Got the upgrade done!

[Series420]

First I want to thank you all, I bought my baby Sulcata about 7 days ago from the local pet store, everything they sold me was wrong. The first pic Ill attach is his setup when I got him home the first day, the following two is the enclosure i built following this forums advice.
(the UVB light is fixed, not laying diagonally anymore)

It is really quite unbelievable how much his personality has changed with the new enclosure. He would hide for about 11 hours of the day, then sleep for another 12.. leaving him active only about 1hr a day.. hardly eating.

Since putting him in his new enclosure he just likes to walk around the parimeter getting exercise and enjoying the proper climate I assume. He has ate twice now immediately after being fed too!

I just want to thank you so much to everyone who pointed me in the right direction over the last week, the results are awesome!!! thanks again to the guys who gave me advice and also to all the supporting members of this great forum! What a great collective of knowledge!

- John & Samson(the sulcata)

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks for the update! Great job done!

Old hides (if he still fits in) can still work in the new enclosure - he needs some safe place. You can burrow them in substrate to make climbing safer and more cool and humid climate inside. Hatchings don't really like to be exposed in the open space, so some potted shady plants like hosta, carex or clump of spider plants will be appreciated.

 

[zovick]

First I want to thank you all, I bought my baby Sulcata about 7 days ago from the local pet store, everything they sold me was wrong. The first pic Ill attach is his setup when I got him home the first day, the following two is the enclosure i built following this forums advice.
(the UVB light is fixed, not laying diagonally anymore)

It is really quite unbelievable how much his personality has changed with the new enclosure. He would hide for about 11 hours of the day, then sleep for another 12.. leaving him active only about 1hr a day.. hardly eating.

Since putting him in his new enclosure he just likes to walk around the parimeter getting exercise and enjoying the proper climate I assume. He has ate twice now immediately after being fed too!

I just want to thank you so much to everyone who pointed me in the right direction over the last week, the results are awesome!!! thanks again to the guys who gave me advice and also to all the supporting members of this great forum! What a great collective of knowledge!

- John & Samson(the sulcata)

I can't tell in the last photo if you have gotten rid of the water dish which is shown in the first photo or not. That type of water dish is a drowning hazard and should not be used. Instead, use a terra cotta plant saucer (with sloped sides) of an appropriate depth for the size of your tortoise.

 

[Series420]

Thanks for the update! Great job done!

Old hides (if he still fits in) can still work in the new enclosure - he needs some safe place. You can burrow them in substrate to make climbing safer and more cool and humid climate inside. Hatchings don't really like to be exposed in the open space, so some potted shady plants like hosta, carex or clump of spider plants will be appreciated.

yeah ive got the two hides in there for now, planning on getting a larger one still. I was going to ask about safe plants. i grow hostas in my garden, so im familiar with them, i will go ahead and a couple of those and take a look at the other two mentioned,

Thanks Alex!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

It’s always wonderful seeing updates here! Thank you for sharing and well done!!❤️

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

These updates are always wonderful to see. Especially with babies the right conditions are important and it is great that you caught early on. Your tortoise is lucky to have a owner who didn't take everything as granted from the petstore!

 

[SinLA]

I wish everyone who came to this site would read this thread before they start

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I wish everyone who came to this site would read this thread before they start

So nice to see isn’t it! I love posts like this!!🥰

 

[Tom]

First I want to thank you all, I bought my baby Sulcata about 7 days ago from the local pet store, everything they sold me was wrong. The first pic Ill attach is his setup when I got him home the first day, the following two is the enclosure i built following this forums advice.
(the UVB light is fixed, not laying diagonally anymore)

It is really quite unbelievable how much his personality has changed with the new enclosure. He would hide for about 11 hours of the day, then sleep for another 12.. leaving him active only about 1hr a day.. hardly eating.

Since putting him in his new enclosure he just likes to walk around the parimeter getting exercise and enjoying the proper climate I assume. He has ate twice now immediately after being fed too!

I just want to thank you so much to everyone who pointed me in the right direction over the last week, the results are awesome!!! thanks again to the guys who gave me advice and also to all the supporting members of this great forum! What a great collective of knowledge!

- John & Samson(the sulcata)

Sooooo much better for your baby! Your reward will be years of good health. And then you'll have to figure out how to do this same sort of thing on a GIANT scale.

 

[Series420]

I wish everyone who came to this site would read this thread before they start

Me too!

 

[Series420]

Thanks for the update! Great job done!

Old hides (if he still fits in) can still work in the new enclosure - he needs some safe place. You can burrow them in substrate to make climbing safer and more cool and humid climate inside. Hatchings don't really like to be exposed in the open space, so some potted shady plants like hosta, carex or clump of spider plants will be appreciated.

all said and done in this photo, asides from the thermometer probes being elevated which has now been completed.

 

[Series420]

I can't tell in the last photo if you have gotten rid of the water dish which is shown in the first photo or not. That type of water dish is a drowning hazard and should not be used. Instead, use a terra cotta plant saucer (with sloped sides) of an appropriate depth for the size of your tortoise.

i got two for him, the old one has been put in storage should i ever use it for another animal. thank you!