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Since your enclosure will have front opening doors and a solid top, you can put books, potted plants, or various types of art work on top. I like the idea of a tortoise food garden, and I'm a fish guy too. I'd put the fish on bottom and the tortoise higher up though. If the stand is 24" and the...

Check the basking temp by placing a digital thermometer on its back, at tortoise shell height, directly under the lamp, and letting it cook there for an hour or more. If it's over 100 and you can't raise the bulb any higher, get a lower wattage bulb, and save that one for winter. Alternatively...

I think you already know what is going on because you've mentioned it a couple of times already. He's determined to find a mate. It's that time of year. You brumated him, as you should have, and once they wake up in spring, its time to do that deed. Some Testudo males get super crazed with the...

Where do you live?

Ideally, the coir you buy won't have any of those fibers. If it does, make a sifter with 1/4 inch hardware cloth to easily remove it. When you buy it, get "coco coir" or "coco peat". Don't buy "coco fiber" or "coco chips."

That is not shell rot. Shell rot happens on the plastron and its from overly wet and/or unsanitary conditions. What you have there is carapace damage. It looks to me like thermal burns from a spot lamp due to its location and appearance. What are you medicating it with? I have a few...

I wouldn't use chips with tortoises. Coir is fine, but the chips pose a hazard because of their large size, irregular shapes and corners. Also, you probably already know this, but I will say it anyway for the benefit of other people following along silently: Redfoots don't need moisture...

You can sift your coir through some 1/4 inch hardware cloth to remove those fibers.

Hello and welcome! I first want to tell you that sulcatas are NOT desert tortoises. If you house them in desert conditions, it will likely kill them and it will for sure cause pyramiding. Please read through these two threads and feel free to ask all of your questions...

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials: Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to...

Marginated tortoises are not known for digging. I wouldn't put anything down. Just make opaque walls and make sure no light is showing under the walls. Also, make the enclosure very large and put lots of furniture in it. Logs, large rocks, plants and shrubs, hides, etc... The more interesting...

It can work, but I was not thrilled with the results when I tried it. I prefer single levels for tortoises.

What you propose will work okay for a baby, but probably not so well for an adult of any species. Any foam will have to be up out of reach. Imagine the tortoise standing on its hind legs and reaching up with its front legs. Above that is how high above them the foam would have to be. So 10 or 11...

That depends on what they are eating. If it's lots of weeds, mulberry leaves, cactus pads, Mazuri, etc..., then you really don't need much supplementation. If its a lot of grocery store greens, they you will need the supplements and other amendments too.

The most secure housing option would be a large cage. I use a couple of these for my stars here. They are around 30x30 feet. No predator or dog can get to them. Most of my other large tortoises are in large open topped pens. You could use this method and just have secure fencing around it to...

You are correct. Yes and yes.

I just wet the substrate under the humid hide. It's good to move the hygrometer around and get readings all over. Have a little fun with it. Since it is a closed chamber, it will mostly be one ambient temperature inside except under the heat lamp. I like to put a hide on both sides.

No forumla. Just long held beliefs based on what works and what doesn't over the years.

Yes if it is a flood type bulb, or a round type bulb in an aluminum hood. See the very precise, scientific, and technical diagram above in post #204. :)

I can just feel a TTPG presentation, with loads of great pictures, coming on... Can't wait! Hurry up November!