juliaasbury
New Member
Hello! Ive always wanted a tortoise but couldn’t bare the price offered at petco/PetSmart. Someone made a FB post that they were selling 5 months old baby African spurs for $150 and my dad jumped on the offer and brought one for me! We stay in the eastern-central region of Texas.
I have read the How to care for Sulcata’s,…. Care sheet posted on here by Tom (I’m pretty sure!) and from what I’ve read, my baby sure hasn’t had a great start as the breeder was definitely raising it as a dry tortoise just from the information that he has given me to care for s/he and the only right thing I was told was to be soaking s/he.
My dad and I went and brought the tank and other needed stuff, but my research was based on the “internets version of caring for Sulcata’s” and I was going based off of that info before I was able to find this forum and the care sheet.
We brought a 20 gallon ZooMed glass reptile enclose ‘kit’ with the lights and domes, and a screen top. I was told to use hay as the substrate which I did, along with a reptile water dish, rock home, 2 different thermometer/hygometers, and calcium power. I’ve had s/he in this enclosure for about a week now and I’ve noticed that a. Keeping the humidity in the tank is very hard and b. The water I offered in the reptile dish ramp is always clean as in it doesn’t get used. After reading the care sheet, I went and picked up some Repti Bark and coconut fiber along with some Terra cotta dishes for food & water. The humidity is a little bit better, but I’m definitely thinking of picking up a better mister instead of a spray bottle
So I was wondering, is there any advice as to what my next step should be to keep getting the enclosure where I need it for my tortoise? I feel like my head is going to explode from all the information to be honest, especially the lighting part, which I am concerned about as I’m not sure if they’re the right bulbs because I didn’t get to look at it before my mom threw the trash away.. I took pictures of the new enclose I have set up and attached them here!
I take Morla (s/he’s name) outside everyday to get sunshine for 30 minutes and then bring s/he inside for a 30 minute soak. He has been eating romaine and lettuce leaves and I just picked up some flower blend for tortoises.
Thank you in advance! I look forward to be part of this forum!
I have read the How to care for Sulcata’s,…. Care sheet posted on here by Tom (I’m pretty sure!) and from what I’ve read, my baby sure hasn’t had a great start as the breeder was definitely raising it as a dry tortoise just from the information that he has given me to care for s/he and the only right thing I was told was to be soaking s/he.
My dad and I went and brought the tank and other needed stuff, but my research was based on the “internets version of caring for Sulcata’s” and I was going based off of that info before I was able to find this forum and the care sheet.
We brought a 20 gallon ZooMed glass reptile enclose ‘kit’ with the lights and domes, and a screen top. I was told to use hay as the substrate which I did, along with a reptile water dish, rock home, 2 different thermometer/hygometers, and calcium power. I’ve had s/he in this enclosure for about a week now and I’ve noticed that a. Keeping the humidity in the tank is very hard and b. The water I offered in the reptile dish ramp is always clean as in it doesn’t get used. After reading the care sheet, I went and picked up some Repti Bark and coconut fiber along with some Terra cotta dishes for food & water. The humidity is a little bit better, but I’m definitely thinking of picking up a better mister instead of a spray bottle
So I was wondering, is there any advice as to what my next step should be to keep getting the enclosure where I need it for my tortoise? I feel like my head is going to explode from all the information to be honest, especially the lighting part, which I am concerned about as I’m not sure if they’re the right bulbs because I didn’t get to look at it before my mom threw the trash away.. I took pictures of the new enclose I have set up and attached them here!
I take Morla (s/he’s name) outside everyday to get sunshine for 30 minutes and then bring s/he inside for a 30 minute soak. He has been eating romaine and lettuce leaves and I just picked up some flower blend for tortoises.
Thank you in advance! I look forward to be part of this forum!