Chevy's Enclosure

[Marty333]

Okay Im ready for the lecture! Im not to proud of his enclosure but he seems to love it!! Its a 10 gallon tank and haven't added any plants or anything because I haven't been able to go out because Im only 15 and can't drive yet so here are some pics!

 

[Missy]

He is going to need more room, but I think you already new that. I think it's great that you are 15 and have a life long friend. It is coming up on Christmas season so look for a plastic tree storage tote. They only sell them at this time of year and they are the biggest tote you can find. How is your humidity? It is very important that hatchlings have good humidity to grow smooth.

 

[Marty333]

Its hard to tell because I havent been able to find a humidity meter at any store its getting frustrating

 

[Kristina]

Marty, since you live in Florida and that is already a pretty humid state, what I would do if I were you is just make sure that you mist Checy directly on his shell until he drips 3-4 times minimum a day. Since you are home most all day, that should be really easy What I do is just keep a spray bottle right next to the enclosure, and spray every time I walk by.

You can also make him a humid hide, like in this thread http://tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies?highlight=humid+hide

That way you don't have to worry so much about the overall humidity.

 

[-ryan-]

good to hear there's another budding tortoise enthusiast. I use 10 gallon tanks with my russian hatchlings (which are much smaller), and really, rearing them a month or two they are ready to go. Fortunately I usually sell them within that time, but this is different because you are raising a life long pet.

As has been already said, finding a sizeable plastic tote can buy you more time. Eventually you will obviously need to build something large and tortoise proof (and don't underestimate the destructiveness of a 100 pound sulcata). Given your location, you can build something outdoors, and keep indoor quarters ready as well for when it's necessary. There are a ton of people on this forum that have raised sulcatas to full size, and these people will have more advice for you. It is a life long commitment.

Good luck!

 

[Marty333]

I have always fancied Sulcata's since I was young and was so excited when I was blessed with my new life long companion Chevy!! I am very aware of how big they get and I love that!!!

 

[LindaF]

What a cute little friend! I just got a Acurite combo humidity & temp gage at Lowes for under $10. You can find them in the garden section.

 

[Marty333]

Thank you so much Linda!!

 

[jagsrule100]

Chevy looks like mine except bigger lol. I got my sulcata in a 2' X 4' enclosure and he loves it. He does laps around it lol.

 

[Marty333]

How old is yours? Chevy is 3 months old.

 

[jagsrule100]

I would say he was born in August, the reptile store didn't say how old he was when i got him on October 9th.

Buster (thats his name ) is only about 2 1/2 inches right now lol.

 

[Marty333]

Chevy's about the same length as Buster. He ways 46 grams now. When I got chevy at repticon last weekend they only knew he was 3 month old and not the exact date so I am guessing Chevy is an august baby and probably towards the end of the month.

 

[jagsrule100]

Oh thats cool, i dont know how much Buster weighs but i would imagine about the same as Chevy . I see that you have 1 light for him, what kind is it?

 

[Marty333]

I think my dad got him this one but we only got ours for 15 dollars but this one is priced at 70 but it looks exactly the same.

Its a UV bulb I have a ceramic bulb but its broken so I have to get a new one. My dad thinks he is fine with just the UV bulb but I would really like him to have a ceramic heat bulb also.

 

[jagsrule100]

Yeah i got 2 lights for Buster. One is a UVB and the other is a heat bulb. I also got a red light for night but i haven't used it yet since the temperature at night stays in the upper 70's. I will probably have to use it when winter comes though.

 

[Marty333]

Well I live in central Florida so it doesn't get to cold here thankfully but probably just as a precaution I will keep the ceramic bulb on at night.

 

[jagsrule100]

I live in Florida too lol, west of tampa. And i would get a thermometer to keep track of the temperature at night. Cause you want the temperature no lower than 75 for baby's, but you also dont want it in the 90's at night either. I keep mine at 75-80 at night and 90-100 during the day.

 

[Marty333]

awesome fellow Floridian Yeah I have a thermo. I have heard of heat lamps that you actually can control the temperature they emit.