Early Stocking Stuffers - Need Care Sheet

[webskipper]

I got in contact with a local breeder (PHX) who keeps his Greeks outside all year.

In 2 weeks I get to be a proud Dad of 2 young Ibera's. Since they are local then I won't have to worry about acclimation and indoor temps too much here in TUC.

Has the Group assembled a care sheet just for Greeks?

Found a bookcase for $20 and will start working on it shortly. It should fit on a table I have already. First step is to 30 minute epoxy wash all the inside surfaces.

-Turtle half-pipe Log
-Alfalfa
-Sod area?
-Planting trays- herbs,grasses, cactii?
-Slate for food tray
-Shallow water dishes
-Desert UVB Fluorescent lamps
-Low rocks for exercise
-Greens, greens, greens

Can shredded paper work as bedding (got a shredder)? Or will it cause impaction?

 

[Yvonne G]

No alfalfa...to high in protein
I like cypress mulch for substrate. Paper works good if you want a hospital situation, but under normal conditions a regular substrate works best. Some of the folks here on the forum like to use aspen bedding for their Greek tortoises. If you go to aspen, then you have to provide a humid hide.

 

[webskipper]

Interesting. Regular Gerbil bedding.

What about a piece of Bermuda sod from a store? Probably full of chemicals right?

What else should I know right off the bat?

 

[Sudhira]

Good questions, more info on Greeks is good!

1.1.0

 

[Isa]

I use aspen bedding and Hermy loves it. There are a couple of hides in Hermy's enclosure, in the hot side, in the middle and in the cold side. There is one humid hide with a wet sponge glued at the top of the hide. There is a water in the hot side, the water dish is big enough for him to get inside it if he wants to take a bath and walk in it. I have 2 slates of ceramic, that is where I put his food because I really do not want him to eat the substrate. Did you buy the lights yet? If yes, what did you buy and and if not, what do you want to buy? You must be very excited, 2 more weeks, and you are going to be a proud daddy

 

[webskipper]

Cool.

Humid Hide? I was eying up the Fluker large jacuzzi's for feeding and water since they should keep out the coconut bedding. The waterer can be kept shallow till they can doggie paddle or show some climbing skills.

Used Bookcase - 60X24X9H $20 at the local reptile specialist shop. Imagine that. When I am finished, I'll post it on the Enclosures Forum. Just spent $30 for the hardwood backing, stain/polyurethane, brushes, hardware. I systematically dismantled it to gain 3 inches more of real estate.

There might be enough room to keep plants growing in those black plastic screens for keeping the wildlife from eating the tree bark. it'll keep the Torts out as well.

Shelter - one XL Tort hut under a shelf (darkest section), and one in the bright area.

Lights- Desert 10.0 UVB type - double strip light. Had great results with the double strip over a 90 gallon juvenile Snaps tank I had. Shells hard like rock, pond plants healthy.

Timer Strip power center- Do I need to control 2 lights like an IF bulb?

Humidity/temp gauges

Screen - BBQ or pallet rack screens. Whichever I can get to fit the bookcase or find first. Just to keep the visiting dogs and other people's children out of the cage. Or was to keep the children in so the Torts can run. Hmm.

Plastic trays for the misc plants, grass/sod, pear cactii.

Small rocks to climb during early morning PT.

 

[Isa]

The humid hide depends on if you choose to put a dry substrate (aspen bedding) or a humid one (cypress mulch, mix of sand and organic soil). If you choose to put a dry substrate, you will need to provide a humid hide to your little one (you can make a hide with shpagmum muss or frog moss inside (it is humid) or you can glue a sponge on the top of the hide (you will have to keep the sponge wet).
Will you have a UVA light (one that creates heat) in the enclosure?
I can't wait to see the enclosure

 

[Crazy1]

Hi webskipper. You did not say what size your two new ones will be or if you plan to keep them outside in this box or inside? I would not use alfafa too high in protien and as a substrate difficult to walk on for a small tort. I also like Cypress mulch for young greeks, better than the coconut fiber. The top layer drys out better and they don't eat it and it doen't seem to stick to everything. Plus I can keep the cypress damp under the top layer which helps keep the humidity up. I try to keep my young greeks at about 70% humidity. you can get a good humidity guage from www.eggcarton.com they are pretty accurate and inexpensive.

 

[webskipper]

Hi webskipper. You did not say what size your two new ones will be or if you plan to keep them outside in this box or inside? I would not use alfafa too high in protien and as a substrate difficult to walk on for a small tort. I also like Cypress mulch for young greeks, better than the coconut fiber. The top layer drys out better and they don't eat it and it doen't seem to stick to everything. Plus I can keep the cypress damp under the top layer which helps keep the humidity up. I try to keep my young greeks at about 70% humidity.

Hatchlings from this Summer. Indoor Tortoise table/cradle.

Current room humidity is 50-60% without the table. Table is going back together this week along with lots of Poly-crylic coats. Picked up a 18x18 flat of Dichondra for $20. They said a lady comes in frequently and buys 3 or 4 flats at a time for her Torts. Anyone we know? I expect my humidity will rise to your 70%.

 

[tortoisenerd]

I looked up Dichondra and found it was a type of ground cover. Interesting! I would make sure it is safe to be eaten in large quantities as I assume the tortoises would eat it. ie check it is not high in protein, oxalic acid, etc. I have not heard of it.

 

[webskipper]

I went to another nursery today looking for trays to put the flat in and the guy said that most people that buy it feed to their Torts.

Nice to know that I can grow it outdoors in low traffic areas.

 

[webskipper]

Been staring at this empty new tort table for over a month now.

Took a long time looking for the right Torts. Found them.

Getting a couple of young Ibera girls. Excited new Dad.

 

[Isa]

Cool When will they arrive?

 

[webskipper]

Saturday or Sunday when I drive 4 or 5 hours out to Lake Havasu area. If the breeder decides to return to CA on my side of the mountains then we can meet and my trip will be shorter.

I'd love company!

 

[webskipper]

Well, the plans fell through.

Fortunately for us, there are a lot of good people on this forum and I managed to find a breeder 90 minutes away. Small world.

This is a great forum to learn about and find Torts. Thanks to CGkeith for the 3 wonderful and active little Ibera tikes.

I brought them home and put them under the big hide with the cypress they came with so there would be something familiar (for them). Within minutes the hive emptied and they were off exploring. By the tracks, they were playing follow the leader like trail horses. At some point they stopped and grazed the flat of Dichondra while I was out on errands. Maybe they dipped into Stephanie's human operated jacuzzi. All 3 were found buried inline behind each other.

Once we get all 3 out in the open we can take pics.

The Kids Are Alright.

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Congratulations. Don't forget to hand out the cigars.

Have you thought of names yet?

 

[webskipper]

Thanks. No smoking around the babies.

Sure I thought of names. It's just hard to find significant differences in their Desert Storm patterns. Greek versions of Pebble, Pearl, Sandy, Rocky, etc.

One name I like is Topaz. It's a Greek girl's name and Ibera look like a brown gem right? Everyone else is picking out cute verb names that end in i or ie.

How does a baby Tort grow into the name Sarsaparilla (Sassy)?

 

[Isa]

Congratulations I saw your little babies on the thread you posted in the enclosure section, they are sooo cute .