New member, and new owner. From Nor-Cal

[PEEEETE]

Hello everyone, My name is Pete, and I have a 4 week old Sulcata. This is my first time raising a tortoise from a hatchling, so My main goal here on the forum is to learn as much as possible about keeping my new Tortoise, Pépe healthy, happy, and getting him to grow up as strong and healthy as possible!

Here are a few pictures of him. Thanks for reading, and for having such a great community here.

 

[dmmj]

Welcome
he is adorable, I would recommend changing his substrate (rabbit pellets it looks like)

 

[ascott]

Welcome....absolutely adorable Pepe.....I would have to second the advice on changing the substrate....the pellets are not to good

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum Pete. I am on board with everyone else that you should change out those pellets for something like cypress mulch, or coco coir.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi PEEEETE (Pete):

We have another member who is in Texas, who also has many letters in his username - kendallllmcd!

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!! May we know where you are?

Has anyone given you this link:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies

A lot of good info and real new ideas on raising babies.

 

[PEEEETE]

Thanks guys! Emysmys, I did see that post, and it was very informative. I've since changed his bedding to Coco coir, then was recommended to change from that by my Vet at UC Davis. I guess that tells where abouts I am as well. I live in Vacaville, CA halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Here is my other thread, in case any of you have some input on my bedding conundrum http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Please-tell-me-if-this-enclosure-is-adequate#axzz1Us6Vaw15[hr]
Also, what is the code that many people have in their signatures with the 3 digit numbers and decimal points?

 

[Yvonne G]

It tells you how many and what sex their tortoises are...

1.2.3 means one male, two females and three to young to sex.

 

[PEEEETE]

It tells you how many and what sex their tortoises are...

1.2.3 means one male, two females and three to young to sex.

Thanks! Updating my sig now

 

[Robert]

Welcome

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome PEEEETE. That's a cute little baby you've got there.

 

[laramie]

Pepe is so adorable! Welcome to you both.

 

[coreyc]

Welcome Pete

 

[RV's mom]

like everyone else, I think he is adorable. So much so when they are young! They grow BIG tho..

welcome to the forum!

teri

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome.

 

[Jacqui]

Welcome! That is a cutie. Now you said it's the first tortoise you have raised from a hatchling, does that mean you have had other tortoises?

 

[PEEEETE]

Welcome! That is a cutie. Now you said it's the first tortoise you have raised from a hatchling, does that mean you have had other tortoises?

Yes, I had one tortoise that was a rescue, but I was about 10 at the time, and my parents weren't overly involved. I think it was the species that you have in your avatar, Jacqui. Could not fully identify it with the reference books that I had from the library, and the internet wasn't very prevalent then, so that was as good as I was gonna get. Kept him for about 2 years, and he burrowed in the backyard, when we let him back there once, and I never saw him again. I raised 3 water turtes after that (2 rescues, and one red eared slider from a young age from the pet store) and constructed a pond in the bakyard especially for them where they thrived and grew quickly. Had them for 3 years or so, until I was about 17, and in a bit of carelessness, my dad accidentally got lawn fertilizer in their pond while spreading, and they all died =( That was one of the saddest days for me up to that point in my life.

Since then, I've wanted to raise one myself with no one else to blame if something goes wrong. I think I will do well now since there is such a wealth of information about healthy habits and whatnot.

 

[TheSimpsons]

Welcome! That is a cutie. Now you said it's the first tortoise you have raised from a hatchling, does that mean you have had other tortoises?

Yes, I had one tortoise that was a rescue, but I was about 10 at the time, and my parents weren't overly involved. I think it was the species that you have in your avatar, Jacqui. Could not fully identify it with the reference books that I had from the library, and the internet wasn't very prevalent then, so that was as good as I was gonna get. Kept him for about 2 years, and he burrowed in the backyard, when we let him back there once, and I never saw him again. I raised 3 water turtes after that (2 rescues, and one red eared slider from a young age from the pet store) and constructed a pond in the bakyard especially for them where they thrived and grew quickly. Had them for 3 years or so, until I was about 17, and in a bit of carelessness, my dad accidentally got lawn fertilizer in their pond while spreading, and they all died =( That was one of the saddest days for me up to that point in my life.

Since then, I've wanted to raise one myself with no one else to blame if something goes wrong. I think I will do well now since there is such a wealth of information about healthy habits and whatnot.

Welcome, I hope you've still got some sort of yard, cause these little guys get big fast!