Humid hide.....

My baby sulcata never wants to be in the humid hide, she always falls asleep outside of it, and she never hides in her shell when she sleeps, all of her open body parts are always out, is that okay?

Yep, pretty normal! Just make sure the entire enclosure is humid.
Could we see a picture of the humid hide?

Hi, What’s your humidity running at?
Your enclosure looks very dry I’m not sure if it’s just the picture... I would want to see some condensation on the glass.

I’m not sure if that hide is humid either... what have you done to make it humid?

I've tried soaking the hide and place my tortoise under it. I'm not to sure what the humidity is at. I also try to soak (Mary Jane) everyday just so she is not dehydrated

Ok. @Tom @Yvonne are best to help here.

But basically you should probably invest in an humidity/temperature meter for inside your enclosure they are really cheap, im not in the US but I’m sure someone will link it here for you.

Your substrate needs to be wet, so that when you squeeze it between your hand, a tiny bit of water drops out. You need to tip a jug of water over it and mix it all up with your hands.
To make a really humid hide, for cheap, you could use a plastic tub like a washing tub or anything similar and just cut out a door way. The plastic hold the humidity inside.

I’m sure someone will be along and will link you some photos of theirs (I’m on my phone so I can’t do it)

Please give these a read-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/
For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/
Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

Looks like a screen top. Try covering it with a shower curtain, cutting out holes for the lights. Pour a little water into the substrate and mix it up good. Your humidity should stay high if you do this.

Miapizzariaa said:

My baby sulcata never wants to be in the humid hide, she always falls asleep outside of it, and she never hides in her shell when she sleeps, all of her open body parts are always out, is that okay?

Click to expand...

• You need to buy or build a closed chamber enclosure. Your open top will not allow humidity to be high enough, especially not in a dry climate like yours or mine. Your enclosure also looks too small. I like a minimum of 36x18 inches for a hatchling, but bigger than that is better. Large plastic tubs can be purchased cheaper than glass tanks, but buying or building a large closed chamber is best.
• I see a basking lamp, but I can't see any night heat in the pic. Night temp needs to stay above 80.
• The sides on that water dish are too tall and steep. A terra cotta plant saucer sunk into the substrate will work much better.
• More dampness in your substrate.
• Daily soaks are good.
• An open ended half log is not a humid hide. the open ends let any humidity escape. I use $2 black dishwashing tubs from Walmart. Flip them upside down and cut out a door hole. Then wet the substrate under it.
• Baby sulcatas show a strong aversion to any kind of cave or hole in the ground. Presumably a survival instinct to avoid whatever crazy African animal made the hole in the first place. Place the baby inside the hide every night after the lights have been out for a while. Sometimes it takes two or three weeks for them to realize that it is their cave, and there is no African tortoise eating monster inside the scary cave. Its funny because if you put a baby russian or CDT in the same enclosure, they will make a bee line for the cave and stay in it.

Please feel free to ask lots of questions.

Is this okay?

Miapizzariaa said:

Is this okay?

Click to expand...

No unfortunately that's not going to hold humidity. You could use that as an outdoor pen you could put your tort in for a little each day for some uvb. I used this, you can easily cut out holes for the light and heat emitter

https://www.walmart.com/ip/IRIS-Hol...75035&wl11=online&wl12=48037027&wl13=&veh=sem

That's not the best substrate. You want something that is fine, that they can dig in, and holds moisture, like fine grade orchid bark or coco coir. Don't use sand or potting soil or wood chips.