Newbie

[Michael Serrano]

I got my tortoise about 2 weeks ago, so i'm still kinda new to this whole tortoise care thing. So far Connan (my tortoises' name) is living in a big bin with top soil. I feed him a variety of veggies, but not a lot so he doesn't grow too quickly and have some health issue. Connan also has a calcium bone, which i've also heard prevents an over-grown beak. Finally I do have a UV lamp, but I take him out to walk for at least an hour in the sun. I live in Florida, so we get a lot of sunlight. Please tell me if i'm doing anything wrong. I want the best for my child.

 

[Bambam1989]

Please read these supper helpful links.
After you have you can ask us any questions that you still have.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/unread
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.64290/
Welcome to the forum!

 

[JoesMum]

I got my tortoise about 2 weeks ago, so i'm still kinda new to this whole tortoise care thing. So far Connan (my tortoises' name) is living in a big bin with top soil. I feed him a variety of veggies, but not a lot so he doesn't grow too quickly and have some health issue. Connan also has a calcium bone, which i've also heard prevents an over-grown beak. Finally I do have a UV lamp, but I take him out to walk for at least an hour in the sun. I live in Florida, so we get a lot of sunlight. Please tell me if i'm doing anything wrong. I want the best for my child. View attachment 223085

Hello and welcome

Please read those links you were given in the previous post. They are written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too. From what you have said about feeding you have been misled by the outdated information already.

Your tort should not have its diet restricted. It's diet is a variety of weedy and leafy greens and it can have as much of those as it wants. It will not overeat, grow too fast or pyramid from eating too much. Pyramidding is caused by being raised in an environment that is too dry and MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) is caused by too little UVB light.

Your tort can't digest sugars properly - they cause digestive and kidney problems - so sweet foods like fruit, tomato, bell pepper and carrot should only be fed very sparingly and very occasionally if at all.

A good quality pellet, softened in water, such as Mazuri (not the LS version which torts seem to universally hate) may be used as a supplement when the greens are in short supplied.

Your tortoise will also benefit from a tiny pinch of calcium powder sprinkled sparsely on food three times a week - no more as it is possible to overdo it.

The cuttlebone is great and will help with the beak if your tort decides to chew it; some don't. Using a piece of flat rock or slate, or even the rough side of wall tile, as a food plate also helps keep the beak in shape.

A terracotta plant saucer makes a safe water dish. Place it in the middle of the enclosure and it is much less likely to have substrate dragged through it as your tortoise stomps.

Photos of your enclosure and lighting will help us to advise you further. The android app is having photo problems right now, so if you are using that you will need to log into the website on your device's browser to upload pictures https://tortoiseforum.org/