New Tortoise Mommy! Meet Dozer

MrsTage15 · Feb 6, 2019

We just got a new baby Sulcata Tortoise today I'm so excited! Been doing loads of research and right now (s)he is living in a large tote but I'm going to start an epic project and make a 6.5 foot by 2 foot bio active table! I'll document building it and if it's a successful project I'll post it planning on having a dranage level of rocks and 6" of dirt for substrate and planting grass and clover and bringing in some weeds from outside (I know it'll probably all get destroyed but I'll try lol) and adding springtails and earth worms... Having a shallow bowl for mud and a clean(ish) water dish and a dry hide and moist hide and stepping stones.. .y'all I'm so excited for it lol... After I'm done with that I'll have to be onto planning on how to build a safe out door enclosure and keeping a shed heated over winter etc...

How big of a shed should I have for wintering in?

Meanwhile here is Dozer in his temp home

Maro2Bear · Feb 6, 2019

Welcome. Have fun.....substrate looks like it needs to be a lot more moist.

Have fun. Soak daily.

MrsTage15 · Feb 6, 2019

Maro2Bear said:
Welcome. Have fun.....substrate looks like it needs to be a lot more moist.

Have fun. Soak daily.

I thought so too so it "rained" shortly after the pictures lol and thanks I'll be sure to soak daily! I did do a warm soak earlier today and it seemed enjoyable lol

Ray--Opo · Feb 6, 2019

Welcome I know the feeling about having a baby sully and what the future will bring. My sully Opo is 20 months old. I am not sure if the bio active enclosure is suitable for sullies. They shouldn't eat earthworms or bugs. I am sure other members will guide you. Read the sections here on care for sulcata's. Also check out the enclosure section for outdoor enclosures. There are some great ones. You have a few years to before you will need a outdoors enclosure. Your little buddy needs to stay in for 2 or 3years. When weather permits daily supervised outside time. Never take your eye off the little guy. Here in Florida when Opo was small I had to watch out for hawks. They would circle around just waiting for the right time. There will be so much more to learn. But to get you going soak your little guy daily for 1/2 hr in warm water. Depth of water to where the top shell and bottom shell meet and don't let the water cool down.
Good luck and enjoy the experience of raising a sully

MrsTage15 · Feb 6, 2019

Ray--Opo said:
Welcome I know the feeling about having a baby sully and what the future will bring. My sully Opo is 20 months old. I am not sure if the bio active enclosure is suitable for sullies. They shouldn't eat earthworms or bugs. I am sure other members will guide you. Read the sections here on care for sulcata's. Also check out the enclosure section for outdoor enclosures. There are some great ones. You have a few years to before you will need a outdoors enclosure. Your little buddy needs to stay in for 2 or 3years. When weather permits daily supervised outside time. Never take your eye off the little guy. Here in Florida when Opo was small I had to watch out for hawks. They would circle around just waiting for the right time. There will be so much more to learn. But to get you going soak your little guy daily for 1/2 hr in warm water. Depth of water to where the top shell and bottom shell meet and don't let the water cool down.
Good luck and enjoy the experience of raising a sully

I thought the worms just did clean up duty? I need to read if he is likely to go after them or not... Tried to feed one to my slider once and he wasn't interested at all so

EllieMay · Feb 6, 2019

Welcome & Congrats!

Ray--Opo · Feb 6, 2019

MrsTage15 said:
I thought the worms just did clean up duty? I need to read if he is likely to go after them or not... Tried to feed one to my slider once and he wasn't interested at all so

I am not sure either I am sure someone will chime in. another thing to watch if you notice that you don't see poop in the enclosure. Look at the mouth if it has a black ring around the mouth. You have a poop eater. Lol When I found out I noticed Opo pooped every morning when eating. So I would scoop it up and soon Opo forgot about it.

Torta-geddon · Feb 6, 2019

I love having a baby sully and upgrading the enclosure (I'm working on my 3rd upgrade in 3 months). I think your water bowl is a flipping hazard. You have a cute little tort I look forward to seeing more pictures. Welcome to the forum.

MrsTage15 · Feb 6, 2019

Ray--Opo said:
I am not sure either I am sure someone will chime in. another thing to watch if you notice that you don't see poop in the enclosure. Look at the mouth if it has a black ring around the mouth. You have a poop eater. Lol When I found out I noticed Opo pooped every morning when eating. So I would scoop it up and soon Opo forgot about it.

Oh no! There was poo in the box I brought him home in (he poo'd on the way home) and he didn't eat it but it looked like he did have some on his face and leg so I will watch that!

Also eww lol

MrsTage15 · Feb 6, 2019

Torta-geddon said:
I love having a baby sully and upgrading the enclosure (I'm working on my 3rd upgrade in 3 months). I think your water bowl is a flipping hazard. You have a cute little tort I look forward to seeing more pictures. Welcome to the forum.

Really? I'll have to add some stones in to make it shallower until he's a bit bigger, I got it because it had a ramp out as well as in... Didn't stop him from trying to climb out the side though lol... I'll add some stones (too big for him to eat) until he gets bigger and raise the water level accordingly so he can drink it through the stones (right now it's just enough to wade through)

Chasen · Feb 6, 2019

MrsTage15 said:
Really? I'll have to add some stones in to make it shallower until he's a bit bigger, I got it because it had a ramp out as well as in... Didn't stop him from trying to climb out the side though lol... I'll add some stones (too big for him to eat) until he gets bigger and raise the water level accordingly so he can drink it through the stones (right now it's just enough to wade through)

Congrats and welcome. You couldn't have found a better crew of experienced keepers to dispense advice than on this forum. I think your water bowl will still be a flipping hazard regardless of the stones. An inexpensive terra cotta saucer will do great and it has slopped sides for easy exits.

TriciaStringer · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome! You have such a cute tortoise!

You mentioned building a table. Sulcatas do not do well in an open enclosure. He needs a closed chamber to hold in the heat and humidity. I’ll try and link some important articles for you.

TriciaStringer · Feb 8, 2019

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

TriciaStringer · Feb 8, 2019

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Yvonne G · Feb 8, 2019

Hi, and welcome!

MPappagallo · Jun 9, 2019

Welcome to the forum! Dozer is a real cutie! I am sure you will both have a blast getting to know each other!

New Tortoise Mommy! Meet Dozer

MrsTage15

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Maro2Bear

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MrsTage15

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Ray--Opo

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MrsTage15

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EllieMay

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Ray--Opo

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Torta-geddon

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MrsTage15

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MrsTage15

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Chasen

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TriciaStringer

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Yvonne G

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