Meet my newest grand baby Wilson

[Bunky]

I just got peed on. I see the urites I was reading about last night. Gross. Glad it didn't all get on me. After this happened, he started going poo.

 

[Bunky]

Could you guys let me know like what kind he is, and maybe an age range, or like what I should and shouldn't do for him. Thank you in advance. My first time caring for a tortoise.

 

[EllieMay]

It looks to me like you have a Sulcata.. I’ll let an expert verify that here, but how did you get him? If it is a Sulcata, are you prepared for his mature size? He IS a cutie btw

 

[EllieMay]

Also, the i iceberg lettuce is not a good idea.. while your waiting on a positive species verification, go to the Sulcata forums and read those care sheets pinned to it. If I knew how to send them, I could make it easier:-( sorry!

 

[Pearly]

Hello and welcome. I keep omnivorous torts and know know most about the Redfooted species, but just very quick question, did your son leave any baby tortoise food for this little cutie? Lettuce is not the best food for them. If you have an access to a garden where people don’t spray chemicals, you can pick some grass and weeds for him, or get some collard greens, escarole, raddicchio or dandelion greens or flowers for him to eat or any edible flowers (like the kind gourmet food stores sell for your salads) or if you have the tortoise pelleted food, soak few pellets in water till soft and offer those with the greens. You probably already know that but this baby needs to be kept WARM and humid. Never below 80F day or night. Good luck to a fellow Tortoise Grandma. I had to take over my daughter’s torts and keeping them to this day. Fell in love with them, plus I love this community of great people who are passionate about animals. Glad you have found your way here to us[emoji217]

 

[Pearly]

Pee and poo is GREAT! Means his insights are working! Now I can’t tell from the picture, but those urates should be a soft toothpaste consistency. If the feel/look gritty, more solid, it means the baby is dehydrated and you need to up the soaking

 

[wellington]

That is a sulcata. Please read the caresheets and closed chamber threads under the sulcata section.

 

[Yvonne G]

We have some great info for you pinned at the top of our sulcata section. Please be sure to read them because starting with your hatchling with good information is critical for his health.

 

[daniellenc]

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Here you go!! Everything you need to know is here. Your grandson probably got old bad information on care so definitely get him to join. That cute baby will be over 100lbs soon lol but in the meantime needs daily baths, a closed chamber, loads of humidity, and good food!

 

[Bunky]

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Here you go!! Everything you need to know is here. Your grandson probably got old bad information on care so definitely get him to join. That cute baby will be over 100lbs soon lol but in the meantime needs daily baths, a closed chamber, loads of humidity, and good food!

I don't understand closed chamber. Meaning like his house?

 

[Bunky]

It looks to me like you have a Sulcata.. I’ll let an expert verify that here, but how did you get him? If it is a Sulcata, are you prepared for his mature size? He IS a cutie btw

Thank you. He is my son's baby. My son got him about a week or so before leaving for a summer job. I know nothing about tortoises. I'm a newbie trying my best with what I have.

 

[Bunky]

Also, the i iceberg lettuce is not a good idea.. while your waiting on a positive species verification, go to the Sulcata forums and read those care sheets pinned to it. If I knew how to send them, I could make it easier:-( sorry!

Okay. I live in Utah. Lot of rocks and dirt. Ha ha not alot of grass and what is around is surely heavily fertilized or pesticided.

 

[Bunky]

Hello and welcome. I keep omnivorous torts and know know most about the Redfooted species, but just very quick question, did your son leave any baby tortoise food for this little cutie? Lettuce is not the best food for them. If you have an access to a garden where people don’t spray chemicals, you can pick some grass and weeds for him, or get some collard greens, escarole, raddicchio or dandelion greens or flowers for him to eat or any edible flowers (like the kind gourmet food stores sell for your salads) or if you have the tortoise pelleted food, soak few pellets in water till soft and offer those with the greens. You probably already know that but this baby needs to be kept WARM and humid. Never below 80F day or night. Good luck to a fellow Tortoise Grandma. I had to take over my daughter’s torts and keeping them to this day. Fell in love with them, plus I love this community of great people who are passionate about animals. Glad you have found your way here to us[emoji217]

No tortoise food. Left with a store bought container of mixed greens.

 

[Bunky]

Pee and poo is GREAT! Means his insights are working! Now I can’t tell from the picture, but those urates should be a soft toothpaste consistency. If the feel/look gritty, more solid, it means the baby is dehydrated and you need to up the soaking

Was very grainy looking and loose. His poos are pretty solid, firm looking.

 

[Bunky]

Hello and welcome. I keep omnivorous torts and know know most about the Redfooted species, but just very quick question, did your son leave any baby tortoise food for this little cutie? Lettuce is not the best food for them. If you have an access to a garden where people don’t spray chemicals, you can pick some grass and weeds for him, or get some collard greens, escarole, raddicchio or dandelion greens or flowers for him to eat or any edible flowers (like the kind gourmet food stores sell for your salads) or if you have the tortoise pelleted food, soak few pellets in water till soft and offer those with the greens. You probably already know that but this baby needs to be kept WARM and humid. Never below 80F day or night. Good luck to a fellow Tortoise Grandma. I had to take over my daughter’s torts and keeping them to this day. Fell in love with them, plus I love this community of great people who are passionate about animals. Glad you have found your way here to us[emoji217]

Pearly, I know zero. It is pretty hot here in Utah right now. Like upper 90's to 100+ degrees in days and upper 60 but mostly 70-80 degrees at night. I spray his tank daily, or couple or three times a day with water and I have him two water dishes in there as well.

 

[Bunky]

That is a sulcata. Please read the caresheets and closed chamber threads under the sulcata section.

Thank you. That makes it way easier to find then proper info.

 

[Bunky]

We have some great info for you pinned at the top of our sulcata section. Please be sure to read them because starting with your hatchling with good information is critical for his health.

Thank you I will go study it now. I found a YouTube guy, kamp Keenan or something. He seems pretty knowledgeable and easy to understand. Are you familiar with him? What do you think about his expertise?

 

[TechnoCheese]

Thank you I will go study it now. I found a YouTube guy, kamp Keenan or something. He seems pretty knowledgeable and easy to understand. Are you familiar with him? What do you think about his expertise?

Sadly, Kamp Kenan’s info is pretty outdated and most of it is false. Definitely just read the links I gave you in your other thread

 

[Bunky]

Sadly, Kamp Kenan’s info is pretty outdated and most of it is false. Definitely just read the links I gave you in your other thread

Okay. Thank you and everyone else for the help and info. A quick question for you, as far as substrate goes what about Aspen wood shaving type bedding for that? Or should I stay with the sand and soil he's in now?

 

[TechnoCheese]

Okay. Thank you and everyone else for the help and info. A quick question for you, as far as substrate goes what about Aspen wood shaving type bedding for that? Or should I stay with the sand and soil he's in now?

Actually, neither of those should be used. I would recommend fine grade orchid bark, fine grade cypress mulch, coco coir, or peat moss. Those links explain a lot, and will definitely answer a lot of your questions