Devious Rhesus
New Member
Hello all! Longtime listener, first time caller.
Last December, I purchased 4 baby Sulcata tortoises from a reptile show in Houston, which were hatched by Texas Tortoises and Exotics. They have been active, eating, and excreting since day one.
I’ve also weighed and measured them on Wednesday each week. One seems to grow quite rapidly, two slow but consistent, and one has not grown a millimeter. On the chart below, ignore the slight carapace length increase - I changed how I measure with my calipers:
Their habitat is a closed top “Christmas tree box,” which is approximately 50” by 20”. This is temporary housing until the weather warms in Texas and we can move them outdoors most of the time (inside barn, heat boxes, etc, supervised outdoor pen time until large enough to have free access.
The lighting is a full length LED fixture, an incandescent bulb over a rock for basking, a T5 fluorescent UV bulb (Arcadia). There are also 2 x 120 watt ceramic heat emitters hooked up to a thermostat.
Night temps are 80-85 degrees and 85-90% humidity. Day temps are 85 on the area away from basking, 95 on the side with basking, and 105 directly beneath the lamp. Humidity drops through the day into the 70’s until I spray it all down in the evening. Was maintaining above 80%, but we’ve finally got dry weather here! One of the tortoises arrived with slight pyramiding, but the new growth, however slight, is much smoother.
Tortoises are getting daily soaks. Water is present at all times. Food is available at all times, but is freshened twice per day. Food is escolar, arugula, yard weeds, ground up Mazuri, and a tablespoon of Kapidolo Farms dried plants from a rotating menu.
The one that grows rapidly is an absolute pig. One of the ones in the middle eats a small portion then naps. The other middle tortoise eats, leaves, and returns a few times. The smallest does eat, but spends most of his time in the food bowl sitting in the middle of it not consuming. His stools are also soft compared to his stablemates, but not runny.
I’ve included pictures below of the tortoises and their habitat, and would appreciate any feedback you might have on next steps. There are extra pictures of the smallest (split scute port side aft). I’m concerned since it’s unusual for any tortoise to go a month with no growth, especially a Sulcata!! Thanks in advance!
Last December, I purchased 4 baby Sulcata tortoises from a reptile show in Houston, which were hatched by Texas Tortoises and Exotics. They have been active, eating, and excreting since day one.
I’ve also weighed and measured them on Wednesday each week. One seems to grow quite rapidly, two slow but consistent, and one has not grown a millimeter. On the chart below, ignore the slight carapace length increase - I changed how I measure with my calipers:
Their habitat is a closed top “Christmas tree box,” which is approximately 50” by 20”. This is temporary housing until the weather warms in Texas and we can move them outdoors most of the time (inside barn, heat boxes, etc, supervised outdoor pen time until large enough to have free access.
The lighting is a full length LED fixture, an incandescent bulb over a rock for basking, a T5 fluorescent UV bulb (Arcadia). There are also 2 x 120 watt ceramic heat emitters hooked up to a thermostat.
Night temps are 80-85 degrees and 85-90% humidity. Day temps are 85 on the area away from basking, 95 on the side with basking, and 105 directly beneath the lamp. Humidity drops through the day into the 70’s until I spray it all down in the evening. Was maintaining above 80%, but we’ve finally got dry weather here! One of the tortoises arrived with slight pyramiding, but the new growth, however slight, is much smoother.
Tortoises are getting daily soaks. Water is present at all times. Food is available at all times, but is freshened twice per day. Food is escolar, arugula, yard weeds, ground up Mazuri, and a tablespoon of Kapidolo Farms dried plants from a rotating menu.
The one that grows rapidly is an absolute pig. One of the ones in the middle eats a small portion then naps. The other middle tortoise eats, leaves, and returns a few times. The smallest does eat, but spends most of his time in the food bowl sitting in the middle of it not consuming. His stools are also soft compared to his stablemates, but not runny.
I’ve included pictures below of the tortoises and their habitat, and would appreciate any feedback you might have on next steps. There are extra pictures of the smallest (split scute port side aft). I’m concerned since it’s unusual for any tortoise to go a month with no growth, especially a Sulcata!! Thanks in advance!
and then.....they will turn into massive tanks.... Hope they all get better and stronger.
in the food or water dish.
