I'm so thrilled

[UnicornSploosh]

We just finished part one of the new habitat for little Dot and Dash. I'm so thrilled with how it turned out. The marshy area ended up being a great idea. They love it! Last night Dash slept soundly in their new humid hide area while Dot slept in the marsh under the heater. This morning they're both relaxing in the marsh. I figure this can't be a bad thing as they're essentially soaking themselves and more than likely nomming on the newly sprouted clover. I planted some grass seed in the enclosure as well so soon they'll have a nice little pasture to nibble on.

Oh and not to worry, they have fresh water in a plant saucer as well as the "marsh" and will still be manually soaked daily. Next step is the hood to cover the whole enclosure.

 

[UnicornSploosh]

One question though, do I need to worry about the orchid bark or topsoil molding at all? There's currently about three inches of damp/wet organic soil under three to four inches of the bark which is also slightly damp.

 

[Reptileguy1741]

I used topsoil for my box turtles before and would literally dump gallons of water in to keep it wet and humid and never had a problem with mold. I did end up having to change it because I had no cover on top of the tank and bugs got in so watch out for that

 

[Reptileguy1741]

By the way awesome torts I'm getting my first tortoise this week. It's a sulcata hatchling.

 

[UnicornSploosh]

Good to know. Glad I moved it far away from my bearded dragons. Bugs with the torts are easy. Bugs with snakes or beardies not so much.

 

[Reptileguy1741]

Good to know. Glad I moved it far away from my bearded dragons. Bugs with the torts are easy. Bugs with snakes or beardies not so much.

Also the only reason I think I got them was because there was no lid on the tank but I think it's a pretty good substrate that's what I am using for my baby sulcata that I'm getting soon so I can plant grasses and weeds and I'm currently using it for my baby box turtle . good luck with your torts

 

[UnicornSploosh]

The grass is growing like.. Well, like weeds.


Someone still prefers the boggy area. Dash is still in their humid hide. I had two big poops in the water dish yesterday. Things are looking up for the little morse code twins.

 

[cassieopia]

Explain this "marsh" area to me please? You planted something in rocks and water? Lol- I want to know how you did what, please?

 

[UnicornSploosh]

I took a seed starter tray, dumped the little dirt disks out of it, filled it with organic soil, planted clover, covered it with washed aquarium gravel, and keep it full of water. They love it. They've mostly destroyed the clover but I consider that an okay thing. It means they're happily grazing. I might start another one and just swap them out to let the clover recover.

 

[cassieopia]

They dont/won't eat the rocks?

 

[UnicornSploosh]

Well, currently the rocks are bigger than their mouths could manage. Aside from that they show no interest in eating them but, they also have a jungle growing in their enclosure now.

 

[Robertchrisroph]

Them rocks are freaking me out. lol. Um they get everything in there mouths. you say there to small? I wish a pro would chime in on that issue. but great looking. You have love in your heart

 

[Jodie]

My yearling leopard tortoises heave pooped surprisingly large rocks. I recently had to remove native Rocky soil from my outdoor enclosure, and replace with coir. Be careful. Well hydrated tortoises can pass what they eat, but too many rocks can obviously cause impactation. They will eat The rocks, I believe.