Ms. Olive the Sulcata

[Orvalthetortise]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
Ms. Olive here was previously Mr. Orval😂 she's 4 years old. After being on here for a bit, my husband and I quickly learned the information we were given to care for her wasn't 100% correct. We've changed quite a bit of her routine.
In the morning for a few hours she gets moved around the yard in this play pin. I realize this may not be perfect, but it allows her to get more than 30 minutes to an hour.
She eats mainly grass from the yard with the occasional dandelion leaves. (Learned the spring mix was no bueno and spinach is bad. Making sure she's getting high fiber and low protein)
1. How do I prep winter grass or hay?
I understand it might be a bit of overkill, but I've been giving her a bath everyday or every other day. She seems to dig it and she's been staying out of her water bowl (she only drinks out of it now🥳)
2. How do I know when she's dehydrated?
3. How often should I bathe her?
Her inside enclosure is quickly getting to be too small, we have topsoil and orchid bark as her substrate. (We know it needs redone, I'd like specifics before redoing it. We also want to make it deeper for her digging.)
4. Is that okay or is there something else y'all would recommend?
I'm not sure exactly what her bulb is, but I'm concerned it's not putting out enough heat. Or even if it's UVB. There's relatively no humidity (just the humidity in the house). I do want to get her a slate eating plate? For her beak.
5. How often should I give her Exo Terra calcium powder supplement?
6. What else is recommended? Good tips or tricks? 7. How do I know when she is vitamin deficient?

Thank you for reading!!!

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Welcome to the forum! You came to the right place for correct up to date care info. I will give you the link to Toms care sheet for sulcatas.. read through it and come back with any questions.
Thread 'The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise'
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...se-a-sulcata-leopard-or-star-tortoise.181503/

 

[Yvonne G]

She's still too small to determine gender. All young tortoises have female characteristics.

I don't know how to post links from the device I'm using right now, but most of your questions are answered in the articles we have at the top of the Sulcata section.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome, there are some changes to be made. Read what was just given to you by Chubbs.
Your question about dehydration. When he goes the bathroom. Do you ever notice some white pasty stuff? That is called urates and is developed from the tortoise recycling the urine. Since it is dry in the wild they need to maintain fluid. So they don't get dehydrated. Anyways if the urates are milky or pasty that is what you want. If it is hard and gritty, you tort needs more water. There is nothing wrong with soaking everyday. Just dont let the water to cool down. Keep it warm.

 

[Orvalthetortise]

Welcome, there are some changes to be made. Read what was just given to you by Chubbs.
Your question about dehydration. When he goes the bathroom. Do you ever notice some white pasty stuff? That is called urates and is developed from the tortoise recycling the urine. Since it is dry in the wild they need to maintain fluid. So they don't get dehydrated. Anyways if the urates are milky or pasty that is what you want. If it is hard and gritty, you tort needs more water. There is nothing wrong with soaking everyday. Just dont let the water to cool down. Keep it warm.

Sweet thank you! One time I gave her a bath she peed, and I noticed the urates. Then I didn't know what they were, so I looked up what it was and figured out they were urates. It looks like sand to me, I will pay attention if they are hard and gritty. Thank you very much!