Healing Journey

[zovick]

Is there anything else you would add to the substrate? As I'm struggling to find a large amount of the two main ingredients without breaking the bank, I've heard play sand can be good from some people, and from others I've heard it can be dangerous. Any suggestions?

Sand would not be good. It can cause intestinal blockages. As Edward said, you can use cypress mulch which is about $3.50 for a 2 cu ft bag at Home Depot or Walmart. You would probably need only 1 bag or 2 at the most.

Also here are the bricks of coco coir. You just have to soak them in water to get them to expand, then mush it up with your hands and pack it into the enclosure:

Amazon.com

Also: I have been able to buy the Eco Earth Bricks in 3 packs at Petsmart or Petco for about $9 if that is easier for you.

 

[COmtnLady]

Don't use sand! That's been shown to cause problems like impactions that need veterinary intervention. It doesn't do it every time, or quickly, but why even take the chance when you can just use the safer substrates? Best is to use coco coir, orchid/fir bark, or cyprus mulch.

 

[Z&C]

Sand would not be good. It can cause intestinal blockages. As Edward said, you can use cypress mulch which is about $3.50 for a 2 cu ft bag at Home Depot or Walmart. You would probably need only 1 bag or 2 at the most.

Also here are the bricks of coco coir. You just have to soak them in water to get them to expand, then mush it up with your hands and pack it into the enclosure:

Amazon.com

Also: I have been able to buy the Eco Earth Bricks in 3 packs at Petsmart or Petco for about $9 if that is easier for you.

I found the Cypress mulch you were talking about and that link was super helpful for the coco coir so thank you so much for the suggestions and the link, I'm hoping 1 pack of each will be enough. That exactly what I had heard about sand but I figured I should ask to triple check what I had heard through the grapevine.

 

[Z&C]

Morning everyone, I'm now putting a list of items together for the enclosure, I'm working on the uv light and the heat emitter, what wattage heat ceramic emitter would you all recommend? And for the uv is a tube light better? I heard the bulb/coil ones were not great.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

And for the uv is a tube light better?

Yep, a tube light is the best option. Go with a reputable brand like Arcadia or ZooMed.

 

[Z&C]

Good Morning everyone, today I finished listing out all the items that would be needed for the enclosure (besides the enclosure itself which is almost done!) The list has been approved, looked over and a few faculty members are willing to help out with the cost. My next step other than finishing the enclosure and moving her in, will be to somehow try to get her to a vet for a beak trim, she is able to eat still but it clearly takes some effort.

 

[Z&C]

The new enclosure is officially finished and is ready to be set up, it will be set up with the new substrate, hides, and everything else and she will be moved in hopefully on Tuesday. She has been taken to the vet for a beak trim but they were unable to do it, so she's going back for attempt 2 later this week. Here's a sneak peak at the enclosure before its been fully set up and cleaned from construction, its made mostly of plast so it won't rot over time and will be easy to clean, and its a bit bigger the 4' by 3' I know its not as big as it should be but its as big as we could make it, and its still a huge upgrade.

 

[COmtnLady]

What are the swirly marks?
You could make an upper story to double your size with less impact on the space in your home.

 

[Z&C]

What are the swirly marks?
You could make an upper story to double your size with less impact on the space in your home.

The marks are dust from construction after a quick wipe down, I still have to do a more in depth clean before filling it. As I mentioned at the top of the thread she is a class pet that I do not own but had gotten the chance to help her to the best of my ability. Classes are already over and I graduate in 2 weeks so won't have access to her past that point (I have someone next year who will be taking over her care). A 2 story was not possible with the amount of time I had to construct it and the materials I had available, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Z&C]

Big day today, the beak trim finally happend, she began munching as soon as I placed her back in the tank, and it looked a lot easier for her to eat. Unfortunately move in day has been pushed back a few days for her new enclosure but its coming up this week.

 

[Z&C]

Moving Day took place a few days ago and I went in today to see how she was settling in. She seems so much happier in her new home and has started 2 separate burrows (small divets in the ground) she was napping in one under the uv when we walked in, the other burrow is in her old hide.

 

[COmtnLady]

That's a nice enclosure... definitely better than she's had. You get a gold star!

Who's going to take care of her when you're gone? You should bring them here so we can help them get their feet under them. (And remind them to trim her beak so she doesn't have a hard time eating again.

What are the temps and humidity?


Things I'd do differently~
Dig a small depression and set the water dish down into it so that the upper lip of the terracotta saucer is closer to even with the surface of the substrate so its easier to go in and out of it.

(Is that a terracotta saucer made of heavy clay? It looks kind of like plastic in the pics...) And it seems awkward that it sort of blocks the entry to the one hide. Maybe angle the hide or move the water dish?

What is the gray square with all the small stones? Are the stones loose? (Just worried that she could eat small stones.)




You have definitely made her life better.



.

 

[Z&C]

That's a nice enclosure... definitely better than she's had. You get a gold star!

Who's going to take care of her when you're gone? You should bring them here so we can help them get their feet under them. (And remind them to trim her beak so she doesn't have a hard time eating again.

What are the temps and humidity?


Things I'd do differently~
Dig a small depression and set the water dish down into it so that the upper lip of the terracotta saucer is closer to even with the surface of the substrate so its easier to go in and out of it.

(Is that a terracotta saucer made of heavy clay? It looks kind of like plastic in the pics...) And it seems awkward that it sort of blocks the entry to the one hide. Maybe angle the hide or move the water dish?

What is the gray square with all the small stones? Are the stones loose? (Just worried that she could eat small stones.)




You have definitely made her life better.



.

The hide by the water dish is too small for her to actually use to its there mainly as a view blocker so she can see everything at once, the water bowl is plastic (not slippery at all, it has some slight texture) and food bowl is terracotta. I have an incoming freshman lined up to take care of her for the next 4 years. The gray square is large pavers for basking a keeping her nails short no small stones.

 

[zovick]

The hide by the water dish is too small for her to actually use to its there mainly as a view blocker so she can see everything at once, the water bowl is plastic (not slippery at all, it has some slight texture) and food bowl is terracotta. I have an incoming freshman lined up to take care of her for the next 4 years. The gray square is large pavers for basking a keeping her nails short no small stones.

You've done a great job correcting this tortoise's care and environment. Best of luck to you in your future academic career and beyond.

Good luck to the freshman caretaker also. Hopefully that person will come here for any questions or problems he/she may encounter over the next 4 years.