Question
- Thread starter gwadman
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First let's start with a bit more information. What kind(s) of tortoises are you talking about? What kind of advise are you needing? Care or what? Giving us more to go on, if your asking about care needs would be how are you keeping them now (inside or out, temps, substrate, lights, size enclosure(s), ect..,), what are you feeding them, and anything else useful.
What kind of torts do you have? Where did you get them all? Hatchlings are hard to get except directly from a breeder, and they should have given you some advice on how to take care of them.
Like Jacqui said, if you describe your current setup and ask specific questions we'd be more than happy to give you advice on lighting, substrates, diet, and everything else
.
Like Jacqui said, if you describe your current setup and ask specific questions we'd be more than happy to give you advice on lighting, substrates, diet, and everything else
.
Where did you get 30 torts?! buy them or did you have eggs hatch? Are you loking to sell them? we need more info.
Glad you found this site.. we can definately help.
Glad you found this site.. we can definately help.
We'll be very happy to help you, gwadman. Do you mean to say that your are new to forums? Or did you mean that you are new to tortoises. If tortoises, then obviously someone has given you tortoises that were already three years old.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Post a couple pictures of your babies, and the way you have them housed, and we'll take it from there!
and:
to the forum!
Yvonne
A picture is worth a thousand words. Post a couple pictures of your babies, and the way you have them housed, and we'll take it from there!
and:
to the forum!
Yvonne
Wow, that alot of tortoises!
ok, I started raising tortoises years ago and I have a large natural habitat in my back yard where I have four adult females and one male three toe. All of these were found at our farm in the country probably ten years ago while clearing some land. So I guess since I ruined their habitat I figured I would build them a new one and we have enjoyed watching and raising them. They have never had babies till just a few years ago.But what I now have is about 30 baby three toe tortoises that I don't know what to do with, they range in age from new born to 3 1/2 years. I have been feeding them fresh fruit, vegetables and a good quality tortoise dry food. The new borns get started in a 20 gallon aquarium inside my house and as they get older I have built two 4 ft by 3ft enclosures inside my garage for the older ones. they all have proper lighting and natural substrate. I guess the real question is, how can I find homes for these little guys. I will try to get some pictures posted.
Oh! Box turtles!!! One of my very favorite kind of turtle! Good for you that you have such a natural habitat that they're breeding and thriving. And you're smart to keep them indoors until they're big enough that the birds can't carry them away. Here is a good list of foods to feed box turtles from www.turtlepuddle.org/:
"Feeding:
American Box turtles are omnivores and will enjoy fruits, fungi, veggies, greens, mollusks, worms and insects. From research with wild turtles, we know they eat plants for almost half the diet and animal foods for a little bit over half the diet. They are opportunistic feeders, willing to eat almost anything edible that they find. So focus on using a wide variety of foods. Feed the turtle on a flat rock rather than from dishes of any kind. This more natural approach will prevent the beak and toenails from becoming overgrown. Provide a high calcium source all the time--e.g. cuttlebone, boiled eggshells, plaster block--so that the turtle can munch when it feels the need for more calcium.
If your turtle is reluctant to eat, try soaking and misting before feeding. Make sure the turtle is warm enough, and well lighted. Reluctant feeders can often be enticed with live food such as an earthworm or slug, or colorful foods such as strawberries or cantaloupe. Stinky foods, such as canned cat food, can be useful in getting a reluctant turtle eating. (However, cat food is not a good food for frequent use.) Sick turtles will usually not eat well, so if the turtle refuses to eat for more than two weeks, seek veterinary care.
As an example of a good, healthy meal for a box turtle, try a salad of chopped grapes, dandelion, and grated carrot, and add a delightful topping of earthworm. This should convince your turtle that you are a good provider. A couple days later, try a mushroom and a strawberry on a turnip leaf, with a few sowbugs on top, lightly garnished with calcium powder. Mmm, mmm, good! Do not use the same food for two feedings in a row. And you really don't need to feed a "balanced meal" each time. Using a wide variety of foods over time will balance the diet in a more natural way.
