Brambles Digs updated
- Thread starter Kenny
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nice job! I like it
Hey Kenny, looks good but I have one question...how big is the tort for this enclosure? I ask because it looks like the left side substrate is pretty close to the top edge of the container. Wouldn't want your little dude to take a fall over the side. Ok, maybe another question, did you start those plants from seeds? I would love to do some greens when I switch Tico to his larger enclosure.
ticothetort2 said:
Bramble is a tiny little hingeback, not large enough to get out.
No, I didnt start the plants as seeds. I bought them as is, but they've been in there a couple days, and seem to be doing ok
I planted some collards in Snooze's (red foot) enclosure, and he just attacked them lol
nice enclosure!
M
Maggie Cummings
Guest
Where is the hide? Tortoises like to sleep in something safe and secure and I don't see a hide in there. I also have that same tub and it's only good for a very small tortoise, it's too small for most torts...IMO
I hate commenting on other's efforts, b/c I encourage everyone to make improvements as they can for thier torts and no one want to be crititicised, after they have done something that brings them a sense of accomplishment and like they've done well for thier torts. You have done a great job getting a good start and are certainly on a good track. Below are my suggestions and some details of my experience with thes guys. I love this species, but decided to get Burmese Mnt Torts, b/c I am limited in space and wanted a more personable species. I know...that sound starnge, since the Burmese will get huge, but what I meant is I am limited in how many pets I can have and have to choose my charges carefully to fit my time, budget, space, and get something that fulfills as many as my own wishes for animal friend as possible...ie personality vs specimen animals. This is not to say these hingies have no personality, they are just not as outgoing.
Your enclosure is ok for now, but asap, you need to invest in a larger tote ($18 for a large, green x-mas tee tote at LOWES). If you wish, a cheap, kiddie pool is acceptable for hingebacks as well and can be moved outdoors, with holes punched in the bottom for drainage, in nice weather. Hingebacks are VERY shy, among the shyest of torts and need more cover and hiding than you currently have. Usung some thick lea compost would help with humidty and allow it to burrow dow as well, though the substrate you have should be ok.
A word about the plants:
It appears you have coir as part of your mix, it is known to contain phytotoxins that inhibit plant growth over time, so you may see a decline in your plants, after they are in thier for a while. I think, especially with hingebacks, since most are wild caught and come with parasites, it is better to grow your edibles in removeable trays, like a cat litter pan and provide them with good lighting and soil, plus you can rotate and it preventsthe tort from eating plants that may be contaminated with his/her feces and continuing and parasite infestations. I do advise using low-light or artificial plants as cover, like the hibiscus, but maybe prune any foliage from off the substrate, to avoid the eating of contaminated food as best you can. Hibiscus needs quite a bit of light and hingies like it dimmer, so it may not be the best long-term plant to keep with your tort. I can suggest better cover plants and lighting options, if you pm me.
Some other advice I can offer is to keep the hingeback at around 80F and 85F on the warm end, weekly baths in warm water are great and encourage them to poo outside of the enclosure. They prefer fruit over greens so try to chose smelly, ripe items that mix in well with greens and allow you to minimize the amount of frit they eat. Figs and cactus fruits are actually good fruits, but useful ones in moderation include, mango, papaya, bananas, boiled or grated winter squash, parsnips, or and sweet potatos, these can be used 3 times a week to mix in with a 2/3 greens to 1/3 fruit ration. Mine also enjoyed low protien canned dogfood, such as Hills Science diet for dogs with renal trouble. They relished this, but once they were eating large amounts of healthier foods, I offered this as a treat about twice a month and at about 1/8 a can per serving. These hingies are also sensitive to certain meds and oversupplementation, but careful supplementation of calcium is important and I added a pinch with every meal, /c of th larger portion of fruit that accounts for a lousy Calcium to Phosphorus ratio.
