Advice for potential new owner.

[Chamguy]

First post here, and I'm planning on getting a baby tortoise. Right now I'm completely in the dark, and I know I will probably be able to find most of this info posted here, but I just don't know where to start. I want a tortoise as young as possible and I have a series of questions. Any additional info is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all in advance.

1. Species - I live in Toronto, Canada, and my budget is about $300. I'm looking for a baby tortoise. What do you recommend?

2. Inspection - How can I tell if the tortoise I want to purchase is healthy?

3. Habitat - I plan to start with a 46"x46"x4"H plastic bin. What substrate options do I have?

4. Husbandry - I'm told torts eat mostly green leafy veggies.

*What supplements should I use and how much/often? I'm a long time breeder of chameleons so I have a variety of supplements at my disposal.

*What lighting do I use? I currently have Exo terra UVB 5.0-10.0 coil and linear fluorescent bulbs, as well as Exo terra Solar Glo MV bulbs. What temperature should t hey be kept at?

*Water dish or no? I've read conflicting things about this. I have an R/O filter used for a reef tank.

5. What did I miss? Probably a lot. Please help me out, and if there is some good info hidden away somewhere please provide links. Thanks!

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

1. russian, greek, hermann are small species that only require a 4ft by 8ft cage when adults.
2. make sure the tortoise is bight eyed and active.
3.coco coir, cypress mulch orchard bark remember to keep substrate moist.
4. tortoises diet depends on the species. the species i listed above should be mainly fed nontoxic weeds.
5. provide a cuttlebone and calcium powder once a week.
6. ask a more experienced member about lighting.
7.yes water is VERY important for tortoises of any species. if they have no water they can develop bladder stones and die.
8. here are care sheets on the species i listed.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[lismar79]

Agree with all the above. Would get rid of the coil bulb. They are linked to eye damage cases....

 

[wellington]

Also agree with above, except, although russians stay small, they roam and cover a very big area in the wild. A 4x8 is about the smallest they should be in, but if possible, give them as big as possible and give any tortoise you get an outside enclosure for the warm months. Also, the coil bulb is not recommended.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome to the forum. All great advice above.

Do you keep chameleons? They are one of my favorites.

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum! Whatever tort you decide to get.... good luck!

 

[Chamguy]

1. russian, greek, hermann are small species that only require a 4ft by 8ft cage when adults.
2. make sure the tortoise is bight eyed and active.
3.coco coir, cypress mulch orchard bark remember to keep substrate moist.
4. tortoises diet depends on the species. the species i listed above should be mainly fed nontoxic weeds.
5. provide a cuttlebone and calcium powder once a week.
6. ask a more experienced member about lighting.
7.yes water is VERY important for tortoises of any species. if they have no water they can develop bladder stones and die.
8. here are care sheets on the species i listed.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

Thanks, I will check out the care sheets!

 

[Chamguy]

Agree with all the above. Would get rid of the coil bulb. They are linked to eye damage cases....

What about MV bulbs? How far can they be placed from the tort?

 

[Chamguy]

Hello and welcome to the forum. All great advice above.

Do you keep chameleons? They are one of my favorites.

Yes, I breed a variety of species. They are great pets, but very high maintenance, and don't like to be handled.

 

[Tom]

What about MV bulbs? How far can they be placed from the tort?

Your thermometer will decide this. Get a basking temp of around 95-100 for most species. The manufacturer usually has a recommendation for bulb height on the box. This is a good starting point, but adjust it up or down to get the correct temperature.

 

[Chamguy]

Agree with all the above. Would get rid of the coil bulb. They are linked to eye damage cases....

I'm not sure if it's the same issue, but in cham forums, many people are concerned about the coil-type UVB bulbs that had been reported to cause damage to the eyes. This was quite some time ago, and Exo Terra for one, have released detailed information about their bulbs and they are safe to use (at least with chameleons). There have been heated debates regarding the issue. I for one have been using the Exo Terra UVB bulbs for years on hundreds of chameleons and have never had an issue. MV bulbs you have to be careful with when using them for chameleons.

Thanks for the heads up though, I will not use the coil bulbs. I was planning on using my MV bulbs instead anyhow. -=)

 

[Chamguy]

Your thermometer will decide this. Get a basking temp of around 95-100 for most species. The manufacturer usually has a recommendation for bulb height on the box. This is a good starting point, but adjust it up or down to get the correct temperature.

