tortoise size

Livingstone · Dec 16, 2013

You should put up a mercury vapor bulb in the enclosure. Use a timer to control when it comes on so it simulates a normal length of day (7am to 5pm). You said the enclosure is 3.5 x 8, I would recommend the PUV-11 Bulb, the 100watt.

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Set up the distance so that the temp on the ground is in the mid 90's. (check this after the lamp has been on for one hour, no sooner.) Distance shouldn't be less than 9 inches.

That should get you straightened out for the day cycle.

For the night time, if you choose, you can do a similar thing with a ceramic heat emitter (35 watts is good) and set up the distance so the temp is in the high 70's. Again, use a timer here to pick up after the day one shuts off.

Good luck and keep posting, this tortoise is about to love you.

astock64 · Apr 9, 2014

Jacqui said:
astock64 said:

I'm having trouble posting a reply not too forum "savvy" Will try again

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It is not you. A new person must have their first five post moderated (approved) before they show. You just were not lucky enough to have a Mod on hand when you posted.

Now you may indeed have a sulcata. I know we do hear of some being really tiny for their age. This could be from their genes, but often it is from some thing or things not being correct in their lives. With going into a brumation each year, that could be a major factor in why he is so small. Other things may be a lack of warmth so it did not eat enough, for some it is an issue with how their body is formed or works so for example it can't graze correctly, a lack of food or the proper foods, just so many factors could be at play here. If it is a sulcata, I would bet if everything is provided that it needs, it could have a major growth spurt on you unless it is a gene factor. While it is rare for a sulcata to be brumated/hibernated, there are some that do.

After following advice from you and others on this forum regarding proper diet, lighting, humidity, habitat, etc. our sulcata, Rockette has developed a huge appetite. Since last Aug. she has gained a half pound. She still is only 1.5 lbs.we recently added a fresh grass mix to her diet of grocery greens. This is a mix we are growing, she took to it immediately. We are trying to make this the majority of her diet. This may be the growth spurt you talked about. Can she overeat? She loves cactus for desert and cucumber. she can easily eat a cereal bowl of grass mixed with dandelion greens every day and acts like she wants more. Thx again Art

tortoise size

Livingstone

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