New tortoise owner here...

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Hi everyone, I am a long time turtle lover. I’ve always wanted a tortoise but had to wait til I had the room for it to roam. We just brought our new tortoise, Jeronima aka Janet, home Saturday. An African spurred tortoise, I believe is what it’s called. We got her from a local breeder who seems pretty knowledgeable about the tortoises. He has many that he has had for years. My question, though, is after bringing Janet home, I realized the little tike is less than 4 months old. Birth date was 8-11-18. Is there any special needs she will need being so young? She eats good, walks through her little water dish ever so often but never really walks “around”. Just to her food then back to her corner where she buries down a little and stays there for a while each time.

ZEROPILOT · Nov 19, 2018

Hello and welcome

Ray--Opo · Nov 19, 2018

Welcome if we can see your enclosure that would be great. Soaks everyday in nice warm water for 1/2 hr don't let the water cool down. Use a container that the tort cant see over and fill the water to bottom of top shell. Read all the threads and especially the one about beginners mistakes.

Maro2Bear · Nov 19, 2018

Welcome..

Like Ray said, upload some pix of your new tort and enclosure and folks will provide lots of input..

Heres a Care Sheet - https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Happy Torting

Tim Carlisle · Nov 19, 2018

Hi and welcome! Yes, younglings need special care and consideration for the first couple of years. Be sure to read the care sheet that Maro2Bear posted for you. Raising a sulcata is much akin to playing Chess: you have to plan several moves ahead as they grow very quickly. Again, welcome to the forum!

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Here’s a pic of her temporary habitat. I’ve got the top screens covered in order to trap in more heat and humidity. I do need to get a digital thermometer to put in there. Just trying to keep it pretty simple until she gets her forever enclosure built.

Tim Carlisle · Nov 19, 2018

Cute little setup.

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Mizcreant said:
Cute little setup.

Thank you

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

The little hideout is a glass mason jar. It’s pretty warm and damp feeling inside but she prefers the far right corner of the tank to sleep or if anyone moves too quickly near her tank that’s where she would head. I started putting her food further away from the corner, where I was putting on the rock that’s in there. She’s out eating as we speak. I say “she” but really idk the true gender yet.

Ray--Opo · Nov 19, 2018

Is the UVB light one of those tube type? If it is it needs to be changed. Those are hard on the torts eyes. I had that same setup bought from the person who sold me Opo. Since I haven't figured out how to send links maybe @Maro2Bear can send the proper light. That is a great setup you have there. I think Jeronimo is going to be one spoiled sully

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Ray--Opo said:
Is the UVB light one of those tube type? If it is it needs to be changed. Those are hard on the torts eyes. I had that same setup bought from the person who sold me Opo. Since I haven't figured out how to send links maybe @Maro2Bear can send the proper light. That is a great setup you have there. I think Jeronimo is going to be one spoiled sully

Okay, so this neeeds to be changed out? Thanks for the info!!

Ray--Opo · Nov 19, 2018

Janet_1117 said:
Okay, so this neeeds to be changed out? Thanks for the info!!

Yes I wish I could send you the info but I haven't figured out how to do it on my smartphone. Lol Not that smart yet

.
Maybe you can find it in the enclosure thread

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Ray--Opo said:
Yes I wish I could send you the info but I haven't figured out how to do it on my smartphone. Lol Not that smart yet.
Maybe you can find it in the enclosure thread

I’m looking now

Minority2 · Nov 19, 2018

Janet_1117 said:
The little hideout is a glass mason jar. It’s pretty warm and damp feeling inside but she prefers the far right corner of the tank to sleep or if anyone moves too quickly near her tank that’s where she would head. I started putting her food further away from the corner, where I was putting on the rock that’s in there. She’s out eating as we speak. I say “she” but really idk the true gender yet.

Replace that glass mason jar with something bigger and wider. A tortoise that is used to a particular hide box will continue to use that hide, even if it no longer fits them. The tortoise will attempt to force their way into this hide box, doing so may damage their shell and may even get permanently stuck inside the glass jar in the process. A Sulcata hatchling is fully capable of growing several inches a year.

An ideal indoor hide in my opinion, should have smooth openings so that it does not cling unto a tortoise when it goes in or out. It should be roomy enough to allow the tortoise to maneuver themselves without having to slam into the sides of the hide box. The hide box should also be high, deep, and wide enough to mimic an above ground burrow. To do so, just fill the hide box at 3/4 full of substrate and allow your tortoise to dig out the rest.

Good indoor hide options: Small corrugated cardboard boxes, plastic Tupperware tubs, dish pans, and or round/rectangle wash tubs.

Janet_1117 · Nov 19, 2018

Minority2 said:
Replace that glass mason jar with something bigger and wider. A tortoise that is used to a particular hide box will continue to use that hide, even if it no longer fits them. The tortoise will attempt to force their way into this hide box, doing so may damage their shell and may even get permanently stuck inside the glass jar in the process. A Sulcata hatchling is fully capable of growing several inches a year.

An ideal indoor hide in my opinion, should have smooth openings so that it does not cling unto a tortoise when it goes in or out. It should be roomy enough to allow the tortoise to maneuver themselves without having to slam into the sides of the hide box. The hide box should also be high, deep, and wide enough to mimic an above ground burrow. To do so, just fill the hide box at 3/4 full of substrate and allow your tortoise to dig out the rest.

Good indoor hide options: Small corrugated cardboard boxes, plastic Tupperware tubs, dish pans, and or round/rectangle wash tubs.

Thanks for the suggestion. This is just a temporary setup. I didn’t want to put anything too big in this particular tank due to it taking up to much space. I will look for something more suitable for the time being though. She doesn’t seem to interested in this hide out anyhow. Lol

Ray--Opo · Nov 20, 2018

Janet_1117 said:
I’m looking now

It's a 18" or you can buy longer depending on your next enclosure. Anyways it is like a flouresnt fixture and it comes with I think a 5 UVB light. So I bought a reptisun 18" light that had a 10 UVB rating. All online

New tortoise owner here...

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