Thanks! What about shade/night time drops?

 

[Yvonne G]

The trouble is...once it was determined that the coiled bulbs were causing eye problems, the manufacturers supposedly fixed the problem, but none of the old bulbs were recalled. So if you buy one, you have no way of knowing if you're buying a new, improved bulb or one of the old, harmful ones.

 

[Tom]

Yes, I breed a variety of species. They are great pets, but very high maintenance, and don't like to be handled.

I don't want to derail your tortoise thread here, but there is a lizard section in the "Other Pets" forum. I'd love to see more about all your chameleons over there once you get all your tortoise questions sorted out. Many of us here keep more than just tortoises. I've kept quite a few chameleons over the years and can't get enough of them. Behaviorally and socially, tortoises are somewhat similar to chameleons. They don't like company. They don't want a "friend". I try to explain this to tortoise people, but it often falls on deaf ears. Some tortoise keepers watch their pair of tortoises engaging in overt aggression and fail to recognize it. Often they think it is "friendly" behavior. Chameleon people seem to intuitively understand this concept. Am I right?

Anyhow, happy to help with the tortoise questions, and eager to see more chameleon stuff!

 

[Tom]

The trouble is...once it was determined that the coiled bulbs were causing eye problems, the manufacturers supposedly fixed the problem, but none of the old bulbs were recalled. So if you buy one, you have no way of knowing if you're buying a new, improved bulb or one of the old, harmful ones.

Yvonne that was 10 years ago. The newly manufactured bulbs do it too.

 

[Chamguy]

The trouble is...once it was determined that the coiled bulbs were causing eye problems, the manufacturers supposedly fixed the problem, but none of the old bulbs were recalled. So if you buy one, you have no way of knowing if you're buying a new, improved bulb or one of the old, harmful ones.

I get my bulbs from a big box store that I supply chameleons to and they don't stock anything more than what's on the shelves. I can see how this problem might affect others though. I somehow feel that the heat generated from MV bulbs will probably be better for torts basking anyway right?

 

[Tom]

Thanks! What about shade/night time drops?

All species should have shade, shelter and hiding areas available.

Not time drops depend on species. For tropical species like leopards, stars, red foots and sulcatas, I don't let temps drop below 80 F at night. For temperate species like russians, hermanni, marginata and greeks, a night time drop in temps is desirable. I let babies drop down to the low 70s, and adults are fine down to 60 in most cases.

 

[Tom]

I get my bulbs from a big box store that I supply chameleons to and they don't stock anything more than what's on the shelves. I can see how this problem might affect others though. I somehow feel that the heat generated from MV bulbs will probably be better for torts basking anyway right?

There are several good strategies for tortoises. Depends on species, age, enclosure, etc...

Mercury vapor bulbs are one of these good strategies.

 

[Chamguy]

I don't want to derail your tortoise thread here, but there is a lizard section in the "Other Pets" forum. I'd love to see more about all your chameleons over there once you get all your tortoise questions sorted out. Many of us here keep more than just tortoises. I've kept quite a few chameleons over the years and can't get enough of them. Behaviorally and socially, tortoises are somewhat similar to chameleons. They don't like company. They don't want a "friend". I try to explain this to tortoise people, but it often falls on deaf ears. Some tortoise keepers watch their pair of tortoises engaging in overt aggression and fail to recognize it. Often they think it is "friendly" behavior. Chameleon people seem to intuitively understand this concept. Am I right?

Anyhow, happy to help with the tortoise questions, and eager to see more chameleon stuff!

Yea, when I sell chameleons, people ask how much I "play" with them. I just tell them never, because they don't like it, and most will probably take a snap at you. Chams just don't like people around, and you have to place them in areas with very low traffic, or they will stress and die, FAST.

Species I've worked with are:
Veild
Panther - Sambava, Ambilobe
Werner's
Dwarf Jackson's
Carpet
Fischer's

I'm currently needing to shut down my chameleon room so have sold off most of my guys. I'm currently selling a breeding pair of Werner's to get a tort...Tears me up but I've got no choice. I have about 200 eggs due to hatch sometime in the coming months.

 

[Chamguy]

There are several good strategies for tortoises. Depends on species, age, enclosure, etc...

Mercury vapor bulbs are one of these good strategies.

Awesome!