Hi! Im totally a newbie

[xlsvtecx]

My Name is Ron. I live in Orlando,Fl and jus today i became a owner of a baby African Spur Thigh? Think my friend said it was 2 weeks old?? Long story short parents got him a tortoise, he is leaving to US Navy Boot camp in couple of days, soooo.... i took the responsibilities as the care taker.

His name is AISMO like the Honda robot dont judge, lol. Stays in a really big glass tank for his baby size enclosed in my room, i dont have the dimensions yet but post soon. I hav daylighting of Exo Terra 100W & Exo Terra 13W 2.0 UVB. Bedding im using is Aspen. Browsing thru the forums i found http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1Tf836XIY to be really really useful information and jus made a list of daily duties. So tomorrow morning i will be shopping for different foods listed, thermometer, and get small plastic humid hide box.

I really appreciate any feedback on anythin i have to change. Im learnin alot jus broswin thru forums I am aware that its only gonna get bigger and already have a ideal place in backyard when the times comes. My experience are fresh water turtles but not a tortoise especially a baby. Right now my question i have is that the ASIMO is sleeping and makes squeaking noises and moves in its sleep, is that normal? I think ASIMO is dreamin.... Thx!

 

[dmmj]

Welcome
I can honestly say I have never heard my sulcata squeak in his sleep.

 

[coreyc]

Hello & welcome to the forum

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Ron:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

 

[dmarcus]

Hello Ron and welcome to the forum..

 

[DixieParadise]

Hello Ron. Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your new "addition".

 

[Torty Mom]

Welcome to TFO! Do you get to keep the little guy, or are you giving him back when your friends returns?

 

[xlsvtecx]

Thx All!! I feel so accepted ^_^. Yes i will be keeping him.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome.

 

[wrmitchell22]

Welcome, I have seen Boulder dream also, it is adorable. Also he sleeps like a dog all sprawled out in wierd contorsions I am not sure about the aspen bedding, but maybe someone will answer that for you?

 

[kansasturtle]

Hi, & welcome. I know how uncertain you must feel. First, my reptile vet recommends nothing but hay for substrate (becuz it's edible & won't interfere with digestive track if accidentally swallowed). I'm fortunate enuf to live in Kansas where I can buy bales from a farmer, you may not be so lucky. There's a lot of info out there but the basics are these: the baby will need a heat light for daytime, a UVB light, and a heat light for nighttime if it gets cool. When my sulcata was a baby I used a ReptiSun 10 UVB, a Daylight blue 60 watt for day, and a Nighttime red 60 watt for nite. I put them on timers so the nite bulb would come on when the day bulbs went out. I prefer ZooMed's digital thermometer with a 39" probe. A shallow water bowl with a ramp is ideal (for a short while-he will outgrow the entire area quickly). With all the pet sites out there, I usually stick to 3: http://www.reptiledirect.com/index.aspx
http://www.petsolutions.com/storefront/index.ep
http://petmountain.com/

A couple of sites I found useful during the beginning were as follows:
http://www.turtlestuff.com/foodplantlists.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/sulcatacare.html

Good luck, and enjoy the ride! Get lots of pictures while the baby is small becuz in 5 years you will not believe he was ever that small!

 

[wrmitchell22]

Hi, & welcome. I know how uncertain you must feel. First, my reptile vet recommends nothing but hay for substrate (becuz it's edible & won't interfere with digestive track if accidentally swallowed). I'm fortunate enuf to live in Kansas where I can buy bales from a farmer, you may not be so lucky. There's a lot of info out there but the basics are these: the baby will need a heat light for daytime, a UVB light, and a heat light for nighttime if it gets cool. When my sulcata was a baby I used a ReptiSun 10 UVB, a Daylight blue 60 watt for day, and a Nighttime red 60 watt for nite. I put them on timers so the nite bulb would come on when the day bulbs went out. I prefer ZooMed's digital thermometer with a 39" probe. A shallow water bowl with a ramp is ideal (for a short while-he will outgrow the entire area quickly). With all the pet sites out there, I usually stick to 3: http://www.reptiledirect.com/index.aspx
http://www.petsolutions.com/storefront/index.ep
http://petmountain.com/

A couple of sites I found useful during the beginning were as follows:
http://www.turtlestuff.com/foodplantlists.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/sulcatacare.html

Good luck, and enjoy the ride! Get lots of pictures while the baby is small becuz in 5 years you will not believe he was ever that small!

I disagree with the hay idea, it doesn't hold moisture well at all, also it molds. Hatchlings don't usually eat it either. I use cypress mulch and organic soil. It works great

 

[tyler0912]

Dont know anything about your sort of tortoise but....
Hi ron,
welcome to T-F-O and if your going to get info its from here!
I also see me redfoot sleeping like a star legs everywhere! xx

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Those coil type florescent UV bulbs can damage their eyes. I recommend you turn it off right now and return it, if possible.

The squeaking noise is not good. It could be the start of a respiratory infection. Keep him warm (around 80) day and night, with a 100 degree basking spot for 12 hours a day, and it should go away on its own.

Boy are you in for some fun in the coming years.

 

[Angi]

Welcome, and do what Tom says he knows Sulcatas

 

[jackrat]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[xlsvtecx]

Thx all for the welcomes!! I couldnt go shopping today, i got called into work so planning on doing it tomorrow morning asap! Thx Tom for letting me know about the bulbs im using. Im def. not going to use them and try go with kansasturtle heating setup and thx kansasturtle for ur info and sites! So the squeaking is a result of a respiratory infection? =: Well, good news is he hasn't squeak at all right now from the time i got home from work this evening so thats a + but i will def. keep tune in for the squeaks. AISMO been under the bulbs for 12 hrs today so i guess it help? which i will also be replacing the bulbs morning asap. Thx again and all for the feedbacks!

 

[dmmj]

The squeaking could be a RI it could also be substrate stuck, keep an eye out on it, and see how it develops if other symptoms show up, then go to a vet. Other symptoms include open mouth breathing, discharge from nose or mouth. Keeping a little warmer can help it though.

 

[cemmons12]

Welcome to the best forum! My sully Cooper use to squeak a lot, but come to find out he had a resp. infection, after 4 or 5 shots it went away and so did the squeaking. Have a great day and enjoy your wonderfull tort!