Hello from San Diego

[Kalgodric]

Just wanted to say hello. Our friend Bodhisattva (Bodhi for short), a baby sulcata tortoise, came to live with us this last August.

He has an awesome personality, we sometimes call him "Mr. Meh Meh" because he will look up at us and make that little sound, its so freaking cute lol

He does seem to be a finicky eater, he loves romain lettuce and seems to get upset when we dont give him a salad consisting mainly of it. Though he does seem to like carrots and broccli (which we limit because it give him gas)
If anyone has any tips on what he may like as well please let me know.

Thank you for all comming together and giving someone like me a place to go for info on my friend Bodhi

 

[Jacqui]

Welcome! Romaine as part of the diet is okay, but sounds like it may be too much of the diet at your house. Have you tried him on cactus, weeds (like dandelion, plantain, ect..,) and how about grape leaves? Mustard greens, turnip greens, collards, Spring mix, ect.., from the store? There is just an almost endless variety of things out there to try on the little guy. Plus remember your the adult and he is the "kid". You are the one who picks what to feed him.

 

[jkingler]

San Diegan! Yes!

Welcome!

Check out this thread if you wanna chat with other San Diegans from time to time.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Who-here-lives-in-or-around-San-Diego#axzz1lRPN9JMB

Of course, don't limit yourself to that thread. There are lots of amazing people around here with immense reserves of experiential knowledge to impart.

Bodhi is super cute, and I am sure that the Meh Mehs are attempts to communicate the dharma and help you attain his level of enlightenment. How lucky you are!

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

Welcome!!

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

[/code]
Hello and Welcome !!!

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

This is how big a sulcata will be in just four years

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I would read those threads and get him off rabbit pellets and into some hot humidity

 

[jkingler]

^I would second that, now that I've taken a closer look at the pic. The pellets are generally considered to be bad, and your buddy Bodhi does look a bit on the dry side! Good eye, Rebecca.

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

^I would second that, now that I've taken a closer look at the pic. The pellets are generally considered to be bad, and your buddy Bodhi does look a bit on the dry side! Good eye, Rebecca.

Why thank u !!!

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[Zamric]

[/color][/size][size=medium]Welcome to the Forum!

 

[N2TORTS]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM~

Goooo Patrick Henry Patriots !

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Kalgodric:

Welcome to our Tortoise Forum family!!

What would you like us to call you?

 

[TotallyTank]

Hello an welcome. You should for sure change your substrate but he looks great.

 

[Kalgodric]

Thank you guys for the warm welcome!

So the substrate we have is an alphalpha pelet that was reccomended to us at the local exotic pet store where we got him, it says its for grassland tortises. You guys think thats not good for him? What should I change it toif thats the case?

Thanks
Steve & Bodhi

 

[pdrobber]

welcome

 

[Momof4]

Welcome!!!

 

[Dizisdalife]

Welcome to the forum. San Diego is a great place to raise a Sulcata. Lots of sunshine and warm weather. You might want to check out the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society. The events they have at Balboa Park can be very entertaining.

 

[Kalgodric]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

The alphalpha pellets said they were specificaly for grassland tortoises and was recomended by the people in the local exotic pet store where we got him. You guys say we should change it out fomr something that will increase the humidity? What is recomended?

Thanks for the help
Steve & Bodhi

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

The alphalpha pellets said they were specificaly for grassland tortoises and was recomended by the people in the local exotic pet store where we got him. You guys say we should change it out fomr something that will increase the humidity? What is recomended?

Thanks for the help
Steve & Bodhi

If you go to the links I posted for you and red the how to raise sulcata hatchling or babies it will tell u everything u need to know. It's A LOT A LOT to type out that is why we just copy and past links LOL
If you then read the oone about hatchling failure syndrome it will tell u why raising your baby dry on pellets isn't good for him. He is probably dehydrated which leads to pyramiding aand severe health issues. Many babies die from dehydration. Even though it's a desert tortoise they spend there young lives in marshes and extremely humid burrows.

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Basically to keep your tortoise hydrated you should start misting your tortoise and his enclosure as many times a day as you can. Or just buy him a misting system. That will increase humidity which should stay around 80% and that keeps his shell wet longer and prevents pyramiding aand keeps him really hydrated. Next u should make sure he has a water bowl in his cage 24/7 that is deep enough that it comes just a little past the bottom of his shell and the rim of it is flush with the substrate to make it easy for him to crawl in and out of the bowl. Next you should soak him in water water everyday for a little bit.
Most importantly you HAVE TO KEEP HIM WARM no where on his enclosure should it drop below 80 degrees
The links I gave you will elebarate waayyy more on this and how tto do these things

 

[TotallyTank]

I am using coconut coir in my enclosure. It is really sad I was at the store and saw the alfalfa bedding and on the front was a sully already pyramided so sad. I even said something to one of the people that worked there.