Box turtles can get into unhealthy "addictions" if fed the same food frequently. Use a very wide variety of foods and don't feed the same items two feeding in a row. Avoid overuse of live wiggly foods, as this is a common cause of picky eating habits. Additionally, make sure to provide cuttlebone or other source of calcium, so that the turtle can self-regulate calcium intake."
As for finding homes for the babies...if its not illegal to have them in your state, you can sell the babies through an advertisement in the paper, or Craig's list or some other online reptile seller. Or if you're not interested in making money off them, you can see if there's a turtle club in your area or a turtle rescue. I know they will be happy to take them and find homes for them. Where are you located?
Yvonne
"Feeding:
American Box turtles are omnivores and will enjoy fruits, fungi, veggies, greens, mollusks, worms and insects. From research with wild turtles, we know they eat plants for almost half the diet and animal foods for a little bit over half the diet. They are opportunistic feeders, willing to eat almost anything edible that they find. So focus on using a wide variety of foods. Feed the turtle on a flat rock rather than from dishes of any kind. This more natural approach will prevent the beak and toenails from becoming overgrown. Provide a high calcium source all the time--e.g. cuttlebone, boiled eggshells, plaster block--so that the turtle can munch when it feels the need for more calcium.
If your turtle is reluctant to eat, try soaking and misting before feeding. Make sure the turtle is warm enough, and well lighted. Reluctant feeders can often be enticed with live food such as an earthworm or slug, or colorful foods such as strawberries or cantaloupe. Stinky foods, such as canned cat food, can be useful in getting a reluctant turtle eating. (However, cat food is not a good food for frequent use.) Sick turtles will usually not eat well, so if the turtle refuses to eat for more than two weeks, seek veterinary care.
As an example of a good, healthy meal for a box turtle, try a salad of chopped grapes, dandelion, and grated carrot, and add a delightful topping of earthworm. This should convince your turtle that you are a good provider. A couple days later, try a mushroom and a strawberry on a turnip leaf, with a few sowbugs on top, lightly garnished with calcium powder. Mmm, mmm, good! Do not use the same food for two feedings in a row. And you really don't need to feed a "balanced meal" each time. Using a wide variety of foods over time will balance the diet in a more natural way.
Box turtles can get into unhealthy "addictions" if fed the same food frequently. Use a very wide variety of foods and don't feed the same items two feeding in a row. Avoid overuse of live wiggly foods, as this is a common cause of picky eating habits. Additionally, make sure to provide cuttlebone or other source of calcium, so that the turtle can self-regulate calcium intake."
As for finding homes for the babies...if its not illegal to have them in your state, you can sell the babies through an advertisement in the paper, or Craig's list or some other online reptile seller. Or if you're not interested in making money off them, you can see if there's a turtle club in your area or a turtle rescue. I know they will be happy to take them and find homes for them. Where are you located?
Yvonne
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- Jan 22, 2008
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Hi...where do you live?
You said you have the older ones in the garage...do they get to be outside at all?
You might want to add some earthworms or night crawlers to their diet. They need protein. I assume you have something with water in it for them to crawl into.
Don't forget, you promised pictures...we love pictures!
good luck
Patsy
You said you have the older ones in the garage...do they get to be outside at all?
You might want to add some earthworms or night crawlers to their diet. They need protein. I assume you have something with water in it for them to crawl into.
Don't forget, you promised pictures...we love pictures!
good luck
Patsy
Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job raising them! As others have said, we love photos of different people's enclosures and torts (both ideas and to ooooh and ahhhh at ).
If you're not adverse to shipping (and it's legal in your state,) you can make a post in our classifieds forum (or as Yvonne said, local newspaper and craigslist work well too.)
).If you're not adverse to shipping (and it's legal in your state,) you can make a post in our classifieds forum (or as Yvonne said, local newspaper and craigslist work well too.)
Welcome to the group! Best of luck finding them good homes. You have some wonderful advice already here. Don't forget to separate the males and females now.
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