Beginner and needs help and advice

[@itsmimie94]

Hi! I am new to this tortoise keeping and i just want to ask if mine looks healthy or anything. I just got him/her for a week now. and so far is doing good. I give him hibiscus flower, cactus, green vegies, and grass almost everyday. am I doing good or do you have any suggestions? and also what type of mulch should i use? I am currently large saw dusts. is it ok? or should I change it? Thanks in advance. btw, I have photos of my sulcata attached.

 

[ascott]

Hi! I am new to this tortoise keeping and i just want to ask if mine looks healthy or anything. I just got him/her for a week now. and so far is doing good. I give him hibiscus flower, cactus, green vegies, and grass almost everyday. am I doing good or do you have any suggestions? and also what type of mulch should i use? I am currently large saw dusts. is it ok? or should I change it? Thanks in advance. btw, I have photos of my sulcata attached. View attachment 243098View attachment 243099

Sounds like a good start....I would change the substrate to a soil/natural type dirt vs saw dust....

 

[@itsmimie94]

Sounds like a good start....I would change the substrate to a soil/natural type dirt vs saw dust....

oh thanks. and btw, this is his enclosure outdoors. it gets enough sunlight during the day. do i still need to provide a heatlamp during the night? i sometimes use a bulb thats 50w during rainy days but im not sure if it is the right bulb. i for sure will change my substrate. [emoji4] thank you

 

[@itsmimie94]

oh thanks. and btw, this is his enclosure outdoors. it gets enough sunlight during the day. do i still need to provide a heatlamp during the night? i sometimes use a bulb thats 50w during rainy days but im not sure if it is the right bulb. i for sure will change my substrate. [emoji4] thank you

 

[TechnoCheese]

Welcome! Your baby is very cute!

Saw dust is definitely not an okay substrate, and it needs to be changed immediately. My favorite substrate for sulcatas is orchid bark, but you can also use peat moss, coco coir, or cypress mulch. You need something that can hold 80-100% humidity.

It appears your Sulcata is starting to pyramid, which means your enclosure is too dry. You need to have a deep, damp substrate, a large, shallow water bowl or two(terra cotta saucers), and a completely closed enclosure.

Your diet is pretty good, but you should add more weeds.

Could we see a picture of your enclosure?

Please give these a read and come back with questions-

How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

 

[TechnoCheese]

View attachment 243100

You need an indoor enclosure. Sulcata hatchlings absolutely cannot be outdoors all day. There is no way to regulate temperatures, which need to be above 80 day and night, and no way to regulate humidity. They tend to do very badly outdoors, sometimes even dying.

Please give these a read and come back with questions-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

 

[@itsmimie94]

Welcome! Your baby is very cute!

Saw dust is definitely not an okay substrate, and it needs to be changed immediately. My favorite substrate for sulcatas is orchid bark, but you can also use peat moss, coco coir, or cypress mulch. You need something that can hold 80-100% humidity.

It appears your Sulcata is starting to pyramid, which means your enclosure is too dry. You need to have a deep, damp substrate, a large, shallow water bowl or two(terra cotta saucers), and a completely closed enclosure.

Your diet is pretty good, but you should add more weeds.

Could we see a picture of your enclosure?

Please give these a read and come back with questions-

How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

Thank you so much. that is such a great help. I will change my substrate as soon as possible. This is my enclosure as of now. My father and I planned for a new enclosure already. this is temporary since i got him/her a week now. [emoji4]

 

[TechnoCheese]

View attachment 243106
Thank you so much. that is such a great help. I will change my substrate as soon as possible. This is my enclosure as of now. My father and I planned for a new enclosure already. this is temporary since i got him/her a week now. [emoji4]

Definitely be sure to read those links

 

[@itsmimie94]

Definitely be sure to read those links

i for sure will [emoji4] thanks!

 

[@itsmimie94]

You need an indoor enclosure. Sulcata hatchlings absolutely cannot be outdoors all day. There is no way to regulate temperatures, which need to be above 80 day and night, and no way to regulate humidity. They tend to do very badly outdoors, sometimes even dying.

Please give these a read and come back with questions-
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

thank you so much. i would definetly read this topics and learn from it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hard to tell from this angle, but that light looks way too close to the floor of the enclosure.

 

[@itsmimie94]

Hard to tell from this angle, but that light looks way too close to the floor of the enclosure.

thank you, Yvonne. I will adjust it.

 

[ascott]

oh thanks. and btw, this is his enclosure outdoors. it gets enough sunlight during the day. do i still need to provide a heatlamp during the night? i sometimes use a bulb thats 50w during rainy days but im not sure if it is the right bulb. i for sure will change my substrate. [emoji4] thank you

I would make sure that the outdoor enclosure is not in the full sun during the day....or make sure that you offer more plant shade or add a shelf across half of the top of the enclosure and secure it to the enclosure and then set some lush plants on top so shade is not a problem...also, when you water the plants some of the water will drip down into the enclosure and offer up some humidity...but be sure to change the substrate to a soil before you start getting it too wet the tort needs to be able to completely get out of the sun and cool itself down....

If your night temps are warm then a night bulb would not be a factor..however, I would strongly suggest against leaving a tort that small outdoors during the night hours....I also would be careful of what birds fly over (large predator birds) as well as predators that can walk up and take that little one...just a few adjustments and all should be a bit more secure and safe

 

[@itsmimie94]

I would make sure that the outdoor enclosure is not in the full sun during the day....or make sure that you offer more plant shade or add a shelf across half of the top of the enclosure and secure it to the enclosure and then set some lush plants on top so shade is not a problem...also, when you water the plants some of the water will drip down into the enclosure and offer up some humidity...but be sure to change the substrate to a soil before you start getting it too wet the tort needs to be able to completely get out of the sun and cool itself down....

If your night temps are warm then a night bulb would not be a factor..however, I would strongly suggest against leaving a tort that small outdoors during the night hours....I also would be careful of what birds fly over (large predator birds) as well as predators that can walk up and take that little one...just a few adjustments and all should be a bit more secure and safe

noted. thats very helpful [emoji4]

 

[@itsmimie94]

Welcome! Your baby is very cute!

Saw dust is definitely not an okay substrate, and it needs to be changed immediately. My favorite substrate for sulcatas is orchid bark, but you can also use peat moss, coco coir, or cypress mulch. You need something that can hold 80-100% humidity.

It appears your Sulcata is starting to pyramid, which means your enclosure is too dry. You need to have a deep, damp substrate, a large, shallow water bowl or two(terra cotta saucers), and a completely closed enclosure.

Your diet is pretty good, but you should add more weeds.

Could we see a picture of your enclosure?

Please give these a read and come back with questions-

How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0 https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/

For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata... https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/For-Those-Who-Have-a-Young-Sulcata....76744/

Beginner Mistakes https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

Hi this is my enclosure now. I am using coconut husks chunks, coco coir mixed with little organic soil and on top layer is cypress mulch. will this be a good substrate? And also I provided 2 terra cotta saucers for his water and food. Half the enclosure gets 1-2hours of morning sunlight which he could choose to wether stay on the sun (which he does a lot) or stay at the shaded part.