Few Beginner Questions

[Scawtey]

Hello. I've just received my 1 year old Sully, Otto. I've gotten most of my questions answered but have a few more. They are:

- What variety and how much food should I offer him a day, and how long should I let him graze in my yard?

-For how long and how often should I soak him? And around what temperature should the water be?

I really want to raise the most healthy tortoise that I can, and want to try to avoid things like pyramiding at all costs. Thanks for the help!

 

[JoesMum]

I'm not a Sulcata expert, but let him graze in the yard as much as he wants. It's good for him to be outside if it's warm enough and he's safe from predators!

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

What variety and how much food should I offer him a day, and how long should I let him graze in my yard?

Like JoesMum said, let him graze as much as he wants. In general, a pile of greens (collards, mustards, Spring Mix, turnip greens, etc.) roughly equal to the size of his shell can be offered daily. Everything else (other vegetables, fruits, commercial diet) can be offered occasionally and in amounts about the size of his head.

The bulk of their diet should be greens and grasses. You can also try Orchard grass hay (often sold for rabbits at petstores), as most younger tortoises don't seem to care for the thick, tough Timothy hay.

-For how long and how often should I soak him? And around what temperature should the water be?

At this age, probably once a week is fine, in lukewarm/turpid water for about 20-30 minutes tops.

When I soaked mine, I would put him in a shoebox tub container (it already had a few holes on the side, make the water just a tad warmer than room temperature, and then put the lid on. It almost created a "sauna" for him. On another thread, someone suggested taking a small rag, or folded paper towel and draping it across the back of his shell, with the edges in the water. The rag would quickly absorb water and keep the tops of the shell wet as well, getting water into the cracks/seams between the scutes.

 

[Scawtey]

Thank you for clarifying all of this. I have fenced off a place in my backyard garden from my dogs where he can graze (supervised of course) and will stop and get some different spring mix/collard greens on the way home. I have Zoo Med pellet food for him now, and ordered some calcium + D3 powder to put on it as well. Hopefully he finds this satisfactory!

 

[Tom]

Hello. I've just received my 1 year old Sully, Otto. I've gotten most of my questions answered but have a few more. They are:

- What variety and how much food should I offer him a day, and how long should I let him graze in my yard?

-For how long and how often should I soak him? And around what temperature should the water be?

I really want to raise the most healthy tortoise that I can, and want to try to avoid things like pyramiding at all costs. Thanks for the help!

First we need to know how big he is. Growth rates can vary a lot. In general:
1. I let young ones eat as much as they want. The more variety the better. I like to use weeds and grass as much as I can, but also offer spineless opuntia cactus pads, mulberry, hibiscus and grape leaves, Mazuri a couple of times a week and occasional store bought leafy greens.
2. I let mine graze all day long in safe, age appropriate, area appropriate, enclosures. By a year old, mine are outside anytime during the day that the weather is suitable.
3. For a "normal" sized one year old, I like to soak 2 to 4 times a week, depending on the weather. More when its hotter and drier here, less when its cooler. If I hap a small one or one that was pyramiding, I would still be soaking every day.
4. I keep my soaking water between 85 and 95.

If you click the links in my signature below, you might find some info that you like.

 

[ascott]

Free graze all day--the more the better, better fiber intake and also allows him to keep his beak tidy...
I would soak him still each day, in warm water--to the touch, and I would let him soak no less than half an hour....
I also would spray his food offerings to add even more hydration...wet from the inside out so to speak...