Does this look normal?

[Holly'sMom]

Does this look normal? Shes really round now where there used to be kind of edges where the shell met at the sides they're disappearing now it's really round and the bottom is meeting higher up. She's not soft and is eating and active I just got kind of weirded out it looks like she rounded out over night (I'm sure she didn't but I'm just noticing

 

[wellington]

Not to concerning to me. However the little bit that I could see of the enclosure concerns me. It looks open top and dry and possibly too small. Your tort is pyramiding which will happen being raised dry. He needs 80% humidity with 80 temps day and night and a basking of 95-100. The substrate should be very damp to achieve the humidity. He also should be soaked daily 20 minutes in warm water. The enclosure should be no small for a hatchling then 2x4

 

[wellington]

Oh and a closed chamber enclosure is best. Member Tom has a few threads about it.

 

[Gillian M]

Your cute little torts seems fine. Let's wait and see what the experts here have to say.

 

[Speedy-1]

Looks fine to me !

 

[maplewood]

Looks good! Just keep that baby warm and soaked!

 

[Holly'sMom]

Not to concerning to me. However the little bit that I could see of the enclosure concerns me. It looks open top and dry and possibly too small. Your tort is pyramiding which will happen being raised dry. He needs 80% humidity with 80 temps day and night and a basking of 95-100. The substrate should be very damp to achieve the humidity. He also should be soaked daily 20 minutes in warm water. The enclosure should be no small for a hatchling then 2x4

I use a tank but it's a 60 gl tank w the shorter sides, it was special made for the shorter sides (bought used from a reptile swap meet sale ) but the sides are only maybe 12 inch the ends hang over a 4ft long table we had it on lol it's big. I had a 55gl critter tank that wasn't as long I'd have to measure for actual dementions. It just looks dry, it's normally not. its approx 2 inch plain soil mixed w zoo med forest floor w a 3-4 in layer of coconut fiber over it. I was cleaning it out so it was more than likely drying out some wo the mister on. I use the loose coconut fiber so it dries out rather quickly wo the mister. the humidity stays about 80% or more we have a mister hooked into one side you normally can't see in the side because of moisture and I dump water into the substrate once a day so the underneath stays wet. I drench them during the day since rot isn't an issue. The top sometimes will get dry before the mist kicks on but it's just on the top layer. This is what we used for Belle our other hatchling until we got a bigger box made in Oct/nov for her we have to build them w screens because of other animals in the home. The tortoise box we have w our other hatchling Belle, I wasn't comfortable Putting them together as she/he was a "re- home, a "my kids won't take care of it". She came with a 10 gl aquarium I didn't bother taking.. I know not everyone agrees w tank enclosures but this is all I had on hand ATM I wasn't using the 10gl.. I used this one for months w Belle before she got bigger and her shell is flat. she's rounded but not like this, Belle's shell is more symmetric and even at the sides. That's why I was concerned about this one, is the uneven rounding where the plastron meets on the sides from her pyramiding?? I do soak her in the am and evening when I soak Belle. she also has 2 chi lamps at night, and a basking, chi, and two UV lamps during the day so I appreciate the concern but her temps and humidity have been exactly that w inferred thermometers and a thermostat. I've used the care sheets from this site for Sullys hatchlings before I even bought Belle so this one is receiving the same care. as far as the pyramiding we'd only received her maybe 2 weeks ago from a mom who bought and couldn't keep up on the care and noticed that myself but I didn't notice the sides were uneven and so rounded. I may add an additional 3rd soaking for her? I was concerned because Belle doesn't look like that. they could be a different ages and Belle is a Sudan Sully she's 2X as big if not more than this one (another reason I didn't want to put her in w Belle). The women said she'd had him/her since July about when I'd purchased Belle(August?) so that's all I have to go on as age. I should've been a little clearer that this was a "new" hatchling not my Belle. Now that I'm reading my post It sounds like I've had her for awhile but it's only been a little over 2 weeks and the day we picked her up my husband was in a bad car accident a few hours later that kept him hospitalized up until Thursday so I just hadn't had time to work on another box and still be able to do all the work of two parents/jobs care for our animals and daughter. He was hospitalized in Pittsburgh( a 3 hr round trip). I plan to start soon because the tank is a pain TBH But considering she was in a 10gl w just one basking lamp left on 24/7, it's definitely an upgrade even if it's not what everyone considers perfect..but temps and humidity have always been my major concern and they are checked AM evening and when I can during the day in between on both enclosures if the humidity is too low I spray it down w a spray bottle I tend to keep them as wet as possible. (I tend to refer to all my animals as girls since the rest are really female these 2 are too small obviously to know for sure).

 

[Holly'sMom]

Oh and a closed chamber enclosure is best. Member Tom has a few threads about it.

Yea Belle is in a box but I haven't had a chance to make another yet. I didn't plan to get a second tortoise right now this one was a "needs gone now comes w 10gl tank and (basking) heat lamp" so I'm just using Belles old tank one until I can make another. I wasn't interested in the 10gl tank. It's the uneven sides I'm concerned about Belle is more even or symmetrical on the sides. I didn't notice until I was cleaning out the tank I should add a side by side pics to show the difference. I don't want to put her in the box w Belle, since Belle is 2X bigger and also I don't know where she got it if it could be sick etc and everyone said not too put two together anyways.

 

[Speedy-1]

Yea Belle is in a box but I haven't had a chance to make another yet. I didn't plan to get a second tortoise right now this one was a "needs gone now comes w 10gl tank and (basking) heat lamp" so I'm just using Belles old tank one until I can make another. I wasn't interested in the 10gl tank. It's the uneven sides I'm concerned about Belle is more even or symmetrical on the sides. I didn't notice until I was cleaning out the tank I should add a side by side pics to show the difference. I don't want to put her in the box w Belle, since Belle is 2X bigger and also I don't know where she got it if it could be sick etc and everyone said not too put two together anyways.

You are doing fine under the circumstances ! No need to explain to anyone !

 

[Maro2Bear]

Yes, i agree, keep them separate, keep temps and humidity nice n high, good lighting, not too much handling, let him settle in and get comfy to new surroundings.

 

[Big Charlie]

You are doing fine. Keep them separate. Even if they were the same size, it isn't a good idea to ever keep two torts together.

 

[Holly'sMom]

Thanks I always feel so defensive lol I got so much over the tank for awhile that's party why we'd built a box lol but she seems to be moving eating hopefully that shell will even out. The side just looks so uneven and rounded outwards... I've added a 3rd soaking w baby food carrots for now in the afternoon I guess all I can do is keep an eye on it