HELP FOR GREEK

[riley_the_human]

Hello all,
I am new here, and a soon to be tortoise owner, so if i say something wrong, feel free to correct me, i want to give my tortoise the best care possible. I have down extensive researchover the past few months and need a couple answers to some questions im having. First off, i will be getting a greek tortoise and i want to now if i have the basics of his care right,
bedding-a mix 2/3 coco fiber and the rest play sand.
food- collard greens are great, very little fruit, little protein, and using a calcium supplement wont hurt.
heating- a basking spot in the 90's and a colder side in the high 70's mid 80's.
Lighting- HERE IS WHERE I GET CONFUSED. if i am correct, compact flourescents are bad, because they can cause permanent blindness.
The tube flourescents arent bad, but you should burn it in before using it for your tortoise. And lastly, does anyone have any oppinion on the mercury vapor bulb? i am a bit curious as to if theyre worth the money. If a mercury bulb isnt to bad of an idea, what brand is decent? they have the exot terra professional bulb, and the powersun bulb.

Again, please feel free to correct me if im wrong, and forgive me for the mis information.
thanks in advance,
-Riley

 

[wellington]

RE: HELP.

Hello and Welcome I will let the Greek geeks LOL help you out.

 

[prc93]

HELP.

There are a lot more experienced Greek owners on this forum, but a small note on the diet section. Although it is debatable, most members agree that Mazuri can be part of a good balanced diet. My Greek loves it mixed in with greens. Just a thought

 

[riley_the_human]

RE: HELP.

Hello and Welcome I will let the Greek geeks LOL help you out.

Haha, thanks. I hope Alaine comes soon!

 

[riley_the_human]

RE: HELP.

There are a lot more experienced Greek owners on this forum, but a small note on the diet section. Although it is debatable, most members agree that Mazuri can be part of a good balanced diet. My Greek loves it mixed in with greens. Just a thought

Okay thanks! I was looking into it and wasn't sure if others were using it as well. I saw someone who soaked the pellets in water, is this necessary? I could see that doing that would.make it easier to chew.

 

[wellington]

For little ones, yes soak. Adults i would feed it wet and dry

 

[tortoise007]

OK PLEASE read ALL of these threads:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-70438.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66977.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-22635.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-661.html

Basking spot should be at least 95, the rest 80. Make sure you have a water dish that is level with the substrate, that the tortoise can climb in and out of. Make sure you have a half log or humid hide or something like that for the tortoise to hide and sleep in. Substrate... I would not recommend sand. It can cause serious harm to a tort if eaten. I would use coco coir and cypress mulch. plain dirt works well to.

Your tort needs weeds and grasses, Not just collard greens. WEEDS!!! I would soak the pellets for maybe 30 seconds to a minute. All the things I said in the first thread I showed, DO.(even if your tort is not sick)

 

[MasterOogway]

I have a Powersun Bulb I use on my Greek tort. I am excited for you they are great tortoises !

 

[prc93]

RE: HELP.

There are a lot more experienced Greek owners on this forum, but a small note on the diet section. Although it is debatable, most members agree that Mazuri can be part of a good balanced diet. My Greek loves it mixed in with greens. Just a thought

Okay thanks! I was looking into it and wasn't sure if others were using it as well. I saw someone who soaked the pellets in water, is this necessary? I could see that doing that would.make it easier to chew.

Yeah, mine is an adult and I still soak it for him. He is more interested when its wet, and I think he enjoys getting some water out of it. The pellets are just a little too big for him to eat dry. Other members have even made "tortoise meatballs" by soaking mazuri and mashing it together with hay and other grasses.

 

[riley_the_human]

OK PLEASE read ALL of these threads:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-70438.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66977.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-22635.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-661.html

Basking spot should be at least 95, the rest 80. Make sure you have a water dish that is level with the substrate, that the tortoise can climb in and out of. Make sure you have a half log or humid hide or something like that for the tortoise to hide and sleep in. Substrate... I would not recommend sand. It can cause serious harm to a tort if eaten. I would use coco coir and cypress mulch. plain dirt works well to.

Your tort needs weeds and grasses, Not just collard greens. WEEDS!!! I would soak the pellets for maybe 30 seconds to a minute. All the things I said in the first thread I showed, DO.(even if your tort is not sick)

THANKS! I had different mention yhay i am currently growing a box of dandelions and clover, do you have any other good weeds in mind?

 

[riley_the_human]

I have a Powersun Bulb I use on my Greek tort. I am excited for you they are great tortoises !

Okay, thanks! Could you tell me what wattageou're using? I

 

[MasterOogway]

What size is your enclosure would make a differance in the size bulb. You can always use the 100 watt and add a Che if the temps are not warm enough in the surrounding enclosure .

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Riley, and welcome to the Forum!

Substrate boils down to a personal choice. Whatever you want to use that will provide the tortoise what he needs. I don't like coco coir, but many people here on the forum use it. So, if you like it, that's fine!

The MVBs are great, as they provide heat and UVB in one fixture. They need to be mounted so they point straight down or you'll shorten the life of the bulb.

Collard greens are fine as part of a varied diet, but not good on their own. Every tortoise needs a variety of things to eat, not just one thing. If you can't set the tortoise up outside where he can graze on weeds and plants, then you'll need to provide a more varied diet than just one thing. Here's a link to the different kinds of foods you can feed, and bear in mind that Greek tortoises prefer the broad-leaf plants/weeds over grass:


http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-5823.html

 

[riley_the_human]

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-5823.html
Thanks a ton for the thread!