Correct UV level

Got a meter, what level of exposure do small sulcatas need?

A UVI of 3-4 is good if you want to run it all day. If your level is 5-7, I'd only run the lamp on a timer for 3-4 hours mid day. Higher than 7, and you need to raise the tube higher. Lower than 3, and you need to lower the tube some.

Its also important that your tortoise have several places to hide, and it also ned a proper humid hide. You need a lot more substrate, more dampness, more hiding places, and a humid hide. Failure to provide these things will result in pyramiding that cannot be un-done.

Best way to raise humidity. It’s 50% now.


How thick should the bark substrate be?

Quickest is a piece of plexoglass cut to cover the top. The cheapest is aluminum foil

The only area not covered is under lights. I’m going to lower UV fluorescent fixture into inclosure to raise strength.


How deep should the substrate be? Do you pour water into it and then how often should
you change it to prevent mold problems?

I put a natural sponge in water to raise the humidity. What % should be maintained ?

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-and-sulcata-care-guide.173020/
depth should be 3-4" so they can dig

Thanks Blackdog for the chart. I’ve adjusted the UV to get in the right range. I live in a neighborhood where my neighbors spray
for everything so I can’t harvest from my yard.
If I add safe lawn harvest from elsewhere they just try to escape like the joints ablaze.
Should I just try to starve them into going off the store green they were fed from hatching?
Soooo, at nite going down to 68 degrees is ok?
No added heat to maintain 80 +-?

Please read this: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
All of your questions, and many more, are answered in detail in this thread.

This one will help too:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Checking in on progress.
2.5 years in,1200 mg.
Humidity is kept at 75-80%
Soak 3+ times a week
Eats mixed greens with wheat grass, Timothy hay and Mazuri pellets.

Shell not smooth, moisture issue? Also sometimes has chalky substance in urine, comes and goes.
Is there a pellet, name please, that would be a complete diet If Mazuri is only a supplement. He’s very active, built a secure outdoor are for him in warm weather. All input greatly appreciated.

Oldbro said:

Checking in on progress.
2.5 years in,1200 mg.
Humidity is kept at 75-80%
Soak 3+ times a week
Eats mixed greens with wheat grass, Timothy hay and Mazuri pellets.

Shell not smooth, moisture issue? Also sometimes has chalky substance in urine, comes and goes.
Is there a pellet, name please, that would be a complete diet If Mazuri is only a supplement. He’s very active, built a secure outdoor are for him in warm weather. All input greatly appreciated.
View attachment 335124

Click to expand...

1200 mg or 1200 grams?

Your tort looks great. Routine and diet sound pretty good.

Your humidity is just a little bit too low, and you could soak more often and for longer time periods if you are seeing urates.

Look for more weeds, leaves, flowers and succulents to add to the diet when available. Or grow your own. Many options for this.

There is not a pelleted diet that is a complete diet in my opinion. Several can be good supplemental foods, but there is no substitute for real green food for them.

I'd switch to orchard grass hay instead of Timothy, but soaked Timothy horse pellets are a great way to add fiber to grocery store greens over winter when weeds and other high fiber foods are not as available. Your baby is still a bit small for hay, but some of them will take to it sooner.

Pyramiding can often be caused by the wrong bulbs. Spot bulb, infrared bulbs, and MVBs can all make it worse. Are you using any of those? If not, I would't worry too much. Your tortoise isn't prefect but its pretty darn good. I would be proud to show him/her off if it were my tortoise.

Sorry 1200 grams. Over 2 lbs. Heres my lighting. UV fluorescent, incandescent 60 watt for above warmth and thermostatically controlled radiant floor heat. Started getting sun light this summer in secure out door pen.

Oldbro said:

Sorry 1200 grams. Over 2 lbs. Heres my lighting. UV fluorescent, incandescent 60 watt for above warmth and thermostatically controlled radiant floor heat. Started getting sun light this summer in secure out door pen.View attachment 335125

Click to expand...

There were two babies in your first photos from 2019. Do you still have two of them? If so, how does the second one look now compared to the one in post #9?

Oldbro said:

Sorry 1200 grams. Over 2 lbs. Heres my lighting. UV fluorescent, incandescent 60 watt for above warmth and thermostatically controlled radiant floor heat. Started getting sun light this summer in secure out door pen.View attachment 335125

Click to expand...

Looks like you need some damp substrate. Hay or straw should never be used. It can't be kept damp because it will mold. This would explain the mild pyramiding too.

It also looks like you are still using a glass tank. Unless it is a custom built monster, it is way too small. At this size your tortoise needs at least 4x8 feet for its indoor enclosure, and I use 30x30 foot enclosures outside for torts this size.

The Timothy Hay he will eat in less than a week, never wet, bark substrate is wet on bottom of enclosure. I’m working on a larger home In attached heated garage that will be thermally controlled.