AsaPatrick-Ricard
New Member
Hello, tortoise lovers!
My name is Aša (pronounced Asha) and I am an 8 month-old sulcata. My parents recently brought me home and I'm still trying to get adjusted to this big change. I have an older hognose sister who's lived with them for seven years, but I am their first tortoise! When their roommates leave in June ( ), I will have an entire bedroom full of plants to myself ( )- for now, I am in a very small enclosure (2' × 1.5' × 1.5') with a soil floor. The coolest spot in my enclosure is 78°; the warmest is roughly 103°. I have a hide filled with peat moss and a waterbowl I never use, and spend most of my time inside trying to burrow out. In addition to daily soaking, Mum also warms me in a wet washcloth and wipes down my face, legs, and shell at least twice daily. I much prefer being wrapped in a washcloth, but I won't fit in her palm forever! I only eat voraciously when Mum handfeeds me (Mazuri, lettuce; collards) and I only poop when she rubs my tummy.
I love being in the garden, but it's easy to get lost and there are SO MANY hawks! Dad worries I'm going to be carried away, but Mum worries about having UV lights over my enclosure, so I need all the time outdoors I can get! How can I best be protected while allowed to roam free when I'm so small?
Can I be cleaned with coconut oil? My parents have read many different accounts saying it's fine to do in small amounts if it's immediately removed OR that it can potentially be harmful. They don't want to hurt me, but they do want my entire body to be hydrated and also have the healthiest shell possible.
Mum is nuts about me and bought a clear backpack with hand/foot warmers so she can take me on adventures. I LOVE car rides in the sun! But will being carried around stress me out too much?
Will I get too lonely by myself? My parents read sulcatas can be very aggressive toward each other, but they were considering adopting an older tortoise once my gender is apparent. Will I hate having a sulcata friend?
What do I need to know to have the best life possible?
My name is Aša (pronounced Asha) and I am an 8 month-old sulcata. My parents recently brought me home and I'm still trying to get adjusted to this big change. I have an older hognose sister who's lived with them for seven years, but I am their first tortoise! When their roommates leave in June ( ), I will have an entire bedroom full of plants to myself ( )- for now, I am in a very small enclosure (2' × 1.5' × 1.5') with a soil floor. The coolest spot in my enclosure is 78°; the warmest is roughly 103°. I have a hide filled with peat moss and a waterbowl I never use, and spend most of my time inside trying to burrow out. In addition to daily soaking, Mum also warms me in a wet washcloth and wipes down my face, legs, and shell at least twice daily. I much prefer being wrapped in a washcloth, but I won't fit in her palm forever! I only eat voraciously when Mum handfeeds me (Mazuri, lettuce; collards) and I only poop when she rubs my tummy.
I love being in the garden, but it's easy to get lost and there are SO MANY hawks! Dad worries I'm going to be carried away, but Mum worries about having UV lights over my enclosure, so I need all the time outdoors I can get! How can I best be protected while allowed to roam free when I'm so small?
Can I be cleaned with coconut oil? My parents have read many different accounts saying it's fine to do in small amounts if it's immediately removed OR that it can potentially be harmful. They don't want to hurt me, but they do want my entire body to be hydrated and also have the healthiest shell possible.
Mum is nuts about me and bought a clear backpack with hand/foot warmers so she can take me on adventures. I LOVE car rides in the sun! But will being carried around stress me out too much?
Will I get too lonely by myself? My parents read sulcatas can be very aggressive toward each other, but they were considering adopting an older tortoise once my gender is apparent. Will I hate having a sulcata friend?
What do I need to know to have the best life possible?