Tom

Tom

10 Year Member! Platinum Tortoise Club
The Dog Trainer From Southern California
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  • S
    Hi Tom. Good morning from UK! I came across an old post of yours from 2011 with photos attached of an outdoor enclosure you built using 'slumpstone' blocks, except I can't open the photos to view them. If you have time, I would love to see the photos, if it's possible to post them here again please? Much appreciate your time. Many thanks. Sue
    M
    Hi Tom! Hope you’re doing well! I was wondering if you have any care sheets for Red-footed tortoises? I saw your care sheet for leopard/sulcata/star but wasn’t sure if that applied. I figured it might since they are also a tropical species? Just looking to learn more! Thanks for your time!
    Tom
    Tom
    I don't have a RF care sheet. Care is similar, with the main exception being that RFs don't need a basking lamp. They need warm temps of 82-86F 24/7. Also, a closed chamber is a must to be able to maintain the necessary high humidity, but with a dry surface to prevent shell rot.
    J
    Hey Tom! Just wanted to say hi and thank you for all your posts. I’m in SoCal too (Los Angeles). I rescued 2 young sulcatas almost two years ago from a local rescue. Had no idea tortoises are abandoned. They are two females named Sid and Nancy. Only about 3-4 years old right now. I’ll add more in comments.
    View previous comments…
    J
    JusJoshinYa
    I’ve challenged myself to only use the leftover lumber from all my other DIY projects over the years. It’s actually quite a bit and neighbors were generous with theirs too. I’ll have to buy insulation and silicone but otherwise, things are coming together. Might not look as fancy as some boxes but I’m going to do my best to make it functional and nice.

    Thanks again for all the info you share!
    Tom
    Tom
    Here is the box you need.

    Double Door Night Box

    As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...
    tortoiseforum.org tortoiseforum.org
    Tom
    Tom
    It can be tough to sex them until they are around 18 inches. How big are they? Also,
    most vets and other people get the sexes wrong. Post pics of the tails and anal scutes on a thread and we can positively ID the sexes for you.
    UnHooked
    Hey. After ur reply on Johnnys lights its got me manic lol. So him being older I need to produce the heat without the damage of lights? Would dhp be ok? He needs essential lighting + uvb lighting. Find a way to keep heat in enclosure while still making basking temp 103? Any suggestions on light setup? Of course I would use my temp guns.
    Tom
    Tom
    No DHPs. They are too desiccating. I answered on your thread and linked examples for you.
    J
    Hi again, Tom -- when should I first soak this baby tortoise after it's fully hatched? Should I wait until yolk sac is fully absorbed or should I soak right away? And for how long? Thank you!
    View previous comments…
    J
    jenstew
    Thank you! Soaking went well. Does the brooder box have to be covered? And, can I use those very large (cute for size) plantain leaves to line the bottom of the brooder box? Thanks, again.
    • Like
    Reactions: Tom
    Tom
    Tom
    Brooder box should be a plastic box with a lid. Plantain leaves are an excellent substrate for a brooder box. I typically use grape leaves or mulberry leaves because I have them in abundance.
    J
    jenstew
    Great - thank you!
    M
    Hi Tom! I’m looking for as much information as possible on leopard tortoises. I’m interested in purchasing one, and I want to make sure it’ll be the right fit for my husband and I. If we decide that a leopard IS the right fit, we are wanting to find a reputable breeder, but aren’t sure where to start. Is that something you can help with too? We are in Orange County, CA.
    Tom
    Tom
    OC is the perfect climate for a South African Leopard. Almost no one starts them correctly, so be careful. I highly recommend @Rodriguez Chelonians They breed true SA leopards, and they are one of the very few that start them correctly.
    M
    MaleahPhillips
    Thank you so much! That breeder looks like they’ll be perfect for us! Can you recommend me any threads on leopard tortoise info and care?
    Tom
    Tom

    The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

    I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...
    tortoiseforum.org tortoiseforum.org

    Info For New People. Please Read This First.

    Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...
    tortoiseforum.org tortoiseforum.org
    D
    My parents found a Russian hatchling in their driveway. It was still very soft and maybe an inch in size. 6 weeks later, Ivan seems to be doing great! He's eating, drinking, pooping, 'bathing' & cleansing while in the warm water- so much poop! I have built an enclosure and he will be moving in today.
    View previous comments…
    D
    Daizy
    I will purchase fine grade orchid bark today. I am assuming it needs to be organic? As of now I am feeding him grocery store organic greens, all are mentioned in your post. I also have food pellets with protein that I soak and squish flat. These are sprinkled with a little calcium powder every few days.
    Tom
    Tom
    This should be in a thread in the Russian section. It would be good to post pics of the tortoise and enclosure. Where are you?
    Tom
    Tom
    ...and now I see that it is.
    S
    Hello Tom, I am interested in purchasing an Indian Star Tortoise however I am not sure of where to look. I want to make sure it is a reputable breeder who has healthy and captive bred babies. If you know anyone please let me know. Thank you in advance!
    Tolis
    Good morning Tom. I believe I once read here that we are not supposed to serve food in the heated box, but I do not remember/know why. If it's to keep it clean it doesnt really matter he usually defecates in there anyway. Lately it's been very cold and I put the food inside, it also helps to keep it safe from slugs. Should I avoid doing that?
    Tom
    Tom
    Food attracts rodents ants, crickets and roaches. Best to leave the food outside. Even on cold rainy days, I still open the doors for the tortoises. They usually will come out, eat, and then go back into the warm box. I like to let them see that it's cold and overcast and let them decide to stay in on their own. They are a lot less restless and destructive that way.
    • Like
    Reactions: Tolis
    S
    Hi. I hope you don't mind my asking for advice. I have a huge adult male sulcata. Probably about 15 yrs old. I don't know if he is underweight or just fine. I saw calculations for weight in grams compared to shell length, I can't even pick this guy up! He seems healthy, eats well, stumps around. Is there any other way to tell if he is over/under weight? Can I pinch his arm or look for a double chin? Jk
    Tom
    Tom
    There is not enough room here to type up a proper response. Ask in a private message or make a thread on the forum.
    S
    Hi Tom, I’ve seen your posts on making the box enclosures. I’m going to sit down when I have more time and write it all out, but I have like -0 carpentry skills. Do you have a very detailed guide, easy step by step of how to make a 4x4 enclosure for a sulcata tortoise in so cal? Do you sell them? My guy is only 2 years old right now.
    • Like
    Reactions: bradlee21887
    T
    Tortellini0000
    Tolis
    Tolis
    he has a step by step post with pictures. You can also check my aldabra post I have some pictures while building mine.
    T
    Hi Tom, I rescued a big Sulcata from a neighbor. He wasn't being fed/housed properly. He's approx. 15-16?-weighs about 70 lbs. Need suggestions for housing him in winter. We've kept him in the basement the last two winters but looking for alternative, if possible, because of mess and smell. I'm in NE Ohio. Have you suggestions? Thank you, Donna (Tortilla lover).
    Tom
    Tom
    My suggestion is to ship him to a hot sunny southern state. There is no practical way to house a tropical giant tortoise in a frozen winter climate.
    Tom
    Tom
    P.S. I LOVE tortillas too! 😁
    lovesulcata
    hello, I want to ask, is it safe to give Rept shine (shell moisturizer) to the torto shell so it doesn't dry out? Because the humidity in my cage is only 40-53 and I can't increase the humidity in my cage to 80 or above. And I don't want my sulcata pyramiding because the shell is too dry. Please answer
    D
    Hi Tom

    I was wondering if you could help me my tortoise is an African leopard ans he is 15 years old, last year a part of his shell lifted and came off and I have recently notice his shell is really dry and other parts are beginning to lift as well, I think it may be shell rot
    theodorejr
    Hello Tom!

    I saw your posts about having a closed chamber for baby tortoises. My question is, at what time is the tortoise a juvenile and not a baby anymore? I have a hermann's tortoise born in 2023, it weighs 23g and is like 2 1/2 inches big. Does it still need the closed chamber with 80% min. humidity or can i move him to a open top? Thank you!
    Tom
    Tom
    Not enough room to answer here. Make a thread on the forum. Short answer: Keep them in a closed chamber as long as you can. It prevents pyramiding and keeps them healthy.
    D
    Hey bud I recently rescued an approx 45lb sulcata tortoise about 6 months ago.. I was curious if you had any tips for cleaning the bottom of thier shell, I have read if you flip them over it’s really bad on their intestines and lungs. Do you have any tips? We are currently just trying to spray underneath with a hose while they walk 🤷‍♂️
    Tom
    Tom
    Soak in warm water for an hour or more. Then tip the tortoise up with the back of the shell still resting on the bottom of your full soaking tub, nose pointing toward the sky. Then use one of those dishwashing brushes with the plastic bristles to scrub a dub dub. My scrubbers have a dull plastic "scraper" one one side if you flip the brush over. I use that for tough spots.
    F
    Hi Tom,
    I was curious if you have any male Burmese Stars for sale. We only have about 20 sq ft for an indoor enclosure so I want to get a male to maximize their space, but I am having a hard time finding one for sale that is over a year old and can tell the gender. Would appreciate any help or insight, thanks!
    View previous comments…
    Tom
    Tom
    Also, you might be waiting a looooong time for the housing market to start making sense again.
    F
    Figster45
    Okay, thanks for the info. I may just need to roll the dice on the gender then and look at the babies because either way I will build housing large enough for them. Curious, do you find that the males and females have similar personalities or the males are more interactive?
    Tom
    Tom
    In most species, males are more outgoing. I don't see much difference in the Burmese stars. Both are outgoing and curious and approach me for food.
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