My first tortoise, Tobias the Tortle, a Sulcata

[MarnieB]

I live in Tulsa and adopted Tobias from a friend’s sister in San Antonio. We have had each other for 5 months and he was two months old when he came to live with me. We has gone from 70 grams to 123 grams. I have read in this forum about so many helpful things, but I can’t find information about how his shell should look at this stage and also if he is growing at the proper rate. I am planning on building a fully enclosed box as soon as I can, but keep his terra cotta house close to 80% when he inside. Am I a good momma so far?

 

[Ink]

Welcome to the forum. Hopefully @Tom can help you out with your enclosure. What substrate are you using? Cute tortoise

 

[wellington]

You really need to make some changes ASAP. Please read the care sheet and search for the enclosed chamber thread.
If I can get to them I will link them here.

 

[wellington]

Thread 'The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...se-a-sulcata-leopard-or-star-tortoise.181497/

 

[wellington]

Thread 'Closed "Chambers"' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

 

[Tom]

I live in Tulsa and adopted Tobias from a friend’s sister in San Antonio. We have had each other for 5 months and he was two months old when he came to live with me. We has gone from 70 grams to 123 grams. I have read in this forum about so many helpful things, but I can’t find information about how his shell should look at this stage and also if he is growing at the proper rate. I am planning on building a fully enclosed box as soon as I can, but keep his terra cotta house close to 80% when he inside. Am I a good momma so far?View attachment 354961View attachment 354960View attachment 354959

Your enclosure looks very nice and it is obvious that you care for this little baby very much. Unfortunately, you can't keep the conditions correct in an open topped enclosure. They need warm humid monsoon conditions. The whole enclosure should be over 80% humidity, and the the humid hide should be 100%, or close to it.

Open fronted flower pots don't make good hides. They let all the humidity out.

You also need a much larger enclosure now.

The bits of gravel and pebbles need to be removed ASAP before he swallows them and gets impacted.

Read the thread the Wellington left for you, and this one too:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to you and your little tortoise! He is adorable. Please take all the great advice you have been given, to make sure your little one stays beautiful and grows healthy!

 

[MarnieB]

Your enclosure looks very nice and it is obvious that you care for this little baby very much. Unfortunately, you can't keep the conditions correct in an open topped enclosure. They need warm humid monsoon conditions. The whole enclosure should be over 80% humidity, and the the humid hide should be 100%, or close to it.

Open fronted flower pots don't make good hides. They let all the humidity out.

You also need a much larger enclosure now.

The bits of gravel and pebbles need to be removed ASAP before he swallows them and gets impacted.

Read the thread the Wellington left for you, and this one too:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Your enclosure looks very nice and it is obvious that you care for this little baby very much. Unfortunately, you can't keep the conditions correct in an open topped enclosure. They need warm humid monsoon conditions. The whole enclosure should be over 80% humidity, and the the humid hide should be 100%, or close to it.

Open fronted flower pots don't make good hides. They let all the humidity out.

You also need a much larger enclosure now.

The bits of gravel and pebbles need to be removed ASAP before he swallows them and gets impacted.

Read the thread the Wellington left for you, and this one too:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you for the valuable information

Your enclosure looks very nice and it is obvious that you care for this little baby very much. Unfortunately, you can't keep the conditions correct in an open topped enclosure. They need warm humid monsoon conditions. The whole enclosure should be over 80% humidity, and the the humid hide should be 100%, or close to it.

Open fronted flower pots don't make good hides. They let all the humidity out.

You also need a much larger enclosure now.

The bits of gravel and pebbles need to be removed ASAP before he swallows them and gets impacted.

Read the thread the Wellington left for you, and this one too:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you so much for all of the advice. I put the washcloth over the opening last n

Your enclosure looks very nice and it is obvious that you care for this little baby very much. Unfortunately, you can't keep the conditions correct in an open topped enclosure. They need warm humid monsoon conditions. The whole enclosure should be over 80% humidity, and the the humid hide should be 100%, or close to it.

Open fronted flower pots don't make good hides. They let all the humidity out.

You also need a much larger enclosure now.

The bits of gravel and pebbles need to be removed ASAP before he swallows them and gets impacted.

Read the thread the Wellington left for you, and this one too:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you for all of the advice and links. It's a lot to soak in, but I want to do all I can to take the best care of my little friend. I am so happy that I found this forum. I will try and find a friend willing to help me build a proper enclosure. I found someone nearby selling large used shipping crates, maybe I could start with one of those. The white bits are gypsum from organic soil with no fertilizer that I bought at a weed shop after following someone's advice. I will replace with orchid bark. Last night I draped the washrag over the opening and the humidity was almost 100% when I checked this morning. That will help until I build an enclosure. I searched online and only found plans for enclosures that are open. I guess I will have to come up with my own. How long is the 80-100% humidity important, until fully grown? I wish I could find shell progression photos of healthy babies for comparison. I took him/her to the only exotic vet in our area for a check up and to get advice early on. I felt like I knew more than they did about tortoises and they gave me a printout with bad advice, apparently. I am soooo glad I found this forum. Thank YOU!

 

[MarnieB]

Thread 'Closed "Chambers"' https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

Thank you so much! I will do the recommended searches and read all of this information.

 

[Maggie3fan]

He is starting to pyramid already. He needs a closed chamber with 85% or more humidity. You cannot achieve what is needed in an open top enclosure. Don't just read the care sheets...change his enclosure now...or he will grow to look like this...

 

[wellington]

Read over all the info and then read it again and write down all the important stuff in-between the filler words. That's how I found it easier to take it in when I joined, because it is a lot
Then if you need any help or clarification come back and ask. We will do everything possible to help you out.

 

[MarnieB]

Welcome to you and your little tortoise! He is adorable. Please take all the great advice you have been given, to make sure your little one stays beautiful and grows healthy!

He is starting to pyramid already. He needs a closed chamber with 85% or more humidity. You cannot achieve what is needed in an open top enclosure. Don't just read the care sheets...change his enclosure now...or he will grow to look like this...View attachment 355001

Do you know where I can find plans to build one? I’m going to get a wooden crate tomorrow until I can build something better.

 

[Lyn W]

HI and welcome,
The threads will help you provide everything he needs and avoid or correct common and expensive mistakes. If you follow those he will thrive and please ask as many questions as you like.

 

[Tom]

Do you know where I can find plans to build one? I’m going to get a wooden crate tomorrow until I can build something better.

This should help:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/building-your-own-expanded-pvc-enclosed-chamber-–-for-beginners.159220/

 

[Sarah2020]

Enjoy your new tortoise and welcome to the forum. As mentioned the care you give it from now and over the forthcoming years is imperative. Your aiming for a healthy, hydrated and smooth shelled tortoise. I recommend regular soaks in a high sided container, correct diet, correct heat, light, substrate, humidity and space. Weight weekly and enjoy. Over the years you will need space as they are known as bulldozers

 

[Gillian M]

I live in Tulsa and adopted Tobias from a friend’s sister in San Antonio. We have had each other for 5 months and he was two months old when he came to live with me. We has gone from 70 grams to 123 grams. I have read in this forum about so many helpful things, but I can’t find information about how his shell should look at this stage and also if he is growing at the proper rate. I am planning on building a fully enclosed box as soon as I can, but keep his terra cotta house close to 80% when he inside. Am I a good momma so far?View attachment 354961View attachment 354960View attachment 354959

A very warm welcome to the forum.

A cute little tort. God bless.