Rescue baby Sulcata

Katelyn Miller

New Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
Oregon
I rescued a baby sulcata from some a guy who obviously didn't care for him. He had lights and the tub he's in is big enough, but the lights were never on, he never had water or food and was kept right by a window (we live in Oregon! it's much too cold for that!) His enclosure was caked with dog fur and had dried little turds everywhere. His shell was dry and dusty and looked like it had been damaged slightly and healed. I watched him for about a month and none of this changed so I asked if I could have him and luckily the owner didn't seem to care one way or another. I didn't know a single thing about tortoises so I joined a Facebook group and did some research here and on youtube, and felt that even though I have a lot to learn at least I'll try and care unlike his old owner. By the time he's big enough to need a larger enclosure we should have a heated barn for the winter and outdoor area set up for him for the summer.

So fast forward about a year and I thought we were taking great care of him. Daily soaks, a diet of mostly grasses and weeds (dandelions are his favorite) with the occasional cactus pad or bit of kale. His heating lamp is on 24/7 and the UVB is on for roughly 12 hours a day. He has a rock right under his heater, and a little wooden tunnel on the far side of his enclosure next to his water. I have dirt on the side with the heater to give him the chance to burrow (though he never has) and bark on the side with the water because he kept getting the water super gross every ten minutes lol. I have a misting spray bottle that I lightly spray the enclosure down with every day. I thought I was doing a pretty good job!

But I just don't think, or rather I KNOW his heater isn't warm enough. Now that summer is coming I'm less worried because I can bring him outside to warm up but I was very worried during the cold months. I was told that heat from under the shell isn't good for them, otherwise I would have gotten one of those basking rocks that people use for bearded dragons or a heat pad or SOMETHING. I really need tips on how to make his enclosure warmer!! His enclosure doesn't look exactly like the picture anymore because he kept knocking over the succulents (should have expected it lol) so we took them out, and shifted things slightly so now the tunnel is next to the water rather than in front of it.

94648404_3709531075785325_2954957424001286144_n.jpg
 
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Maro2Bear

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5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA
Greetings...

The bible for raising a healthy Sully is right here - all your questions & answers should be here!


Enclosure substrate, heat, humidity, food, lighting, soaking are all critical.
 

Peggy Sue

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5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2017
Messages
310
Location (City and/or State)
Grants Pass Oregon
6EB39575-32FE-4C07-8E84-B54D746ADA10.jpeg3091507D-66B3-4B98-B227-B9FFECBA84F3.jpegIs your tub enclosed? We used one when ours was smaller and my husband made it so the lights and heat where in closed used pvc pipe and corrugated plastic (looks like cardboard)this set up enabled us to keep his temperature correct and humidity at 80-90% our light where uvb tube and Che’s hope that helps. You should change out your water dish for a terra-cotta plant saucer the one you have can cause your baby to tip over and possibly drown ?❤️
 

Maggie3fan

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5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Messages
8,046
Location (City and/or State)
PacificNorthWest
View attachment 292178View attachment 292179Is your tub enclosed? We used one when ours was smaller and my husband made it so the lights and heat where in closed used pvc pipe and corrugated plastic (looks like cardboard)this set up enabled us to keep his temperature correct and humidity at 80-90% our light where uvb tube and Che’s hope that helps. You should change out your water dish for a terra-cotta plant saucer the one you have can cause your baby to tip over and possibly drown ?❤

Well...I'm just going to give my opinion on your water dish...I love those like yours, I have head started many clutches of Gopherus agassizii for my sister and I used that exact dish...I put some small rocks strewed around in the water, and I never have had a problem with them. I also did herds of Sulcata in the same way...I especially like that they are just a little bit deeper and the babies can get down in the water better...I'm not saying a hatchling can't turn over and drown...just that none in any bunch I raised did...
 

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