellets. No goldfish. The rest can be spring mix, turnip greens, dandelion greens, squashes, berries of all kinds, papaya, kiwi, chopped apple, etc. Provide a turtle cuttlebone. He needs uvb lighting, high humidity, damp but not wet substrate, and temperature range from 75 to 90 at basking site. Get a temperature gun.
 

orv

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Your box turtle is beautiful! He needs a better diet though. Diet should be 50% protein foods and 50% variety of greens/veggies/fruit. For protein the best is earthworms/nightcrawlers. That would be your staple....for variety once in a while scrambled eggs, cooked chicken, dusted superworms or mealworms (live), reptiworms, or turtle pellets. No goldfish. The rest can be spring mix, turnip greens, dandelion greens, squashes, berries of all kinds, papaya, kiwi, chopped apple, etc. Provide a turtle cuttlebone. He needs uvb lighting, high humidity, damp but not wet substrate, and temperature range from 75 to 90 at basking site. Get a temperature gun.
I'm certainly not an expert on keeping Sulcatas, but I've kept box turtles successfully for many years. I currently keep an Eastern Box Turtle in our gazebo garden next to our pond and fountain. This area is warm and moist with heavy plantings to provide hides. We also keep California Desert Tortoises in what is a fairly natural setting for them as we live in Southern California. Now, what I really want to comment on is the apparent lack of any natural setting for your tortoise. They really need hides . . . places to get out of line of sight. Rocks and plantings can provide this. Places to get out of the direct heat, other than the night box are needed too. Think of providing some natural challenges for your sully. Sulcatas also appreciate being able to dig . . . it's what they do. These environmental stimulations are in addition to Tom's excellent care sheets. Enjoy!
 

lisa127

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I'm certainly not an expert on keeping Sulcatas, but I've kept box turtles successfully for many years. I currently keep an Eastern Box Turtle in our gazebo garden next to our pond and fountain. This area is warm and moist with heavy plantings to provide hides. We also keep California Desert Tortoises in what is a fairly natural setting for them as we live in Southern California. Now, what I really want to comment on is the apparent lack of any natural setting for your tortoise. They really need hides . . . places to get out of line of sight. Rocks and plantings can provide this. Places to get out of the direct heat, other than the night box are needed too. Think of providing some natural challenges for your sully. Sulcatas also appreciate being able to dig . . . it's what they do. These environmental stimulations are in addition to Tom's excellent care sheets. Enjoy!
I'm assuming this comment is to the OP......
 

Talkinturtles

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“Pictures below” so I’ve had my sulcata tortoise for years now but when I was little my dad got him as a hatchling, a couple years ago I turned 11 and started buying and taking care of him myself, I don’t think he has shell rot or MBd because he lives outside in the summer, he’s starting to be a little lumpy (not shell, actually legs), is that him just getting fat or am I paranoid, I don’t think he had mbd because his shell is hard as a rock and also my box turtle seems to be getting a little fat, I don’t hibernate him so can that be because winter is right around the corner, I’m going to post pictures of both of them, You guys can help me with my question and tell me if you see anything out of the normal in the pictures about my tortoise, I feed the box turtle dried mealworms, lettuce (mealworms are mixed with d3 calcium) and occasionally goldfish and a cricket, sulcata really eats what I get from th market, lettuce, kale, peppers all that and dusted with d3 calcium, so yeah guys I’m just a bit worried View attachment 222973View attachment 222975View attachment 222976View attachment 222977
 
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