Identification

[Jesus'torts]

Hi all I'm new to this forum. I just got a hatchling tortoise. The guy who gave it to me said it was a desert tortoise but when I looked it up I found out there were many different types of desert tortoises. I just want to get some confirmation on the species it is.

 

[Yvonne G]

hi Jesus, and welcome!!


Yes, it's an Arizona desert tortoise and he's very dry. I'm unfamiliar with Arizoma's laws on keeping a protected species, but until you find out about them, he needs to be set up in a warm, humid enclosure, and given a nice, warm soak.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Jesus
Az desert torts are great ! Are you going to show us your enclosure?

 

[Jesus'torts]

Yea his enclosure is really dry. I'm out right now buying some eco earth some uvb lights but I'll show you the enclosure when it is done and he was captive bred so it's legal to own them it said on the azgf department website.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I hoe you have a much fun with yours as I do with mine .

 

[Jesus'torts]

Thanks I really love reptiles but torts are my favorite.

 

[Gillian M]

Hi all I'm new to this forum. I just got a hatchling tortoise. The guy who gave it to me said it was a desert tortoise but when I looked it up I found out there were many different types of desert tortoises. I just want to get some confirmation on the species it is.

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A warm welcome to the forum.

 

[Jesus'torts]

Thank you

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Thanks I really love reptiles but torts are my favorite.

Be careful torts are a lot like "Lays" chips ! Can't be happy with just one !

 

[zovick]

Hi all I'm new to this forum. I just got a hatchling tortoise. The guy who gave it to me said it was a desert tortoise but when I looked it up I found out there were many different types of desert tortoises. I just want to get some confirmation on the species it is.

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You may need a permit from the state to keep a Desert Tortoise in AZ. Perhaps someone else can post if they know for sure whether that is required or not?

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

You don't need a permit for a AZ desert tort in AZ !

 

[Jesus'torts]

Oh thank goodness

 

[Jesus'torts]

Hey guys here's the terrarium I built. Would you guys give it a rating from 1-10. Or share any concerns about safety. Let me know if you need some close up pics or from another angle.

 

[Taylor T.]

That looks quite good! to rate it 1-10 I will need answers to a few questions. One question would be, are any of those pebbles in his water dish small enough for him to eat? if so, they should be removed.

Two things about the lighting. Are you using a coil or loop shaped CFL? The other thing is that much of the beneficial rays from a UVB bulb will be blocked when you have a mesh screen between the light and the tortoise. You can probably just use scissors to cut a hole in the mesh.

 

[Jesus'torts]

Most of the pebbles are small so I'll probably replace them and yeah I'll get a hole in the mesh. I'm using a reptisun 5.0 I don't think it's coil.

 

[Jesus'torts]

I will replace them*

 

[Taylor T.]

Most of the pebbles are small so I'll probably replace them and yeah I'll get a hole in the mesh. I'm using a reptisun 5.0 I don't think it's coil.

Is it inside that dome in the photo, or is it a long tube?

 

[Jesus'torts]

It's in the dome

 

[Taylor T.]

Then it is some type of compact florescent bulb. You should get rid of it immediately, as it can cause eye damage, especially to young tortoises. it also does not produce particularly effective UVB. Here is a thread on coil bulbs written by one our most knowledgeable members on the forum:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/coil-type-uv-bulbs-dont-use-them.35247/

Your two choices for a replacement are a mercury vapor bulb (abbreviated MVB), or a long tube florescent bulb, coupled with a regular incandescent bulb for heat.

 

[Jesus'torts]

Oh okay I just bought it yesterday so I still have the receipt I'll return it and see if I can get a mv bulb on amazon. Is is okay if there isn't a uvb bulb for a week. I can take him outside for like two hours a day until then?