Sahara Sweet Pea

[Leha]

My baby's has a white looking ring on the bottom of the shell! Seems like she's definitely lighter than she was on her legs too. I feed collards and broccoli flowers out of the garden. Maybe to much protein? She eats and drinks great! Any suggestions on what could be going on?

 

[Blackdog1714]

More photos please. Full body and close up of spots so experts may way in

 

[Leha]

Hopefully you can see them!

 

[Yvonne G]

Just looks like hard water minerals to me. But the diet needs to be adjusted. Take a look at the food items shown in this thread:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Leha]

Thank you for the information I will be

Just looks like hard water minerals to me. But the diet needs to be adjusted. Take a look at the food items shown in this thread:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Hand cutting my grass it looks like

 

[Maro2Bear]

I was also wondering how often you soak your little guy. In those photos, he looks a bit dry. Daily warm water soaks will help ensure proper hydration.

Happy Torting Around

 

[Leha]

She's almost a year old. About as big as a biscuit! Smallest one of the hatchlings!

 

[Leha]

I have been soaking once a day but how long is recommended?

 

[Leha]

I was also wondering how often you soak your little guy. In those photos, he looks a bit dry. Daily warm water soaks will help ensure proper hydration.

Happy Torting Around

 

[Maro2Bear]

I have been soaking once a day but how long is recommended?

From Tom’s care guide:

Soaking:
I recommend hatchlings be soaked in 85-95 degree water for 20-30 minutes once a day. I use a tall sided opaque tub and keep the water depth about a third of the way up the body. If you have a humid enclosure with a humid hide and a water bowl, it is totally fine to skip a day here and there. Soaking only once a week and using a dry enclosure is not enough in my opinion, and I would not buy a hatchling that had been started that way. Once the tortoise gets to about 4" I relax a bit on the soaking routine and gradually taper it down as they gain size. How often I soak older tortoises depends on a lot of factors, the current weather and season being two big ones. I soak more often when its hot and dry. If you live in a warm, humid, rainy climate, and your tortoise is exposed to these conditions, soaking less often is probably fine, but it still wont hurt anything to do it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hm-m-m. . . sand. I see.

Sand is not a good substrate for tortoises because it may cause impaction if it is accidentally ingested when the baby is eating. And they do tend to drag sand all over their food, so it's hard to NOT eat it. You say, "But there's sand all over the desert where this tortoise comes from." And I say, yes, however baby tortoises don't eat off the ground where they come from. They bite off pieces of plants that are up on a stem or a blade or a bush. Also, sand like what you show in your enclosure isn't packed down into a hard surface like the sand in the desert is. My substrate of choice is orchid bark.

Sand is very drying, and is probably the reason the lower portion of your tortoise's shell looks 'white' and dry. It can also be very irritating to their eyes.

 

[Leha]

Thank you! Want to do my best for her!!

Hm-m-m. . . sand. I see.

Sand is not a good substrate for tortoises because it may cause impaction if it is accidentally ingested when the baby is eating. And they do tend to drag sand all over their food, so it's hard to NOT eat it. You say, "But there's sand all over the desert where this tortoise comes from." And I say, yes, however baby tortoises don't eat off the ground where they come from. They bite off pieces of plants that are up on a stem or a blade or a bush. Also, sand like what you show in your enclosure isn't packed down into a hard surface like the sand in the desert is. My substrate of choice is orchid bark.

Sand is very drying, and is probably the reason the lower portion of your tortoise's shell looks 'white' and dry. It can also be very irritating to their eyes.

Thank you! Its Vita sand and so far good pooping but I don't want to take any chances! I will get it out ASAP I appreciate it! Thank you!

 

[Maro2Bear]

And, since you are up for changing things about, most folks would tell you to use a terracotta plany saucer (a nice large one) instead of the watering trough you have. It’s easier to sink the plant saucer diwn into you are (new) substrate and mr tort can climb down into the saucer.

The one you have is notorious fir having young torts fall over upside down and drown. And you don’t want that now do you

 

[Leha]

Ok sand gone, soaked 30 minutes, and smaller water bowl till tomorrow! Anything else you see?

 

[Cheryl Hills]

Ok sand gone, soaked 30 minutes, and smaller water bowl till tomorrow! Anything else you see?

We have a Sulcata tort section. Please go and read the care sheets. They will tell you everything you need to know for proper care. Come back with any questions. Your tortoise is beautiful but it looks like she is pyramiding. That is from being raised too dry. At her age, she should be in a closed chamber enclosure with 80 to 100% humidity. The pyramiding can be stoped if you change things up now. Good luck.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Here you go LeHa

All the info to read, follow for a healthy Sully

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Happy Torting

 

[Leha]

I've got my baby set up with a terracotta water dish. A black plastic plant holder with sphagnum moss for her hide and she's getting grazing time outside daily! I've got her humidity good and temp! Live in southern Georgia so we're pretty flexible on temp in the winters!

 

[Leha]

Do have a question! An underneath pad heater or a heat bulb what's the better choice?

 

[Leha]

Also at what age are they not considered a hatchling?

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

Also at what age are they not considered a hatchling?

When they reach 12 months, they are called a yearling. After that is juvenile.