Hatchlings and Prickly Pear

[Francisco Ayala]

I just wanted to know if it is okay to keep a small Prickly pear plant in my 4 month old Sulcatas habitat. Or are the spines a danger to them.

 

[Blakem]

What's the purpose of having it in there? My opinion, it's not necessary to have it in there. Not because it's a danger, but it just creates less space forever your baby. That and it could knock it over.

 

[Francisco Ayala]

What's the purpose of having it in there? My opinion, it's not necessary to have it in there. Not because it's a danger, but it just creates less space forever your baby. That and it could knock it over.

I want them to have something to graze on if they like. And space is not an issue. The are in an enclosure the size of a twin bed mattress

 

[wellington]

Couple,things you should change first. The light, should be fixed by not using the clamp. They have been known to fail and start fires. Second, they need high humidity 80% which you can't get in an open top enclosure. I can tell the one mostly already has the start of slight pyramiding, the high humidity will stop that from continuing. Tortoises don't do good in pairs, so be prepared to seperate them, and look out for bullying, one may hog the food, sit in food dish, not letting the other have any, hog the best basking spot, the hide and one will just not grow as well as the other.
As for the cactus, I would order the spinless ones. I don't like feeding the ones with spines without removing them, an eye can always get poked.
Please rea the linked threads at the bottom of my post by my signature under where it says Toms Threads

 

[Francisco Ayala]

Couple,things you should change first. The light, should be fixed by not using the clamp. They have been known to fail and start fires. Second, they need high humidity 80% which you can't get in an open top enclosure. I can tell the one mostly already has the start of slight pyramiding, the high humidity will stop that from continuing. Tortoises don't do good in pairs, so be prepared to seperate them, and look out for bullying, one may hog the food, sit in food dish, not letting the other have any, hog the best basking spot, the hide and one will just not grow as well as the other.
As for the cactus, I would order the spinless ones. I don't like feeding the ones with spines without removing them, an eye can always get poked.
Please rea the linked threads at the bottom of my post by my signature under where it says Toms Threads

I am sure the clamp will do fine, I've used the same kind in my turtle setups for over 10 years and have never had an issue. As for the rest. Would adding another hide and another lamp help with possible bullying? And I mist the coconut substrate every morning on the dark end of the habitat. Under the second level. My humidity gage is always around 80 in that area. Do you think that is enough.

 

[Francisco Ayala]

 

[wellington]

For little ones, no I have never seen where just a humid hide worked good. I would try to make a frame above your light and drape some plastic over it.
As for bullying, the added hide won't stop bully.
When it starts they will have to live apart, which they would rather do anyway, they don't want a room mate

 

[Francisco Ayala]

For little ones, nhave never seen where just a humid hide worked good. I would try to make a frame above your light and drape some plastic over it.
As for bullying, the added hide won't stop bully.
When it starts they will have to live apart, which they would rather do anyway, they don't want a room mate

Can you help me by pasting a few links or images of enclosures that would work well for me

 

[DeanS]

Can you help me by pasting a few links or images of enclosures that would work well for me

Check out the first posts Tom did here...these are, without a doubt, the best enclosures I've EVER seen. It'll be about $400 to build one...but worth it!

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/2015-growth-experiment.119874/

 

[wellington]

Can you help me by pasting a few links or images of enclosures that would work well for me

If you can't do what's in the thread DeanS posted at this time, I would try to had a few 2x4's to make a frame the would hold up plastic. A few pieces of 2x4 on the sides reaching up and attached to one going down the length of it and then plastic draped over. You could even use PVC pipes and connectors to make the frame. Make it just tall enough so you can still hang your lights at the distance needed. If I could draw, I would draw out what I am trying to say, but I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to figure out my lousy drawing skills.