Say Hi, to Norman
- Thread starter Ghostorchid
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TeamZissou
Well-Known Member
Welcome and congrats. A sulcata is a huge commitment.
Here's the care sheet for them in case you haven't seen it.
tortoiseforum.org
Here are some good picture threads showing a healthy 1 and 2 year old:
tortoiseforum.org
tortoiseforum.org
Here's the care sheet for them in case you haven't seen it.
The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...
tortoiseforum.org
Here are some good picture threads showing a healthy 1 and 2 year old:
Donald is One Year Old
Donald hatched during the first week of August 2019, not sure of the exact day though. So for his first Birthday I gave him a cactus feeder He loved it and ate 3 pads today along with everything else.He measures a tad under 9 inches and weighed in today at 4 pounds 7.7oz
tortoiseforum.org
Donald is 2 Years Old
He is doing fine. We didn't do anything special to celebrate the occasion, he's spoiled enough already. Some pics from yesterday and today.He is 16 3/4 inches and weighs 26 pounds 10 oz He must be content where he is. The barrier at one end of his enclosure is just a 5/4 x 6 decking board. and...
tortoiseforum.org
hi and welcome
Ghostorchid
New Member
Thank you.Welcome and congrats. A sulcata is a huge commitment.
Here's the care sheet for them in case you haven't seen it.
The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...
Here are some good picture threads showing a healthy 1 and 2 year old:
Donald is One Year Old
Donald hatched during the first week of August 2019, not sure of the exact day though. So for his first Birthday I gave him a cactus feeder He loved it and ate 3 pads today along with everything else.He measures a tad under 9 inches and weighed in today at 4 pounds 7.7ozDonald is 2 Years Old
He is doing fine. We didn't do anything special to celebrate the occasion, he's spoiled enough already. Some pics from yesterday and today.He is 16 3/4 inches and weighs 26 pounds 10 oz He must be content where he is. The barrier at one end of his enclosure is just a 5/4 x 6 decking board. and...
Welcome from a fellow sully owner.
Norman is a beauty! Sullies are a big commitment especially in cold weather areas. Make sure you soak Norman everyday in warm water. The depth of the water should be where the carapace (top shell) and plastron ( bottom shell meet. Keep him soaking for 1/2 hr and water stays warm the whole time. A picture of your setup would be great. So we can suggest any changes. The info you get at pet stores is usually all wrong.
A completely enclosed setup is necessary to hold in heat and humidity. If you notice Norman's scutes ( the individual sections of the shell) are starting to get raised individually. That is called pyramiding and extreme pyramiding is not healthy for Norman. His is very minimal but without 80% humidity it can get worse. Goggle tortoise pyramiding and you will see some extreme examples. Since Norman is so small. Getting him in a humid environment you can stop the pyramiding.
Good luck, read the caresheets and ask questions. We are here to help you.
PS. Don't feed Norman fruit.
Norman is a beauty! Sullies are a big commitment especially in cold weather areas. Make sure you soak Norman everyday in warm water. The depth of the water should be where the carapace (top shell) and plastron ( bottom shell meet. Keep him soaking for 1/2 hr and water stays warm the whole time. A picture of your setup would be great. So we can suggest any changes. The info you get at pet stores is usually all wrong.
A completely enclosed setup is necessary to hold in heat and humidity. If you notice Norman's scutes ( the individual sections of the shell) are starting to get raised individually. That is called pyramiding and extreme pyramiding is not healthy for Norman. His is very minimal but without 80% humidity it can get worse. Goggle tortoise pyramiding and you will see some extreme examples. Since Norman is so small. Getting him in a humid environment you can stop the pyramiding.
Good luck, read the caresheets and ask questions. We are here to help you.
PS. Don't feed Norman fruit.
Bridgebob
Active Member
You may have to put Norman in your will.
I did with my Eastern Box Turtle. I know she will out live me.
Hello and welcome.
Start thinking about how you are going to house a tropical giant that needs huge warm walking areas throughout your cold winters. Or start planning your move to a warmer area to the south. As you can see from the threads that Team Zissou linked, your baby will be very large in a short amount of time.
Bridgebob
Active Member
The heat lamp I found are restaraunt heat lamps. Sort of pricey but built like tanks and very easy to adjust. Mine will easily heat a 4'×2' wood enclosure with a single 250 watt bulb. Be careful these get very hot. My EBT loves it.
That type of infrared bulb should not be used over turtles or tortoises. The red light messes with their little minds in several ways. They should have white light for day time and darkness at night.
Bridgebob
Active Member
Yeah she does go crazy with it. I can get a specialty reptile heat light. She loves heat!
I have an LED light for UV and darkness.
Bridgebob
Active Member
they have specialty reptile basking lights so I will get one and it will fit perfectly in this light.
I will use this light in the mean time.
The light fixture is built like a main battle tank.
I will use this light in the mean time.
The light fixture is built like a main battle tank.
You don't need a reptile bulb. Just a regular flood bulb from the hardware store for basking. Hang the fixture from over head and adjust the height to get the correct temperature under it. I usually start with a 65 watt, but some big open enclosure will need higher wattage bulbs.
The LED is great for more ambient day light.
At night, A CHE controlled by a thermostat is a good way to go if you need more ambient heat.
Bridgebob
Active Member
This 'lamp food monster' is 250 watts!
It will take much lower wattages though.
The thermostat and LED controls have to wait.
Bridgebob
Active Member
I'm wary about letting them out of there space. I'm afraid they will try to hide which can be dangerous. But with a big tortoise it might not be a problem
My EBT knows she has to go in her pond. I can't imagine large tortoise poop all over the house.
My EBT knows she has to go in her pond. I can't imagine large tortoise poop all over the house.
Welcome to the Forum, Victoria!
Bridgebob
Active Member
My Eastern Box Turtle isn't near as hard to take care of as a Sulcatta.
They will eat anything! Dead rodents, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, decaying fruit.
When they get older they become more vegan. Although my EBT does not like greens now.
I was told that the desert Tortoise in the American Southwest can not even be handled by law. The stress kills them.
They will eat anything! Dead rodents, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, decaying fruit.
When they get older they become more vegan. Although my EBT does not like greens now.
I was told that the desert Tortoise in the American Southwest can not even be handled by law. The stress kills them.
