Should I add another tortoise to my enclosure?

[Darrell1738]

Hey everyone! I have a few questions regarding this exact topic! So I recently adopted a baby sulcata tortoise Mahoney. Mahoney is around a month old, and when I got him he had a smaller tortoise with him. The smaller sulcata has a different pattern on its shell. The cage I have is plenty of room for Mahoney, and could easily house 2 baby sulcatas. But I was wondering if that was a good idea or not? Mahoney has already shown progress since I got him. He had what looked like minor pyramiding, and since bringing him home, I've been soaking him for 30 minutes every morning, and his cage humidity stays at around 67-75%. My question is how does my enclosure compare to others? And since the other tortoise and Mahoney have been roommates before and lived together up until the time I got Mahoney, since my cage is as large as it is, would it be ok for me to adopt the other tortoise too? I just want it to have the proper care provided. Also the basking spot in the cage stays around 103• and the rest of the cage has a temp ranging from 80-72 depending on how far from the bulbs heat reaches.

 

[cmacusa3]

Hey everyone! I have a few questions regarding this exact topic! So I recently adopted a baby sulcata tortoise Mahoney. Mahoney is around a month old, and when I got him he had a smaller tortoise with him. The smaller sulcata has a different pattern on its shell. The cage I have is plenty of room for Mahoney, and could easily house 2 baby sulcatas. But I was wondering if that was a good idea or not? Mahoney has already shown progress since I got him. He had

its not recommend. Problem is bullying is very tough to spot at first and when you actually catch it, it could be too late and damage could be done.. Also you should never put them together without a 6 month to a year quarantine anyway. 2 torts mean 2 enclosures.

Also that cage is not going to hold the heat and humidity needed.

 

[Darrell1738]

Mahoney is the larger baby! The smaller is the other tortoise. If I do adopt it, I think her name is gonna be Pip! Thanks everyone!

 

[cmacusa3]

Temps between 80-72 will not work. Also that larger one is older than a month. Have you looked at any of the care sheets on the site?
I think you should start a new thread and ask a ton of questions. @Darrell1738

 

[Darrell1738]

its not recommend. Problem is bullying is very tough to spot at first and when you actually catch it, it could be too late and damage could be done.. Also you should never put them together without a 6 month to a year quarantine anyway. 2 torts mean 2 enclosures.

Also that cage is not going to hold the heat and humidity needed.

I keep a fairly large heating pad under the whole side of the enclosure that doesn't have the heat bulb on it keeping the substrate at about 85• and the humidity stays pretty up there as I do most the cage every morning and it stays at around 72%

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Mahoney is the larger baby! The smaller is the other tortoise. If I do adopt it, I think her name is gonna be Pip! Thanks everyone!

The lamps should point directly downwards for maximum efficiency and to extend their lifespans. If you are using coiled or compact bulbs change them for an MVB (mercury vapour bulb) which gives heat, light and UVB in one , or a strip UVB bulb plus basking lamp. Coiled bulbs have been known to cause eye damage in tortoises and often don't provide the required UVB anyway.
Read http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
as well as http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

 

[Darrell1738]

Temps between 80-72 will not work. Also that larger one is older than a month. Have you looked at any of the care sheets on the site?
I think you should start a new thread and ask a ton of questions. @Darrell1738

I've read a whole lot on this forum. I was told Mahoney was about a month old. His basking area (the big black flat rock area and surrounding area) stays at 103 degrees and the temp rescedes the further he gets from the cage but never less than 70 degrees and that's at night. Everything I've read says that that is a good range of temps to provide, so you don't cook your tortoise. I understand they come from a vey hot environment but since they burrow to escape the heat, and I can't really mimic his burrow behavior inside, I think the ability to cool down if he needs to is a good thing. Thanks for the information though, will def keep looking for ways to improve his life!

 

[Darrell1738]

The lamps should point directly downwards for maximum efficiency and to extend their lifespans. If you are using coiled or compact bulbs change them for an MVB (mercury vapour bulb) which gives heat, light and UVB in one , or a strip UVB bulb plus basking lamp. Coiled bulbs have been known to cause eye damage in tortoises and often don't provide the required UVB anyway.
Read http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
as well as http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

I've read about the eye damage from those bulbs, and the good news is he had one of the bar lights coming in Friday, and the spiral bulb will be retired Friday! And the bulbs do usually point straight down, the cage has a lid that I took off, to take better pics! Thanks for letting me know about slanting the bulbs though!