Your enclosure is ok for now, but asap, you need to invest in a larger tote ($18 for a large, green x-mas tee tote at LOWES). If you wish, a cheap, kiddie pool is acceptable for hingebacks as well and can be moved outdoors, with holes punched in the bottom for drainage, in nice weather. Hingebacks are VERY shy, among the shyest of torts and need more cover and hiding than you currently have. Usung some thick lea compost would help with humidty and allow it to burrow dow as well, though the substrate you have should be ok.
A word about the plants:
It appears you have coir as part of your mix, it is known to contain phytotoxins that inhibit plant growth over time, so you may see a decline in your plants, after they are in thier for a while. I think, especially with hingebacks, since most are wild caught and come with parasites, it is better to grow your edibles in removeable trays, like a cat litter pan and provide them with good lighting and soil, plus you can rotate and it preventsthe tort from eating plants that may be contaminated with his/her feces and continuing and parasite infestations. I do advise using low-light or artificial plants as cover, like the hibiscus, but maybe prune any foliage from off the substrate, to avoid the eating of contaminated food as best you can. Hibiscus needs quite a bit of light and hingies like it dimmer, so it may not be the best long-term plant to keep with your tort. I can suggest better cover plants and lighting options, if you pm me.
Some other advice I can offer is to keep the hingeback at around 80F and 85F on the warm end, weekly baths in warm water are great and encourage them to poo outside of the enclosure. They prefer fruit over greens so try to chose smelly, ripe items that mix in well with greens and allow you to minimize the amount of frit they eat. Figs and cactus fruits are actually good fruits, but useful ones in moderation include, mango, papaya, bananas, boiled or grated winter squash, parsnips, or and sweet potatos, these can be used 3 times a week to mix in with a 2/3 greens to 1/3 fruit ration. Mine also enjoyed low protien canned dogfood, such as Hills Science diet for dogs with renal trouble. They relished this, but once they were eating large amounts of healthier foods, I offered this as a treat about twice a month and at about 1/8 a can per serving. These hingies are also sensitive to certain meds and oversupplementation, but careful supplementation of calcium is important and I added a pinch with every meal, /c of th larger portion of fruit that accounts for a lousy Calcium to Phosphorus ratio.
biglove4bigtorts said:
Thank you for your thorough thought out response.
As far as the size of the tote, its 42x20x18, biggest one I've found so far.
I am however more then willing to build him an enclosure. I have space for another 6'x4' (like my red foots) that I was gonna start building anyway for a future pair of pancakes.
Temps are pretty consistent with what u suggested. 82* is the ambient temp. with 60% humidity.
the strate is 3/4 peat 1/4 cypress.
his diet in my care (only had him for 2 weeks) has been, Mustard greens,dandelion greens, mango, canteloupe ,plantaines,mushrooms,pumpkin, and worms.
I fully admit that I am not all that knowledgeable on this particular sp of Tort. I've raised a Red Foot from a hatchling to a 10"er and have no worries with him, but the hinge just kinda fell in my lap.
Thanks again, much appreciated.
Mushrooms are an excellent and appreciated addition to the diet, that I neglected to mention. With the size enclosure you have, go ahead and wait...keep him there 3 months or so to allow the tort to settle and get over any stress that is had endured by being shipped and placed in a new home. When you have a new enclosure ready, after that time, then you can move them...it isn't critical, with these guys, that they have tons of room, but more cover is highly recommended.
biglove4bigtorts said:
What do you suggest size wise(when full grown)?
Bramble is 6" right now. And seems to be happy after being kept at 100* and pretty much bone dry for 3 years. I don't really wanna move him again just yet.
I made a few modifications today
1st I swapped the incadescent UV bulb for a regular heat bulb and added a floresent uv bulb to benefit the plants
I also cut the top of the tote, to make a lip to prevent an unlikely but entirely possible escape
I will continue to update this enclosure, and the new one I'm gonna start building for bramble
1st I swapped the incadescent UV bulb for a regular heat bulb and added a floresent uv bulb to benefit the plants
I also cut the top of the tote, to make a lip to prevent an unlikely but entirely possible escape
I will continue to update this enclosure, and the new one I'm gonna start building for bramble
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