Hello!
So I have a Sulcata hatchling that joined us today. The baby is really small, but is active and curious. I have been researching about questions that I had and somehow ended up with more questions. Could you please help out? Thank you
Before I go on with my question, this is our set up right now. The baby has a tortoise table 27.5 x 14.125 x 11.375. It has hay as its substrate. We left the top open and have the uvb light that goes across it. We do have a basking light of 50 watts as well. It is placed above the uvb light and shines to one side.
So here are the questions:
1) I came onto this forum to look for the temperatures. The direct basking light temperature goes up to about 100F and overall on the cooling side is about 80F. We were concerned about fire hazard because of the hay and the wood. The basking light also shines above the uvb light. Some said that 100F and 80F is okay but some sites say it should be in low 90s for basking. I'm worried not only about fire hazard but if it will dry out my tortoise.
2) And about soaking. Is it ever bad to soak too often when they're hatchlings? He drinks a lot which I figured through reading that it's okay. ANd how do you keep the water warm? I noticed that it gets cool very fast because its shallow. Do I just change it every 3-4 minutes?
3) The substrate. We researched before we bought our stuff and it said hay is okay. We also went to a turtle & tortoise show and asked them questions. The guy with sulcata said that it eats the hay as wlel so it's good for them. But I found out that my hatchling cannot eat hay because it is too young. Then is it bad to have the substrate as hay? I notice that many people used other substrate to keep them moist. Is soaking not enough?
4) Also for food. Is produce from the grocery store okay? Flowers from bushes outside okay? How should we obtain them? At first we thought hay should be enough but not quite yet. How do you transition to hay? ANd when?
Thank you so much.
- Mochii.
So I have a Sulcata hatchling that joined us today. The baby is really small, but is active and curious. I have been researching about questions that I had and somehow ended up with more questions. Could you please help out? Thank you
Before I go on with my question, this is our set up right now. The baby has a tortoise table 27.5 x 14.125 x 11.375. It has hay as its substrate. We left the top open and have the uvb light that goes across it. We do have a basking light of 50 watts as well. It is placed above the uvb light and shines to one side.
So here are the questions:
1) I came onto this forum to look for the temperatures. The direct basking light temperature goes up to about 100F and overall on the cooling side is about 80F. We were concerned about fire hazard because of the hay and the wood. The basking light also shines above the uvb light. Some said that 100F and 80F is okay but some sites say it should be in low 90s for basking. I'm worried not only about fire hazard but if it will dry out my tortoise.
2) And about soaking. Is it ever bad to soak too often when they're hatchlings? He drinks a lot which I figured through reading that it's okay. ANd how do you keep the water warm? I noticed that it gets cool very fast because its shallow. Do I just change it every 3-4 minutes?
3) The substrate. We researched before we bought our stuff and it said hay is okay. We also went to a turtle & tortoise show and asked them questions. The guy with sulcata said that it eats the hay as wlel so it's good for them. But I found out that my hatchling cannot eat hay because it is too young. Then is it bad to have the substrate as hay? I notice that many people used other substrate to keep them moist. Is soaking not enough?
4) Also for food. Is produce from the grocery store okay? Flowers from bushes outside okay? How should we obtain them? At first we thought hay should be enough but not quite yet. How do you transition to hay? ANd when?
Thank you so much.
- Mochii.