I am new

[Redstrike]

ya thats a cool setup but the fixture for a tube is pretty expencive and i cant afford all the high end quality things.

You can get a less expensive fixture at Lowe's or Home Depot. The best ones would have a reflective metal back (not paint), but you could easily add this with a couple metal screws and some aluminum flashing. Just be sure you watch the ballast/wiring inside the unit. Even tinfoil would work. This greatly improves the amount of UVB (if you get a long-tube UVB bulb, which I highly recommend) that your torts receive via reflecting the UVB wavelengths coming from the backside of the bulb that would otherwise escape.

This site is where I got this information:
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/fluorescenttubereflectortests.htm

I would get the setup all ironed out first, making sure all the environmental parameters are good (heat, humidity, lighting), then get the tort. I didn't quite have my humidity right after I got my tortoises and man, what a scramble it was - very stressful with hatchlings as things can go down hill quickly!

Your funds seem to be a recurring issue here, so I'd encourage you to go slow and get things one step at a time. It's tough with the excitement and anticipation, but there are many breeders with plenty of tortoises here on the site and otherwise.

 

[jlittlefield]

Hi! I am new too! I have a red footed tortoise named Steve. It is actually my daughter's, but we all love him!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi! I am new too! I have a red footed tortoise named Steve. It is actually my daughter's, but we all love him!

Hi jlittlefield:

Won't you take a few moments to start a new thread in the "introductions" section and tell us a bit about yourself?

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

when i get my tortoise which i am going to wait until next year i will post some pics and can you people let me know what to look for in a healthy
thanks,
matt

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Hi again I was wondering what light should I use reptisun 10.0 or reptisun 5.0 or desert 7 percent UVB lamp

 

[Mgridgaway]

I would either use a reptisun 5.0 or a zoomed powersun. The reptisun 10.0 might be a little overkill for a tort. They're more suited for animals like bearded dragons and iguanas that require large amounts of UVB.

 

[tyguy35]

welcome

---

I use a solar glo 125w its great heat source and uvb others may think different. its your preference

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Hello i was wondering about the light I'm going to use the reptisun 5.0 and I need to find a fixture for it. Also I need to know I'm going to get the large cement mixing tub from home depot so how bid should the light be?

 

[Yvonne G]

Matt:

You want to look for a tortoise that has wide-open, bright eyes, no bubbles or nasal discharge, is active and, if applicable, eating good. It should feel like a rock when you pick it up, not like a shell full of air.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Happy Tortoise]

Have you ever tried ordering online? Backwaterreptiles.com is my favorite to order reptiles. Somehow the shipping used to be free but now almost every website has some kind of $50 shipping fee though.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Yes I have but shipping is way too expensive every Internet price is as expensive as that price it like that price

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

So do you guys think I should get a rock food dish. One guy said if I did I could put the water dish on it and put its food on it too and that would prevent the substrate from getting into its meal and also I got my name for my soon to be tort, Tommy and once I find out its gender if it's a boy thomas and girl Tomathia

 

[Redstrike]

I like to use pieces of slate for feeding my torts. I find rocks outside for free and I like that they help keep their beaks trimmed.

You could surround the water dish with crushed rock/gravel to keep it from getting too wet, but I usually don't worry about this. Just be sure the water is at ground level so the tortoise can easily get in and out of the water. I like ceramic plant saucers for this.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Thanks that will help with my budget

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

And how does it keep their beak trimmed?

 

[Redstrike]

And how does it keep their beak trimmed?

They scrape against it when they eat their food

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Oh, thanks that was very helpful

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Hi has anyone ordered from general exotics because their redfoots look pretty good and the price is low including shipping.