Need Help re Sulcata Hatchling

[Juice]

Hello Everyone,

I have only had my Sulcata, Biscuit (pic attached), for a week, and have been figuring out things as I go. I finally got the temperature right (85 to 95 degrees on warm side - on other side - humidity between 40 to 70 - according to what’s I was told and what I have read). If this is incorrect, please let me know.

Biscuit started digging a couple of days ago. Any suggestion on how deep I should fill up the tank with the substrate? I want to give him enough but don’t want to overdo it and he sinks in there. Thoughts? Suggestion re good substrate for digging?

Also, I’ve read about giving him calcium, but don’t know which one is the appropriate one and how much should be given. I read a comment on a review and it scared me saying that too much would kill him because it has 3D. It referenced since the heat is high in the tank, to only give calcium with 3D once a week. Thoughts?

I’m setting a vet appointment tomorrow, but thought I’d reach out to you guys since most of you have dealt with this and have happy and healthy Salcatas. Any suggestions or additional information that you can please provide, would be greatly appreciated.

Also, there are different references about soaking. I’m planning on soaking him one a week for 15 to 20 minutes in warm water. If this isn’t wrong, please let me know.

Thank you,
Julissa

p

 

[Yossarian]

Hi,

Most of what your doing sounds ok. Couple things stand out. Humidity needs to be higher, 80%+ and under the basking lamp needs to be higher than 85-95f

Here is the care sheet to follow, ignore advice that differs from this.

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise | Tortoise Forum

 

[Tortisedonk7]

soak him everyday in warm water 20-30 min. make sure he has access to water in the enclosure as well.
you need about 3-4 inches of substrate. coco coir, coco husk and orchid bark are good choices. Many people use damp coco coir with a layer of the ochid bark on top.
Why take him to the vet if nothing is wrong..?
please read the care sheet posted previously.

 

[Tom]

Hello Everyone,

I have only had my Sulcata, Biscuit (pic attached), for a week, and have been figuring out things as I go. I finally got the temperature right (85 to 95 degrees on warm side - on other side - humidity between 40 to 70 - according to what’s I was told and what I have read). If this is incorrect, please let me know.

Biscuit started digging a couple of days ago. Any suggestion on how deep I should fill up the tank with the substrate? I want to give him enough but don’t want to overdo it and he sinks in there. Thoughts? Suggestion re good substrate for digging?

Also, I’ve read about giving him calcium, but don’t know which one is the appropriate one and how much should be given. I read a comment on a review and it scared me saying that too much would kill him because it has 3D. It referenced since the heat is high in the tank, to only give calcium with 3D once a week. Thoughts?

I’m setting a vet appointment tomorrow, but thought I’d reach out to you guys since most of you have dealt with this and have happy and healthy Salcatas. Any suggestions or additional information that you can please provide, would be greatly appreciated.

Also, there are different references about soaking. I’m planning on soaking him one a week for 15 to 20 minutes in warm water. If this isn’t wrong, please let me know.

Thank you,
Julissa

p View attachment 314793

Most od the care info you find will be old, out-dated, and wrong. Disregard all of it if you want your baby to live.

Here is the correct care info with the answers to all of your questions:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings & welcome. One major thing is to start soaking daily, not the once per week that you currently plan on doing.

 

[Juice]

Hi,

Most of what your doing sounds ok. Couple things stand out. Humidity needs to be higher, 80%+ and under the basking lamp needs to be higher than 85-95f

Here is the care sheet to follow, ignore advice that differs from this.

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise | Tortoise Forum

Thank you so much!!! Much appreciated!

 

[Juice]

soak him everyday in warm water 20-30 min. make sure he has access to water in the enclosure as well.
you need about 3-4 inches of substrate. coco coir, coco husk and orchid bark are good choices. Many people use damp coco coir with a layer of the ochid bark on top.
Why take him to the vet if nothing is wrong..?
please read the care sheet posted previously.

Thank you! When he was purchased, they were feeding him celery and him with no heat during the night. My thoughts were to take him to the vet to make sure he’s fine. Also, since I’ve been pretty much guessing at what I’m doing, I thought a vet could tell me if I was doing things correctly, but you guys have it down! Thx again!

 

[Juice]

Greetings & welcome. One major thing is to start soaking daily, not the once per week that you currently plan on doing.

Thank you!!! Much appreciated!

 

[Juice]

Most od the care info you find will be old, out-dated, and wrong. Disregard all of it if you want your baby to live.

Here is the correct care info with the answers to all of your questions:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

Thank you!!! Much appreciated!

 

[SKOLsuper]

Hello Everyone,

I have only had my Sulcata, Biscuit (pic attached), for a week, and have been figuring out things as I go. I finally got the temperature right (85 to 95 degrees on warm side - on other side - humidity between 40 to 70 - according to what’s I was told and what I have read). If this is incorrect, please let me know.

Biscuit started digging a couple of days ago. Any suggestion on how deep I should fill up the tank with the substrate? I want to give him enough but don’t want to overdo it and he sinks in there. Thoughts? Suggestion re good substrate for digging?

Also, I’ve read about giving him calcium, but don’t know which one is the appropriate one and how much should be given. I read a comment on a review and it scared me saying that too much would kill him because it has 3D. It referenced since the heat is high in the tank, to only give calcium with 3D once a week. Thoughts?

I’m setting a vet appointment tomorrow, but thought I’d reach out to you guys since most of you have dealt with this and have happy and healthy Salcatas. Any suggestions or additional information that you can please provide, would be greatly appreciated.

Also, there are different references about soaking. I’m planning on soaking him one a week for 15 to 20 minutes in warm water. If this isn’t wrong, please let me know.

Thank you,
Julissa

p View attachment 314793

Sooooo cute ?