Hey Y'all my name is Rachelle and I and impatiently waiting the last few days till I get my new little sulcata. I completly open to any secrets of raising you guys have to share and so happy I found this forum!
Jacqui said:Howdy and welcome! Time must seem to be going really slowly for you right now. What made the sulcata seem like the right tortoise for you?
mainey34 said:Hello and welcome...as a sulcata owner myself, you are in for a surprise.. lol. They have such a personality. How old is your little one? Just be prepared for the first week of adjustment time of hiding and being shy, they all go thru it. Below my signature there are threads that tom has started, by the way. He knows a lot about sulcatas. There is good reading about set up and feeding and pretty much everything you need to know to start off. Do not hesitate to ask questions, that's what we are here for.....
mainey34 said:I'm little concerned about all the hay that you have. Is that soil in there? How will you bre able to keep your humidity levels up? Maybe a few plants? Also what size is the container? Sorry, not trying to nit pic..
Terra_Girl said:Jacqui said:Howdy and welcome! Time must seem to be going really slowly for you right now. What made the sulcata seem like the right tortoise for you?
I chose the Sulcata because I have a good sized backyard for when it gets older and I really like their personalities. I also like the fact that they do not hibernate since I live in California where it rarely gets below 60s so not having to worry about maintaining hibernation conditions is a plus.
Tom said:Hello and welcome. Everyone has different ways they like to do things. I will share mine. Even though its not a secret anymore...
At a year old, you probably will need a much bigger indoor enclosure. If you build a 4x8' one, it might last you another year or two tops. Then your baby will need to go live outside full time with a heated shelter.
With that substrate, it seems you intend to create some humidity, which I think is good, provided you keep it warm day and night. But the hay is not compatible with the dampness. It really needs to be one or the other. Along those lines, I only see one clamp lamp. What are you doing for night heat? Also along those lines, those clamps always fail. You need to find a way to hang them from over head. This will also make it much easier to adjust the height to get the right temps.
The little bowl over on the right... Food or water? Fine for food, but too small for water, depending on the size of your baby.
Now lets talk about what you didn't show us. His outdoor enclosure. Even more critical to my way of thinking since he will spend so much time out there in our excellent winter weather here. In my signature are a few links to some ideas for the great outdoors.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Tom said:Okay, more nit picking...
1. I like terra cotta plant saucers for water. Sounds like thats what you have in mind.
2. I like to have my heat lamps and any florescent lighting on a 12 hour timer with the height of the bulb adjusted to give a basking spot of around 100.
3. For night heat, I like to use a CHE (ceramic heating element) set on its own thermostat to 80.
4. Humidity is really for babies. The first few weeks and months are critical. Yours is past that stage. UNLESS, yours is already pyramided. Then high humidity can reduce further pyramiding.
5. The 4" rule only applies to businesses, not small time backyard breeders, which would define most of us. Read my beginner mistakes thread. Buying from the wrong seller is a huge mistake. Are you sure you are buying from the "right" seller? Do you know how to tell? Do you know what questions to ask? Please let us help you BEFORE you buy.
6. Do NOT turn your baby loose in your backyard. You will lose her. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. It happens ALLLLLLLLLLL the time. Please build a proper enclosure back there for her. Lots of ideas for this in my signature. It can be really simple. A few blocks and a cover, or even just a large kiddie pool.
Nothing would make our group happier than to see you enjoying a healthy baby tortoise.
Jacqui said:Ahhh the blue dot specials! How firm are their shells?