jcha2013
New Member
Hi Everyone!
My name is Julie and I am the new owner to Franklin (don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but going with that name for right now), my Sulcata Tortoise (~4 months old). I live in the Northern part of California and for those who live where I am, you all know it's rainy season + cold season. I've had Franklin for about 5 days now, and I believe he is adjusting just fine. He eats A LOT and walks a ton. He's super friendly and is very curious! I soak him about every day now for about 15 minutes just to make sure he is not dehydrated. I have his basking light at the side of his enclosure (95 degrees+) and another heat lamp (85 degrees -ish) about mid way to keep him warm because my apartment drops temperature really quickly. He lives in a storage tub as of right now with some reptile bedding as his substrate. I do spray his enclosure down a couple times a day to reduce it drying out too much. I got Franklin from a person on Craigslist (..I know..) and he's had a health exam and they said he was healthy. I do have a few questions for you all who are more experienced...
1. How do you keep his SKIN from being dry? Almost scaly looking? I know others must coconut oil from time to time. I bought Franklin a soap for his shell and it's worked fine, but more so for his skin.
2. I have plastic plants to make his enclosure "pretty" but he tries to eat them. Not successful, but I don't want it to be a health hazard.
3. Franklin looks so much smaller and different than other tortoises I've seen on the forum. Other's look really smooth in the face and have darker lines on the shell. Any tips on why Franklin might look a little different. It could just be me as a new tort mom and i'm just tripping out. I feel like he may be less than four months as well. You can check out his instagram @_itsfranklin_ to check out what he looks like.
So far, he eats a lot and walks a lot. He's very curious and is showing tort behavior such as digging, soaking himself when needed, eating when hungry, basking when necessary, sleeping in a cooler corner, etc. He just looks a little different........lol
My name is Julie and I am the new owner to Franklin (don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but going with that name for right now), my Sulcata Tortoise (~4 months old). I live in the Northern part of California and for those who live where I am, you all know it's rainy season + cold season. I've had Franklin for about 5 days now, and I believe he is adjusting just fine. He eats A LOT and walks a ton. He's super friendly and is very curious! I soak him about every day now for about 15 minutes just to make sure he is not dehydrated. I have his basking light at the side of his enclosure (95 degrees+) and another heat lamp (85 degrees -ish) about mid way to keep him warm because my apartment drops temperature really quickly. He lives in a storage tub as of right now with some reptile bedding as his substrate. I do spray his enclosure down a couple times a day to reduce it drying out too much. I got Franklin from a person on Craigslist (..I know..) and he's had a health exam and they said he was healthy. I do have a few questions for you all who are more experienced...
1. How do you keep his SKIN from being dry? Almost scaly looking? I know others must coconut oil from time to time. I bought Franklin a soap for his shell and it's worked fine, but more so for his skin.
2. I have plastic plants to make his enclosure "pretty" but he tries to eat them. Not successful, but I don't want it to be a health hazard.
3. Franklin looks so much smaller and different than other tortoises I've seen on the forum. Other's look really smooth in the face and have darker lines on the shell. Any tips on why Franklin might look a little different. It could just be me as a new tort mom and i'm just tripping out. I feel like he may be less than four months as well. You can check out his instagram @_itsfranklin_ to check out what he looks like.
So far, he eats a lot and walks a lot. He's very curious and is showing tort behavior such as digging, soaking himself when needed, eating when hungry, basking when necessary, sleeping in a cooler corner, etc. He just looks a little different........lol