New owner needs some basic advice

[ICanICan123]

Hello all!
Recently, I moved in with my boyfriend. We acquired some furniture from a relative who also convinced us to take the tortoise (approx. 1 year old) that they had. The poor little guy was in a little fish tank with just sand; no place to go.
He has a good sized (2-3 feet at least) pen the BF built that includes:
-Basking area
-Upper area he can walk around in (A ramp leads up to it)
-A shaded area beneath the upper area where he likes to sleep
-Water dish
-More area to walk in the bottom area
-UVB and Heat lamp
I can provide pictures if necessary.
Are we missing anything?

They didn't give us much information regarding feeding, but I'm getting nervous; from what I've googled, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to provide him with the right food! How do you all make sure that your tortoises get the right food?
I have 9 horses and some pasture area, so room won't be a problem when he's bigger. I just don't want to be feeding him the wrong stuff! Also, at his size (about the size of your entire hand), how much should he be eating?

I live in north-east Ohio, literally right up against lake erie (it's maybe a 12 minute drive on the back roads). It gets pretty chilly at night and during the winter. I believe I read that the nighttime temp should be around 60-65*F, how can I ensure that he is warm enough? We have the lamps, but really only run them during the day. It's getting colder at night here and during the winter it's REALLY cold...

Also, any other general tips for keeping the tortoise (his names Franklin ) healthy and happy? I've dealt with horses, dogs, cats, etc. but never anything like him!

Thank you so much!
-Megan

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Megan:

Welcome to the Forum!!

I know you're worried, but you should realize that Franklin is much better off now than he was at his previous home.

The best diet for sulcatas is grass and weeds. But when they're small and you have to keep them in the house, its perfectly ok to feed them from the store.

I buy Spring Mix or Santa Barbara Mix (from the produce section in the packaged lettuces part) and to that I'll add some leaves and grasses from outside...mullberry leaves, grape leaves, dichondra, dandelion, etc.

Try to get him outside in the sun as much as possible.

During the winter, he needs to be as warm during the daytime as he is now. Its ok for the night time temp to get down to about 65, but the day light should heat his habitat up to around 100+ directly under the light and getting lower as he moves away from the light.

 

[Tnewton]

I would include a hide box, also what kinda substrate do you house him on?

---

Oh yeah, you can run a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat during the cold nights

 

[Kristina]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I am going to give you a few links. I urge you to read them and they will answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ive-or-Beginner-Tortoise-Owners#axzz1XItGxsup

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ises-The-Balanced-Diet-Revealed#axzz1XItGxsup

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-To-Raise-Sulcata-Hatchlings-and-Babies#axzz1XItGxsup

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[ICanICan123]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!
As of now we're breaking up different leaves and grasses we've read about online to feed him and will probably go to a store bought spring mix, such as what emysemys recommended, in the winter.

Should I leave the heat lamp on 24/7 once it starts getting below 65* here at night (we live in a house that doesn't keep heat in well; it will get cold) or do you recommend something else?

 

[Kristina]

If the heat lamp produces visible light, then no. Your tortoise needs to sleep just as much as you do. You can use a ceramic heat emitter to provide night time heat, without light.

 

[ICanICan123]

^That's why I was concerned. Can I find those at pretty much any stores?

(Again, thank you all so much!)

 

[AnthonyC]

Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your new tort!

 

[Kristina]

^That's why I was concerned. Can I find those at pretty much any stores?

(Again, thank you all so much!)

You can find them online at reptile supply sites, in pet stores, places like Petsmart and Petco. The cheapest option is probably to check Big Al's online, or Amazon, etc. You won't find them at any old grocery/department store.

 

[ICanICan123]

Thank you! I'll be getting him one shortly then.

 

[Laura]

He needs a GOOD WARM WATER SOAKING!
not sure about the subrate you have him on.. He may try to eat it. Corn cob? Gravel?
Get him a Cuttle bone next time you go to the store.. great source of calcium.

 

[ICanICan123]

He needs a GOOD WARM WATER SOAKING!
not sure about the subrate you have him on.. He may try to eat it. Corn cob? Gravel?
Get him a Cuttle bone next time you go to the store.. great source of calcium.

He gets soaked about every other day for around 10 minutes. Didn't mention that haha.
Right now, there is sand, corn cob, and a mulchy type in varying areas (sand on main area, the basking area is all wood and rocks (big rocks, not little pokey ones!), and bark/mulch chips (not regular mulch, just looks like it) in his underground/cool area).
I've been sprinkling a little calcium from a container we bought at petsmart (don't have the name in front of me) about every other time he eats. Is this ok for calcium??

 

[RV's mom]

welcome to the forum

 

[mel262011]

Depends on which one they gave you. Make sure it has phosphorus-free writen on it. I use Rep-Cal Phosphorus-free Calcium with Vitamin D3. My vet recommended it. It has a pink label and they sale it at PetSmart.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I was going to give you those same links, but Kristina beat me to it.

