first time tortoise owner! :/ lots of questions! :)

[dougeesmama]

work from 8 am to 5 pm and he's (guessing the gender) always sleeping when I'm home... my fiancé is home most of the day so he takes him out for sun and all but when I'm home I'd like to see him active as well... he's a little over 2 months old... new little hatchling... can I wake him up so I can see him active or is it bad to wake him?

 

[dmmj]

Welcome
I can't say it is bad per se, but I probably think it is annoying to be woken up in the middle of his sleep.

 

[ascott]

Welcome to the Forum and I would have to agree with Captain..also besides annoying..if he has been up during his regular day then he needs his night rest...

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

I'd leave him be but if you can't resist go for it! Just don't do it every night.

 

[dougeesmama]

thanks soo much also tho he lives in an 80 gallon tank and right now we have a basking lamp 100 watt, a house(a rock cover piece) a water dish and food dish (had him for about 3 days now) what else am I missing? I feel like I should have more like a UVB ppl say and I also don't know how often each light needs to be on and what not my fiancé just takes him out at lunch for some sun for like 15 minutes

 

[Yvonne G]

Hello there, Dougeesmomma:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

What would you like for us to call you?

Also, when we know approximately where you are, it helps us design our answers to better fit your questions.

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[jerm42991]

If he is getting time in the sun everyday then you don't really have to worry to much about a UVB light. Hatchlings do sleep a lot, but generally get more active when they are older. Also, what kind of tort do you have? That will also help with exactly what needs he needs

 

[dougeesmama]

I have a sulcata and live in California so it got during the day but cold at night

 

[tortoiselovesme]

I may be 11 but I learn alot abouttortoise knolage when they are cold they go to sleep and when they are warm they are active.( I have 2 tortoises aged 2 and a 90 year old one resting in heaven)

 

[Dizisdalife]

Hi Dougeesmama - Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of useful information here about how to raise babies and hatchlings. You will not run out of topics or sources here. The thread below is a good place to start if you haven't read it yet.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1lSfEy1QZ

From my own experience I can recommend that you get your temperatures under control. Babies need heat. An environment that gives them 80+ degrees plus a basking spot that is around 100 degrees. Many of us use a ceramic heat emitter controlled by thermostat to achieve the 80 degree ambient temp. A spot light or a MVB can be used for the basking spot. You will also want to invest in a temp gun so that you can check various spots in the enclosure. It is also good for checking the ground temperature outside.

Babies and hatchlings need to be kept hydrated. This is sometimes a challenge because the heat lamps really dry things out. Many of us soak our babies to help keep them hydrated. There are several threads here on controlling the humidity in the enclosure.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new baby.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1lSfEy1QZ

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I'd wake him up and play with him if I were you. He'll just go back to sleep when you stop messing with him, so what's the big deal? Take him out and bond with him...

 

[Zamric]

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[wellington]

The temp should not be below 80 over all temp with the basking spot 95 if you have a good humidity level, which should be around 80 or even higher.

If you have a much lower humidity,then your temp should be a little cooler, 75-78 all over temp, with 95 basking. However, one of the proper ways to raise your tort is with the high humidity. Please read the threads I have listed with my signature below. Both are good for Sulcata's.

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

You get home at five... he should be seen active at least ONCE in two months. my three little ones are almost always walking around and picking up food here and there.
because he didn't say anything about humidity then I am going to guess that's because you have no humidity and that's a big no no...
You need to redo his tank following the suggestions in the hatchling care link that was already posted and get his humidity up to 80%
You hatchling most be kept WARM ANF HUMID, it is essential for them.
warm means above 80 degrees everywhere in the enclosure.
U also need to add a humid hide to his cage that closer to 90% humidity. I mean get it wet and warm in there so your tortoise doesn't get dehydrated

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I don't know what substrate your using but it needs to be something that holds moisture really well.
You should be going crazy with a squirt bottle everyday before you go to work and when you her home squirting down the entire cage and the tortoises shell until they drip.
he also should have a 24/7 water source in his cage that he can drink from and soak himself in. That is very important. The water bowl should not be very deep. With the bowl filled all the way up with water to the rim and overflowing , the water should not come very far past the bottom of his shell. the lip of the bowl should be flush with the substrate. Its important because if its to hard to get in or out of the tortoises will flip over in the attempt and thats no good.
Misting your tortoises a ton with humidity in the cage and a 24/7 water source will make sure that your tortoise stays extremely hydrated and will prevent him from pyramiding.
U should also try to soak your tortoise in warm water everyday

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If your keeping your tortoise dry there is a REALLY good chance that the reason your never seeing him active when u get home from work is cauase he is dehydrated and trying to conserve whatever water in his body he can.
Chronic dehydration in tortoises leads to them dying and it can happen quickly
also make sure that you are giving him calcium supplements to make sure that enough calcium is getting to his bones or he could start suffering from Metabolic Bone Disease where his shell goes soft, this is also deadly. I don't your tortoise has this but I do think he is probably pretty dehydrated
Sulcata hatxhlings that are kept in high humidity and really warm are very active in my experience, mine are always awake when I wake up and waiting for food and stay awake through out most of day
I hope all this helps

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Here are my favorite threads about sulcatas and how to raise them this is about the best enclosures for sulcata tortoises

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Closed-Chambers#axzz1hkZxITMK

These are care sheets , one is for leopard tortoises but it works really well for sulcatas . Tom's how to raise hathcling sulcatas is the most important though
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1i4Ds8pC6
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Leopard-Tortoise-Care-Sheet#axzz1i4Ds8pC6

This one is about hatchling failure syndrome and how to prevent it http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Hatchling-Failure-Syndrome#axzz1i4Ds8pC6

These threads are about pyramiding
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-The-End-Of-Pyramiding#axzz1i4Ds8pC6
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-The-End-Of-Pyramiding-II-The-Leopards#axzz1i4Ds8pC6

You should also really ,really read this link Its called the Sulcata Challenge Sulcata Challenge

Good food links
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Calcium-rich-gel-food-for-supplementation#axzz1kotpP3QK
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ises-The-Balanced-Diet-Revealed#axzz1kotpP3QK

Other links
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...on-the-difference-the-sun-makes#axzz1kotpP3QK
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ive-or-Beginner-Tortoise-Owners#axzz1lBJMwX8C

 

[cljohnson]

I agree completely with the posts above about housing your Sulcata.
As for your schedule I totally understand.
At my house I control how long the day is ( with the help of a timer) 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. My little ones are always happy to see me when I get home, especially when I have dandilion flowers in hand.
Then I tuck them in ( stuff their little butts into their humid hide ) at lights out.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!