Baby sulcata

[Nathan hawkey]

I just got tortoise I was planing on getting the bulb tomorrow

 

[leigti]

Congratulations on your new baby tortoise. I know people are shooting out a lot of advice to you, even though you just got the tortoise but you will get it all together.

 

[Tom]

Hello everyone I'm new on here I want to know I just got a baby sulcata do any of you know how long it will be till it's the size of a box turtle

They all grow at different rates and many factors determine growth rate. There is no way for us to predict how fast yours will grow. How your baby was started as a hatchling, and how you house it are two big factors.

Please read these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Nathan hawkey]

Is coconut coir coconut fiber I'm confused I was at the pet store and seen nothing with coconut coir on it

 

[Tom]

Is coconut coir coconut fiber I'm confused I was at the pet store and seen nothing with coconut coir on it

Yes. Same stuff. At the pet store they call it "Bed-a-Beast" or "Eco-Earth". That is a very expensive way to buy. I get mine in bulk at plant nurseries for a fraction of the price.

I wouldn't use that for a baby sulcata anyway. Orchid bark works much better for them. Orchid bark is also much cheaper at the nursery. You pay less for a 2.0 cubic foot giant bag at the nursery than you do for a little bitty bag at the pet store. Make sure you get the "fine" grade.

 

[Nathan hawkey]

Why is it bad for the babies I'm just asking

 

[Juan V]

mine arent growing that fast

 

[Nathan hawkey]

Hey guys do any of you guys know if it's normal for a baby turtle to soak it self at night my baby always seems to be soaking when I check on it it can get in and out on its own i think he thinks he is a water turtle lol

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

yea thats normal for torts to self soak.

 

[Nathan hawkey]

In the middle of the night I found him soaking at like 1 or 2 in the morning

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

In the middle of the night I found him soaking at like 1 or 2 in the morning

was he asleep? lol

 

[Nathan hawkey]

I don't think so sometimes he soaks with his eyes closed he looks like he is then he starts moving

 

[Nathan hawkey]

It's so cute he is just confused about who he is he thinks he belongs in the sea lol

 

[Tom]

Why is it bad for the babies I'm just asking

Coco coir is not bad for them at all. Its just messy and I prefer orchid bark for sulcata babies. Coco coir is my substrate of choice for Testudo babies though.

 

[Tom]

In the middle of the night I found him soaking at like 1 or 2 in the morning

Not normal. What are you using for night heat? What is the overnight low temperature? Are you using a coil type UV bulb?

 

[Nathan hawkey]

I use the night time bulb it staying 80 on the cool side

 

[Tom]

I use the night time bulb it staying 80 on the cool side

What sort of night time bulb? A colored incandescent bulb, like red or blue?

 

[Nathan hawkey]

It's red

 

[Tom]

It's red

That is why your tortoise is out walking around at night. They can see color better than we do, so if you can see the light, they can too. Colored bulbs often cause them to eat their substrate too. Seen any of that yet?

I would recommend a ceramic heating element set on a thermostat for night and ambient temp maintenance. You can get both items online or at any pet store.

Have you read the care sheet? I think it would help you:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

There is not a lot of room for error with babies. Please read these threads. All of this is explained there.

 

[Nathan hawkey]

Thanks no he has not ate any of his bedding he only seems to eat weeds from my yard