Unfortunately there is a lot of out-dated and dangerous misinformation "out there". Often there is not a distinction made for care of babies vs. care for adults. This is a big problem as they need two different things. Everything you need to know is in those links and it is the best most current info that I know of.

In particular your substrate needs to be changed. Sand is an impaction risk and can irritate their eyes, skin and lungs. Corn cob bedding is an even worse impaction risk and it gets moldy really easy too. Your "mulchy" stuff is probably okay, depending on what it is.

Is that tomato in with the greens? It won't kill them, but it takes up valuable stomach space from what they SHOULD be eating.

He needs a humid hide box, lots of humidity and warmth, daily soaks and shell spraying 3-4 times a day, if you wanna halt that pyramiding.

There are four temps for you to be concerned with Cool side, 78-80. Warm side, 85-90. Basking spot, 100 or so. Night 78-80. These temps are for little ones. For an adult in a dry area 65 is fine over night, IF IF IF they will be able to get good and warm the next day.

All of this is elaborated upon in those links. Hope it helps.

 

[lynnedit]

Your tort table looks very promising. Change out the substrate as mentioned, and you are close to getting the heat and lighting organized. It can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but hang in there, you are doing a great job!

 

[ICanICan123]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I was going to give you those same links, but Kristina beat me to it.

Unfortunately there is a lot of out-dated and dangerous misinformation "out there". Often there is not a distinction made for care of babies vs. care for adults. This is a big problem as they need two different things. Everything you need to know is in those links and it is the best most current info that I know of.

In particular your substrate needs to be changed. Sand is an impaction risk and can irritate their eyes, skin and lungs. Corn cob bedding is an even worse impaction risk and it gets moldy really easy too. Your "mulchy" stuff is probably okay, depending on what it is.

Is that tomato in with the greens? It won't kill them, but it takes up valuable stomach space from what they SHOULD be eating.

He needs a humid hide box, lots of humidity and warmth, daily soaks and shell spraying 3-4 times a day, if you wanna halt that pyramiding.

There are four temps for you to be concerned with Cool side, 78-80. Warm side, 85-90. Basking spot, 100 or so. Night 78-80. These temps are for little ones. For an adult in a dry area 65 is fine over night, IF IF IF they will be able to get good and warm the next day.

All of this is elaborated upon in those links. Hope it helps.

You are awesome.
No, that's not tomato-in fact, I think it may be carrot (picture from when we got him). We've been feeding him certain grasses/leaves from outside and this winter, when it's too snowy,switch to a store bought spring mix for now.

What SHOULD the bedding be? The woman at the store told us corncob was good, but...I use that with my horses haha.

I'm going to try to get some more lamps for the pen to help keep the different temperatures. Any tips on humidity? As I said, we're in NE Ohio and approaching winter where the air gets really dry. I can mist, but are there any other things I can do?

He's soaked every other day, but I can bump it up for sure! For sprays, should I just take a spray bottle and mist him? The lady at the store said his shell would get moldy if we left it wet, but obviously you guys know more than her!

Thanks!

 

[Tnewton]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I was going to give you those same links, but Kristina beat me to it.

Unfortunately there is a lot of out-dated and dangerous misinformation "out there". Often there is not a distinction made for care of babies vs. care for adults. This is a big problem as they need two different things. Everything you need to know is in those links and it is the best most current info that I know of.

In particular your substrate needs to be changed. Sand is an impaction risk and can irritate their eyes, skin and lungs. Corn cob bedding is an even worse impaction risk and it gets moldy really easy too. Your "mulchy" stuff is probably okay, depending on what it is.

Is that tomato in with the greens? It won't kill them, but it takes up valuable stomach space from what they SHOULD be eating.

He needs a humid hide box, lots of humidity and warmth, daily soaks and shell spraying 3-4 times a day, if you wanna halt that pyramiding.

There are four temps for you to be concerned with Cool side, 78-80. Warm side, 85-90. Basking spot, 100 or so. Night 78-80. These temps are for little ones. For an adult in a dry area 65 is fine over night, IF IF IF they will be able to get good and warm the next day.

All of this is elaborated upon in those links. Hope it helps.

You are awesome.
No, that's not tomato-in fact, I think it may be carrot (picture from when we got him). We've been feeding him certain grasses/leaves from outside and this winter, when it's too snowy,switch to a store bought spring mix for now.

What SHOULD the bedding be? The woman at the store told us corncob was good, but...I use that with my horses haha.

I'm going to try to get some more lamps for the pen to help keep the different temperatures. Any tips on humidity? As I said, we're in NE Ohio and approaching winter where the air gets really dry. I can mist, but are there any other things I can do?

He's soaked every other day, but I can bump it up for sure! For sprays, should I just take a spray bottle and mist him? The lady at the store said his shell would get moldy if we left it wet, but obviously you guys know more than her!

Thanks!

Bedding should be cypress mulch, at least thats what id use. You can spry his shell directly several times a day without any problems.

 

[ICanICan123]

Thank you guys so much. I hate sounding like someone who doesn't know anything, but we were kind of just thrown into him. I really appreciate all the help in making the little guy as comfortable and healthy as possible.