I'm Deborah and Eli is my new baby Sulcata Tortoise

[Rdeb55]

He was hatched the lase week of October 2020. He weighs 50 grams and 2.5 inches long. He is active and so far in good health. At first I had a lot of questions and found this group very helpful. I named him Eli because my grandpa (He passed away 30 years ago) used to take me for walks in the desert when I was 5 and up, until the desert was developed. Any way this little guy is a constant reminder of my grandpa. He eats really good and is active. I bought some specialized grass seed for Sulcuta tortoises which I grow in shallow disposable containers so I can keep fresh new grasses in his habitat. It is winter and until it gets warmer I do it this way. I have a pen with sides, a mesh wire top and bottom for when I can let him outside over the area the special grass is planted. I just wanted to introduce myself and Eli to you. I have pictures.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

Please give this a read. He should be much bigger than 50 grams by now.

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

 

[Rdeb55]

What should he weigh? and I'll read everything I can get ahold of about this type of tortoise.
thanks for the feed back.

 

[Tom]

What should he weigh? and I'll read everything I can get ahold of about this type of tortoise.
thanks for the feed back.

Most of what you read will tell you the same old wrong stuff. The care sheet I linked for you has the current and correct care info.

I have some that hatched a month after yours and they are 85-95 grams on a diet of mostly weeds and grass, with some amended endive and escarole mixed in. They've had Mazuri only a few times in their short lives.

Almost all of the people breeding these start the babies all wrong. Much too dry, not enough soaks, wrong foods, no brooder box, wrong incubation media, etc... Then they house the babies too dry, and advise their buyers to house them all wrong and too dry. Here is the end result of that, and 50 grams is a tell tale sign, I'm sorry to say: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

After you read that thread and the info sinks in, you will ask: What can I do about it? Answer: offer the best conditions possible, offer the correct foods, and keep the baby well hydrated. Then, hope for the best.

 

[Rdeb55]

Can you tell me what a roundworm in a tortoise looks like?

 

[Tom]

Can you tell me what a roundworm in a tortoise looks like?

Looks like any other roundworm. Internet search should provide you with pics. Do you suspect a from infestation? If yes, take a stool sample to a local exotic vet. I would not take the tortoise in, as they will likely want to inject it with things that would not be good for it. Most vets don't know much about tortoises or tortoise care.

 

[Jan A]

He was hatched the lase week of October 2020. He weighs 50 grams and 2.5 inches long. He is active and so far in good health. At first I had a lot of questions and found this group very helpful. I named him Eli because my grandpa (He passed away 30 years ago) used to take me for walks in the desert when I was 5 and up, until the desert was developed. Any way this little guy is a constant reminder of my grandpa. He eats really good and is active. I bought some specialized grass seed for Sulcuta tortoises which I grow in shallow disposable containers so I can keep fresh new grasses in his habitat. It is winter and until it gets warmer I do it this way. I have a pen with sides, a mesh wire top and bottom for when I can let him outside over the area the special grass is planted. I just wanted to introduce myself and Eli to you. I have pictures.View attachment 316219View attachment 316219View attachment 316219

Welcome!! Eli sure looks so cute in the grass. What are the jewels on his back, why are they there & how did you attach them? Just curious.

 

[Rdeb55]

Welcome!! Eli sure looks so cute in the grass. What are the jewels on his back, why are they there & how did you attach them? Just curious.

I used craft glue, It is a water base tacky glue made with the same thing his shell is made of. (except it is horse or cow hooves, still the same thing. He was walking around my room and got in the way of my crafting so I made him a row of pretty fake jewels.

 

[Rdeb55]

Looks like any other roundworm. Internet search should provide you with pics. Do you suspect a from infestation? If yes, take a stool sample to a local exotic vet. I would not take the tortoise in, as they will likely want to inject it with things that would not be good for it. Most vets don't know much about tortoises or tortoise care.

I've never seen a round worm. But I am sure it was the mineral oil I put on the slide. The grass seed I buy and grow for him does have a lot of weeds in it. and I also buy him spring mix which has dandelion leaves baby spinach etc.. There is snow on the ground here so getting him out to the fresh growing grasses and weeds is not possible right now. I also weighed him again last night (The last weight of 50 grams, was taken nearly 3 weeks ago) last night he weighed 70 grams, and the measurement was of his Plastern not the caprice.

 

[Tom]

I've never seen a round worm. But I am sure it was the mineral oil I put on the slide. The grass seed I buy and grow for him does have a lot of weeds in it. and I also buy him spring mix which has dandelion leaves baby spinach etc.. There is snow on the ground here so getting him out to the fresh growing grasses and weeds is not possible right now. I also weighed him again last night (The last weight of 50 grams, was taken nearly 3 weeks ago) last night he weighed 70 grams, and the measurement was of his Plastern not the caprice.

If he's made it to 70 grams he should survive.

If you don't want him to pyramid, follow the suggestions in the care sheet.