Darby Homestead
New Member
Okay... bear with me. We are slightly obsessive about doing things right. Please guide me.
Here are the supplies I'm going to buy today. Amazon has free two day shipping, so it will arrive on Wednesday. That means, we will be able to set his shipping date for arrival on Thursday.
I would like a few experienced Russian keepers to verify these items are safe and useful.
Enclosure
- purchased a tote that measures 30 x 24 x 6. This will be his temporary home until we, hopefully, move next month. At that time, we will purchase a 40 gallon aquarium. We will use the current set up as his outdoor (supervised) pen in the spring. (If we don't move, we'll prepare it here. Just don't want to lug it if we don't have to.)
- We've decided to use coconut coir for substrate. That way, we can grow his food inside, too. Will one ten pound brick be enough for listed dimensions? I'll be getting this brand.
- Hides
- Saucers for water
- Slate rocks- one for basking, one for food.
Tools
- uv/heat/light bulb
- ceramic heating element
- two bulb holders
- temperature gun
- humidity thermometer
- mister
- room heater
Food and Supplements
- seed mix
- dandelion seeds
- tnt with probiotics
- cuttlebone
First, I'd like to verify that all of these items are, in fact, suitable. My husband does not care for wasted spending! Doing it right the first time seems like a good idea. If any of the linked items are unsuitable, please post a new link. Finding the correct items has been a two day project, not that I mind, I'm just sayin'.
A few questions:
1. The house heater is broken here. What is the ideal room temperature to allow the heating elements to work properly? The house is normally around 65, utilizing space heaters when necessary. If we don't move, we'll be getting it fixed.
2. If I buy a piece of glass to cover the enclosure, will the heater/uv work correctly through it? If it won't work, is cutting holes in the plastic lid safe, what is the possibility of melting? Any suggestions to keep Hector and Chatter the cat safe would be appreciated. Tortoise IN, cat OUT. =)
3. Am I missing anything he'll need for the first three months?
A few topics I will bug about in the future:
- normal tortoise behavior... can you tell if they're happy?
- emergency preparedness
- first aid kit
- frequency necessary of changing substrate completely
I don't want to be tooooo long winded. I realize it's already too late!
Here are the supplies I'm going to buy today. Amazon has free two day shipping, so it will arrive on Wednesday. That means, we will be able to set his shipping date for arrival on Thursday.
I would like a few experienced Russian keepers to verify these items are safe and useful.
Enclosure
- purchased a tote that measures 30 x 24 x 6. This will be his temporary home until we, hopefully, move next month. At that time, we will purchase a 40 gallon aquarium. We will use the current set up as his outdoor (supervised) pen in the spring. (If we don't move, we'll prepare it here. Just don't want to lug it if we don't have to.)
- We've decided to use coconut coir for substrate. That way, we can grow his food inside, too. Will one ten pound brick be enough for listed dimensions? I'll be getting this brand.
- Hides
- Saucers for water
- Slate rocks- one for basking, one for food.
Tools
- uv/heat/light bulb
- ceramic heating element
- two bulb holders
- temperature gun
- humidity thermometer
- mister
- room heater
Food and Supplements
- seed mix
- dandelion seeds
- tnt with probiotics
- cuttlebone
First, I'd like to verify that all of these items are, in fact, suitable. My husband does not care for wasted spending! Doing it right the first time seems like a good idea. If any of the linked items are unsuitable, please post a new link. Finding the correct items has been a two day project, not that I mind, I'm just sayin'.
A few questions:
1. The house heater is broken here. What is the ideal room temperature to allow the heating elements to work properly? The house is normally around 65, utilizing space heaters when necessary. If we don't move, we'll be getting it fixed.
2. If I buy a piece of glass to cover the enclosure, will the heater/uv work correctly through it? If it won't work, is cutting holes in the plastic lid safe, what is the possibility of melting? Any suggestions to keep Hector and Chatter the cat safe would be appreciated. Tortoise IN, cat OUT. =)
3. Am I missing anything he'll need for the first three months?
A few topics I will bug about in the future:
- normal tortoise behavior... can you tell if they're happy?
- emergency preparedness
- first aid kit
- frequency necessary of changing substrate completely
I don't want to be tooooo long winded. I realize it's already too late!