Jennijoi
New Member
Hi.
I posted a lighting question already but wanted to do our official introduction. I found this forum and am so thankful!
We bought our baby Sulcata 2-1/2 weeks ago. I’m so obsessed & so paranoid about not knowing “normal” tortoise anything.
We purchased our baby from a fish/pet booth and were told that tortoises were a “low-maintenance” pet (I’m realizing that was flag #1). They couldn’t tell me his age specifically but said that he was born “around” May (should’ve been flag #2 but apparently my “somethings fishy radar” is on the fritz). I weighed him yesterday for the 1st time. He weighed in at 55g which seems low to me when comparing to other’s posts. He’s been eating OK (chopped up mix of yard clippings which he snubs, spring mix, dandelion greens, kale, & cucumbers which he loves). He will usually finish a small handful a day. I think he’s urinating & deficating ok - he’s only done it 3 times in my presence. He’s in a 20 gallon terrarium (working on a table) kept around 85-90* and working hard to keep 70% humidity during the day and around 90% at night. I have a CHE 24/7 on thermostat, 100W uva/uvb MVbulb- 12 hrs on (with plans to have tube light on new table). I put him in an outside enclosure on warm days for natural sun (although he usually b-lines to his hide). He’s getting nightly warm water soaks. His shell is firm (and this helicopter mom checks it often.....again, paranoid). His belly still has signs of what I’m assuming is an umbilical attachment site. I’ve come home to find him on his back and unable to right himself. We have reptile bark, organic potting soil, & sphagnum moss as substrate kept moist - not wet. We have low profile pot-saucers for food & water. I’ve covered the bottom few inches of glass so that he’s not climbing the walls but, HE KNOWS! He sleeps A LOT.
I worry because I know that he’s had a DRY start (the guy I bought him from said to keep him warm & dry).
I’m posting a few pics of my little guy to see if he looks OK to you veterans. Can you see anything that I should be aware of or change?
BTW. I named him SULLY (I know, very original!) before knowing that’s what Sulcatas are called. I thought it was clever anyway. Lol.
Thanks so much!
Jennifer - fully committed & smitten Sully momma
I posted a lighting question already but wanted to do our official introduction. I found this forum and am so thankful!
We bought our baby Sulcata 2-1/2 weeks ago. I’m so obsessed & so paranoid about not knowing “normal” tortoise anything.
We purchased our baby from a fish/pet booth and were told that tortoises were a “low-maintenance” pet (I’m realizing that was flag #1). They couldn’t tell me his age specifically but said that he was born “around” May (should’ve been flag #2 but apparently my “somethings fishy radar” is on the fritz). I weighed him yesterday for the 1st time. He weighed in at 55g which seems low to me when comparing to other’s posts. He’s been eating OK (chopped up mix of yard clippings which he snubs, spring mix, dandelion greens, kale, & cucumbers which he loves). He will usually finish a small handful a day. I think he’s urinating & deficating ok - he’s only done it 3 times in my presence. He’s in a 20 gallon terrarium (working on a table) kept around 85-90* and working hard to keep 70% humidity during the day and around 90% at night. I have a CHE 24/7 on thermostat, 100W uva/uvb MVbulb- 12 hrs on (with plans to have tube light on new table). I put him in an outside enclosure on warm days for natural sun (although he usually b-lines to his hide). He’s getting nightly warm water soaks. His shell is firm (and this helicopter mom checks it often.....again, paranoid). His belly still has signs of what I’m assuming is an umbilical attachment site. I’ve come home to find him on his back and unable to right himself. We have reptile bark, organic potting soil, & sphagnum moss as substrate kept moist - not wet. We have low profile pot-saucers for food & water. I’ve covered the bottom few inches of glass so that he’s not climbing the walls but, HE KNOWS! He sleeps A LOT.
I worry because I know that he’s had a DRY start (the guy I bought him from said to keep him warm & dry).
I’m posting a few pics of my little guy to see if he looks OK to you veterans. Can you see anything that I should be aware of or change?
BTW. I named him SULLY (I know, very original!) before knowing that’s what Sulcatas are called. I thought it was clever anyway. Lol.
Thanks so much!
Jennifer - fully committed & smitten Sully momma