 

[Darrell1738]

The lamps should point directly downwards for maximum efficiency and to extend their lifespans. If you are using coiled or compact bulbs change them for an MVB (mercury vapour bulb) which gives heat, light and UVB in one , or a strip UVB bulb plus basking lamp. Coiled bulbs have been known to cause eye damage in tortoises and often don't provide the required UVB anyway.
Read http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
as well as http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

Also thanks for the links!

 

[cmacusa3]

I've read a whole lot on this forum. I was told Mahoney was about a month old. His basking area (the big black flat rock area and surrounding area) stays at 103 degrees and the temp rescedes the further he gets from the cage but never less than 70 degrees and that's at night. Everything I've read says that that is a good range of temps to provide, so you don't cook your tortoise. I understand they come from a vey hot environment but since they burrow to escape the heat, and I can't really mimic his burrow behavior inside, I think the ability to cool down if he needs to is a good thing. Thanks for the information though, will def keep looking for ways to improve his life!

I really advise you to read those threads and rethink things. You want high humidity and that requires temps above 80 at all times or you will end up with torts that catch RI

 

[Darrell1738]

Also in regards to the other tortoise, if I do decide to adopt it I will get another enclosure for it. The general consences you guys have come to tells me to get Mahoney a new cage, would it be better to build the cage myself, or do you guys have a certain cage in mind? I want to stay away from aquariums.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I've read about the eye damage from those bulbs, and the good news is he had one of the bar lights coming in Friday, and the spiral bulb will be retired Friday! And the bulbs do usually point straight down, the cage has a lid that I took off, to take better pics! Thanks for letting me know about slanting the bulbs though!

The temps shouldn't drop below 80 and neither should the humidity, during the day temps in the 90s are fine, this will not cook your tortoise.

 

[Darrell1738]

I really advise you to read those threads and rethink things. You want high humidity and that requires temps above 80 at all times or you will end up with torts that catch RI

Also I am getting a

The temps shouldn't drop below 80 and neither should the humidity, during the day temps in the 90s are fine, this will not cook your tortoise.

half of his cage stays at 103 while the other have dips down to the 80's in the substrate. So he does have the option of a cooler retreat. I'm going to keep reading forums on here, thanks for the info!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Also in regards to the other tortoise, if I do decide to adopt it I will get another enclosure for it. The general consences you guys have come to tells me to get Mahoney a new cage, would it be better to build the cage myself, or do you guys have a certain cage in mind? I want to stay away from aquariums.

Cages are no good for maintaining temps and humidity.
read the closed chamber link.
Terrariums / aquariums are fine, the trouble is getting one big enough, but they're good for starting young tortoises before you upgrade to something bigger. Making your own is often the best way.

 

[cmacusa3]

I agree with the above, the set up looks great you just need to figure out a way to close it up.

 

[Yvonne G]

I have two things to add - Since the other tortoise has a different shell pattern chances are good it isn't a sulcata, and you should never mix species. And, it's impossible to keep the warm, humid air inside and the cooler, dry air from the house out in an open guinea pig cage like you're using. Figure out a way to cover the whole thing.

 

[Darrell1738]

I agree with the above, the set up looks great you just need to figure out a way to close it up.

Alright thanks guys!

 

[Darrell1738]

I have two things to add - Since the other tortoise has a different shell pattern chances are good it isn't a sulcata, and you should never mix species. And, it's impossible to keep the warm, humid air inside and the cooler, dry air from the house out in an open guinea pig cage like you're using. Figure out a way to cover the whole thing.

I think I'm just going to build a whole new enclosure. Easier to pick the size and not as costly as a large enough tank. I chose the cage I did because of the space. Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[Yvonne G]

Also in regards to the other tortoise, if I do decide to adopt it I will get another enclosure for it. The general consences you guys have come to tells me to get Mahoney a new cage, would it be better to build the cage myself, or do you guys have a certain cage in mind? I want to stay away from aquariums.

For babies, a large plastic tote works just fine. You can even keep the lid and cut holes for the lights. Take a look here:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/chambers-my-take-of-the-idea.77044/#post-719392

 

[cmacusa3]

I have two things to add - Since the other tortoise has a different shell pattern chances are good it isn't a sulcata, and you should never mix species. And, it's impossible to keep the warm, humid air inside and the cooler, dry air from the house out in an open guinea pig cage like you're using. Figure out a way to cover the whole thing.

Both look like sulcatas, one just has dots in the scutes.