Cynosoura
New Member
OK - first the basics: Odin was born with only one eye about 4 months ago. I picked him up from a redfoot breeder because: 1) I've always wanted a tortoise and 2) Look at him. I mean I got this 1st photo of him and was asked if I wanted to adopt, and basically said to myself, "Well. Guess I've a roommate now." The below is from when I got "him" (too young to tell if she/he...but one eye? Had to be Odin...so "he" for now). Think he's about 8 weeks here, give or take.
He was born without a left eye - and a barely formed eye socket:
But his shell is good, he eats like a horse, he wanders about the enclosure like a champ, loves head and neck scritches (which surprises me, actually, didn't expect that):
He even likes to play games with me. Like, "Find the Tortoise" at 6am in the morning...because why drink coffee when all you need is a good wallop of adrenaline as you open his sleeping hide and you can't find your tortoise, only to look out into the larger side and go, "Wait. This is a BOX. He's gotta be here:"
Or my personal favorite, "Has my tort just drowned during the night?" This one I did not find as humorous...I've caught him twice in the last month sleeping in his water dish. This first episode caused me to swap out this dish for a terra cotta planter saucer because honestly I do not need a stroke or heart attack.
Here is as the enclosure - should note that he's 100% for now indoors. Some things to point out: recently, after reading posts on this forum, realized: 1) the expert advice I received lacked some pretty important bits 2) Need to cover the grating to keep more moisture in (was only in the 60-70% range), and 3) that there's not enough heat (50W CHE with a Reptisun 10.0 13W Desert) as ambient temp only in the middling 70's. I also have a heat mat (Exo Terra 16W Med) on the floor of the hide with a thermostat set to 85 degrees). Current substrate is cedar mulch (again, on recommendation) about 3-4" deep. Spray the substrate daily and he gets a warm bath every morning for about 10-15 minutes before breakfast (sometimes longer, sometimes less, depending on his rambunctiousness to try and clamber out of the plastic tub.
Fixes to the below are coming this week: acrylic to cover the grating (I've covered opening and roof of hide with tinfoil for now and that's actually...raising the temps a bit, but doesn't feel like enough or with enough variation options). A hygrometer/temp with probes coming, and another heat mat that I'm going to (at least for now) affix against the wall of the hide opposite the opening. Just don't think there's enough humidity retention. However, the enclosure itself is great (Aivituvin Wooden Tortoise House. It's got a plastic bottom such that I just lift the whole thing up, walk it outside, dump substrate, put back together, and refill substrate).
SO ALL OF THE ABOVE to set up to ask: as a special needs tortoise, I was also advised to keep the enclosure bare, with as few obstacles as possible. Given the other advice misses, is this one also a bit off? He does seem to amble around quite well (albeit...he has a tendency to bump the walls quite a bit!) Wondering if I should be dropping in a couple of potted plants? Different lighting? I'm REALLY new to tortoise rearing and didn't see much about "half blind" torts here. Again, while eating does seem to take some extra effort he certainly doesn't leave many morsels (he does miss while eating quite a bit, so it does take him a bit longer, so rather than feeding "only what they can in 30 minutes" I just let him go at it.).
BUT - I can't imagine this being enough...stimulus? I don't know, but y'all have been brilliant with advice and would definitely appreciate any comments!
Plants or things, yea or nay?
Thanks all!!!!
He was born without a left eye - and a barely formed eye socket:
But his shell is good, he eats like a horse, he wanders about the enclosure like a champ, loves head and neck scritches (which surprises me, actually, didn't expect that):
He even likes to play games with me. Like, "Find the Tortoise" at 6am in the morning...because why drink coffee when all you need is a good wallop of adrenaline as you open his sleeping hide and you can't find your tortoise, only to look out into the larger side and go, "Wait. This is a BOX. He's gotta be here:"
Or my personal favorite, "Has my tort just drowned during the night?" This one I did not find as humorous...I've caught him twice in the last month sleeping in his water dish. This first episode caused me to swap out this dish for a terra cotta planter saucer because honestly I do not need a stroke or heart attack.
Here is as the enclosure - should note that he's 100% for now indoors. Some things to point out: recently, after reading posts on this forum, realized: 1) the expert advice I received lacked some pretty important bits 2) Need to cover the grating to keep more moisture in (was only in the 60-70% range), and 3) that there's not enough heat (50W CHE with a Reptisun 10.0 13W Desert) as ambient temp only in the middling 70's. I also have a heat mat (Exo Terra 16W Med) on the floor of the hide with a thermostat set to 85 degrees). Current substrate is cedar mulch (again, on recommendation) about 3-4" deep. Spray the substrate daily and he gets a warm bath every morning for about 10-15 minutes before breakfast (sometimes longer, sometimes less, depending on his rambunctiousness to try and clamber out of the plastic tub.
Fixes to the below are coming this week: acrylic to cover the grating (I've covered opening and roof of hide with tinfoil for now and that's actually...raising the temps a bit, but doesn't feel like enough or with enough variation options). A hygrometer/temp with probes coming, and another heat mat that I'm going to (at least for now) affix against the wall of the hide opposite the opening. Just don't think there's enough humidity retention. However, the enclosure itself is great (Aivituvin Wooden Tortoise House. It's got a plastic bottom such that I just lift the whole thing up, walk it outside, dump substrate, put back together, and refill substrate).
SO ALL OF THE ABOVE to set up to ask: as a special needs tortoise, I was also advised to keep the enclosure bare, with as few obstacles as possible. Given the other advice misses, is this one also a bit off? He does seem to amble around quite well (albeit...he has a tendency to bump the walls quite a bit!) Wondering if I should be dropping in a couple of potted plants? Different lighting? I'm REALLY new to tortoise rearing and didn't see much about "half blind" torts here. Again, while eating does seem to take some extra effort he certainly doesn't leave many morsels (he does miss while eating quite a bit, so it does take him a bit longer, so rather than feeding "only what they can in 30 minutes" I just let him go at it.).
BUT - I can't imagine this being enough...stimulus? I don't know, but y'all have been brilliant with advice and would definitely appreciate any comments!
Plants or things, yea or nay?
Thanks all!!!!
