ToryTort
New Member
Hi all
I purchased a Sulcata Tortoise from what I thought was a responsible breeder, When purchased he provided me a small tort table with a bad fluorescent bulb.
I had done a lot of research before hand and read that it was ok to spray the terrain etc to keep the humidity up.
After doing a lot more reading on humidity I read that tortoises that have a dry start suffer later in life and should be kept in a glass viv.
This contradicts a lot that I have been told and read as most Sulcatas I’ve seen come with a table.
After reading this it worried me and I immediately contacted the breeder to see how he reared them only to find out he has reared them in a table.
Here is his response.
Breeder
Housed in TORTOISE table top with d3 lighting
Me
Don’t they need to be kept in a viv for their first year and kept humid ?
Breeder
No not sulcattas
That would be true of redfoots which I also sell
Me
I’ve read they are born in the rain season and need to be in a humid environment for at least the first year otherwise they have health problems later in life.
Then on the other hand i am told to keep them in a table in basically a dry arid environment.
I’m a little confused.
Breeder
In the UK breeders do both it doesn't honestly make much difference as they are UK bred.
This has made me more alarmed, I can’t find no information to deny or confirm if uk bred tortoises don’t need to be kept humid.
I can’t see it being true but wondered if anyone else has heard this.
I am extremely worried about him, since I’ve had him he seems completely healthy and happy.
I purchased him when he was 6 months old he is now 10 months old.
He is 3.2 inches in shell length
And 140 grams
My questions are.
Does my tortoise look healthy ?
Is he small for his age ?
Are the bumps on his shell early signs of pyramiding ?
Is it true or false that Sulcata Tortoises basically adapt when bred in the UK ?
Is a dry start irreversible, If not how likely is it that he will have problems.
Thank you very much if you made it to then end.
I just don’t want anything to happen to him, especially as the whole family love him so much.
I really appreciate any feedback and if any who has a lot of experience share some guidance.
At the moment he is in a large bookcase we have converted to a tort table.
He is in coco coir terrain with a layer of Timothy hay on part “ he sleeps in this and never in his house” he had a hide with spag moss soaked daily, we also mist him and his terrain a lot each day.
Soaked for 20 mins every other day although sometimes twice per week
He uses his cuttlefish, I also have a calcium supplement at hand.
He eats a lot of weeds dandelions etc. He isn’t keen on grass unless I chop it and mix it with other chopped greens.
I try to keep to the 80% Grasses 20% weeds ratio.
He has treats now and then but not many.
I purchased a Sulcata Tortoise from what I thought was a responsible breeder, When purchased he provided me a small tort table with a bad fluorescent bulb.
I had done a lot of research before hand and read that it was ok to spray the terrain etc to keep the humidity up.
After doing a lot more reading on humidity I read that tortoises that have a dry start suffer later in life and should be kept in a glass viv.
This contradicts a lot that I have been told and read as most Sulcatas I’ve seen come with a table.
After reading this it worried me and I immediately contacted the breeder to see how he reared them only to find out he has reared them in a table.
Here is his response.
Breeder
Housed in TORTOISE table top with d3 lighting
Me
Don’t they need to be kept in a viv for their first year and kept humid ?
Breeder
No not sulcattas
That would be true of redfoots which I also sell
Me
I’ve read they are born in the rain season and need to be in a humid environment for at least the first year otherwise they have health problems later in life.
Then on the other hand i am told to keep them in a table in basically a dry arid environment.
I’m a little confused.
Breeder
In the UK breeders do both it doesn't honestly make much difference as they are UK bred.
This has made me more alarmed, I can’t find no information to deny or confirm if uk bred tortoises don’t need to be kept humid.
I can’t see it being true but wondered if anyone else has heard this.
I am extremely worried about him, since I’ve had him he seems completely healthy and happy.
I purchased him when he was 6 months old he is now 10 months old.
He is 3.2 inches in shell length
And 140 grams
My questions are.
Does my tortoise look healthy ?
Is he small for his age ?
Are the bumps on his shell early signs of pyramiding ?
Is it true or false that Sulcata Tortoises basically adapt when bred in the UK ?
Is a dry start irreversible, If not how likely is it that he will have problems.
Thank you very much if you made it to then end.
I just don’t want anything to happen to him, especially as the whole family love him so much.
I really appreciate any feedback and if any who has a lot of experience share some guidance.
At the moment he is in a large bookcase we have converted to a tort table.
He is in coco coir terrain with a layer of Timothy hay on part “ he sleeps in this and never in his house” he had a hide with spag moss soaked daily, we also mist him and his terrain a lot each day.
Soaked for 20 mins every other day although sometimes twice per week
He uses his cuttlefish, I also have a calcium supplement at hand.
He eats a lot of weeds dandelions etc. He isn’t keen on grass unless I chop it and mix it with other chopped greens.
I try to keep to the 80% Grasses 20% weeds ratio.
He has treats now and then but not many.