i was wondering what i would need if i got a just hatched star.... like food, encloser,substrate, heat, humitity or not?, anything and everthing pls. i was told that newspaper is best till till they are about 6 months but idk.
star hatchling info pls
- Thread starter bigwhitemonster
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Jerry Fife wrote a good book on star tortoises. http://www.fifereptiles.com/
I have a pair a sri lankan hatchlings that are doing well.
I feed mine: grass, hibiscus leaves/flowers, honeysuckle flowers, dandelion greens, spring mix, & mazuri tortoise diet. I sprinkle a little vitamins on once a week or two and calcium every few days. I have 2 pieces of cuttle bone laying around also.
At first, I kept mine in a 5ft tupperware but I switched them to a 20 gal aquarium recently since it was a little easier to manage them in it. I use a ceramic heat emitter on one side and I would recommend a UVB light (though I don't use one since I take my tortoises outside on a daily basis). Keep the star tortoises dry and warm, but do keep a humid hide. I keep mine on newspaper with grass/alfafa on one side for substrate.
I would highly recommend reading Jerry Fife's book.
These are also good reads:
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Geleganscare.htm
http://www.startortoiseuk.co.uk/trade.asp
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/celegans.html
I have a pair a sri lankan hatchlings that are doing well.
I feed mine: grass, hibiscus leaves/flowers, honeysuckle flowers, dandelion greens, spring mix, & mazuri tortoise diet. I sprinkle a little vitamins on once a week or two and calcium every few days. I have 2 pieces of cuttle bone laying around also.
At first, I kept mine in a 5ft tupperware but I switched them to a 20 gal aquarium recently since it was a little easier to manage them in it. I use a ceramic heat emitter on one side and I would recommend a UVB light (though I don't use one since I take my tortoises outside on a daily basis). Keep the star tortoises dry and warm, but do keep a humid hide. I keep mine on newspaper with grass/alfafa on one side for substrate.
I would highly recommend reading Jerry Fife's book.
These are also good reads:
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Geleganscare.htm
http://www.startortoiseuk.co.uk/trade.asp
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/celegans.html
thank you very much
M
mikekarsey
Guest
Hey Bigwhitemonster,
This tortoise occurs in semi-arid, thorny and grassland habitats. It is also found in some regions featuring a higher level of precipitation. Not surprisingly, given its propensity for grassland habitats it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favours the fruit and pads of the prickly pear (Opuntia sp.), succulents and thistles. It captivity it is a common error to feed too much 'wet' food such as lettuce, tomatoes and fruit; in reality this tortoise requires a coarse, high fibre diet. Feeding excessive fruit or 'soft' foods frequently leads to repeated flagellate and other gut problems such as colic, most probably as a result of increased gut motility. Star tortoises will graze happily on lawn grass if presented with the opportunity and this seems to prevent most such problems at source. Meat products should never be given to Star tortoises, nor should high protein vegetables such as beans feature regularly in the diet. This invariably leads to excessive growth, poor bone formation, dangerously high blood-urea levels, bladder 'stones' and liver problems. Their demand for calcium and mineral trace elements is high. Use of a supplement is critical - especially with juveniles and egg-laying females. This species will do well if allowed to roam a well planted tropical garden. Access to natural sunlight must always be provided, but take care not to allow the animal to overheat. Shade is equally essential. If kept indoors, an oral vitamin D3 supplement must be given, alternatively, use high output UV-B full spectrum tubes and change them regularly. Star tortoises like to drink and soak in shallow water, so always ensure that a clean bathing and drinking tray is provided. Do not mix with other species, as Star tortoises have proved very susceptible to catching diseases from other tortoises, even if those tortoises appear healthy themselves. Please consult our other caresheets on diet, health, and housing for further information on caring for this species.
This tortoise occurs in semi-arid, thorny and grassland habitats. It is also found in some regions featuring a higher level of precipitation. Not surprisingly, given its propensity for grassland habitats it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favours the fruit and pads of the prickly pear (Opuntia sp.), succulents and thistles. It captivity it is a common error to feed too much 'wet' food such as lettuce, tomatoes and fruit; in reality this tortoise requires a coarse, high fibre diet. Feeding excessive fruit or 'soft' foods frequently leads to repeated flagellate and other gut problems such as colic, most probably as a result of increased gut motility. Star tortoises will graze happily on lawn grass if presented with the opportunity and this seems to prevent most such problems at source. Meat products should never be given to Star tortoises, nor should high protein vegetables such as beans feature regularly in the diet. This invariably leads to excessive growth, poor bone formation, dangerously high blood-urea levels, bladder 'stones' and liver problems. Their demand for calcium and mineral trace elements is high. Use of a supplement is critical - especially with juveniles and egg-laying females. This species will do well if allowed to roam a well planted tropical garden. Access to natural sunlight must always be provided, but take care not to allow the animal to overheat. Shade is equally essential. If kept indoors, an oral vitamin D3 supplement must be given, alternatively, use high output UV-B full spectrum tubes and change them regularly. Star tortoises like to drink and soak in shallow water, so always ensure that a clean bathing and drinking tray is provided. Do not mix with other species, as Star tortoises have proved very susceptible to catching diseases from other tortoises, even if those tortoises appear healthy themselves. Please consult our other caresheets on diet, health, and housing for further information on caring for this species.
Mikekarsey: Your last line states for us to please consult your other care sheets. What care sheets are you talking about?
Oh, never mind. I just found the article on the Tortoise Trust web site. Copy/pasted from there to here. Which is fine, however you really should give them credit when you use their information.
Oh, never mind. I just found the article on the Tortoise Trust web site. Copy/pasted from there to here. Which is fine, however you really should give them credit when you use their information.
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