New to Sulcatas...

[Vicki82]

Hi...

I've had two Sulcata tortoises given to me for Christmas...complete with vivarium and lights, heat etc. I've always wanted tortoises but hadn't done massive amounts of research as I didn't think I'd be getting them just yet.

Anyway cue many hours on the internet, within a week we'd built a tortoise table, realising the 2ft viv sold with them is totally wrong- As was pretty much ALL the info the guy in the shop had provided my partner. One of my babies has a slight bubbly nose (clear discharge) but is eating, very active etc but I'm not too worried as I've got them both booked in with a reputable specialist reptile vet later this week for a check over just incase - especially as I'm dubious of their background - the guy in the shop couldn't even tell me how old they are.

Anyway a few questions on little bits I'm yet to get my head around or have read conflicting info on.

The table has a hot end, with basking lamp on dimming thermostat set to 95F. The other end has a hide built into the table (I'll try post pics) which has a heat mat strip on the underside of the lid, again on thermostat set to 72F so that if the temp drops lower at any time the heat mat comes on. Obviously I have a UV lamp also. I make sure when they fall asleep they are in the hide for when the basking light goes out and temps drop (they're in my front room so there are no extremes). Does this sound okay? Do I really need to worry about them falling asleep on the open table at night or would they be okay anyway? Should I have a nighttime heater on top of the mat in the hide?

Also I'm confused re humidity as there is lots of conflicting info and I'm worried about pyramiding. I've ordered sphagnum moss with a view to setting up a humid hide for if they want it but I don't know where in the enclosure it should be. Also whether it will be too cold at night.

The substrate is a 60/40 mix of loam based organic soil and play sand...there is a slate for their nails and some beech chip (which I'm probably going to change out).

Anyway any advice greatly appreciated but please be nice I'm new to all this and want to do the best by my girls (obviously I don't know they are girls, it's just what I went with)... I love them and want to give them the best life possible. I know they grow massive and fast which I'm prepared for and am experienced with animals and fish but these are my first reptiles.

I look forward to hearing from you

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Please read Toms threads below in my post for raising smooth sulcatas. Depending on the age of yours, a humid hide maybe all they need. Post a pic of your enclosure and of your new little girls? and we will be able to help you tweak what might be needed. If you have a higher humidity, the temps need to be kept warmer. Not and humid good. Cold and wet, sick tort.

 

[Vicki82]

Not sure if I'm doing this right but trying to post some pics...

 

[Tom]

There is a clash of new and old info in the sulcata world right now. Basically, the old style said keep them hot and dry since they come from a very arid part of the world. Following that advice in our captive environments led to dehydrated, pyramided tortoises. Some of us found better ways to do things and improve upon what was done in the past. The results have been truly phenomenal. We also discovered that sulcatas hatch during the rainy season while it is very hot and humid in that part of Africa. So keeping babies dry and in low humidity is actually not only detrimental, its very in-natural.

About your set up: I think its too cool on the cool end. Cool night temps are what typically causes respiratory infection, which runny, bubbly noses are a symptom of. You need to get those temps up right now. Day and night. I wouldn't let any part of the enclosure drop below 85 until days after the symptoms cease.

I don't think you will ever maintain decent humidity or warmth in an open topped table. Your viv might have been better unless it was too small.

I would never use sand as any part of the substrate. I've seen too many sand impacted tortoise X-rays in the offices of the vets I work with to risk it. I wouldn't use beech chips either as they cannot be kept damp.

There is a care sheet at the top of the sulcata page. I think it will give you some more insight. Lots of other good sulcata info in my signature too.