Please Help!!! California Desert Tortoise Hatchling!!!

[miklogan]

Hello,
We have had 3 (adult) California Desert Tortoises since before I was born (the tortoises are 40-60 years old). We just had a hatchling that we found today and I've never cared for a baby, only adults. The adults have free roam of the back yard, and I know hatchlings need a lot of care to survive. So basically, I need help on how to care for my hatchling. I need to know what to feed, how to build an enclosure (how big, what substrate, what heat/bask lamps), and basically everything!!! I need how to care for a hatchling 101!!!! I've been researching for the past 4 hours, but there's so much conflicting information out there. Please help!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello and welcome!

You’ll find so much conflicting information outside of the forum, speaking from experience all it will do is cause you confusion. You can rest assured this place has the most up to date, safest care information out there!

This thread below should hopefully help you out, I know it says Russians and hermans, but their care is pretty similar as babies, it goes over correct equipment, levels, appropriately maintaining humidity, the need for a closed chamber with babies, with lots of visual examples for everything!

Housing young Russian/Herman

Hello there! In this thread, I’m going to include some information on an effective way to tackle a starter set up/a way you can build a bigger size once your baby is an adult. I know it looks a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered, I’m happy to break down any information...

tortoiseforum.org

This one should hopefully help you avoid the wrong kinds of bulbs, substrates etc, and you can always double check purchases on here before buying!

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Hope this helps! Let me tag @Yvonne G too incase she feels I’ve missed anything as I’m not as familiar with desert tortoises

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

We have had 3 (adult) California Desert Tortoises since before I was born (the tortoises are 40-60 years old).

Are the three housed together? What sexes are they?