Sulcata hatchling indoor setup help

[Christina673]

Hi there,

Was searching for this answer but couldn’t find it so hoping someone could help me out. A little background before I get to my question… I was gifted a sulcata hatchling yesterday. The person who gifted him to me was very sweet and knew I have been eyeing them for years but doesn’t know much about these guys and just got whatever the guys at the reptile store recommended. The reptile store sold the enclosure with reptisoil and no one knew that the enclosure that was sold didn’t have a lid.

So I’m working with a low boy glass tank with reptisoil in it with no top. No one around me sells anything I can use to make the habitat better immediately. So knowing that I went online and ordered some orchid bark, and a top as well as some better food and water dishes (not the sloped plastic ones)

The top and the orchid bark will be here later this week and I’m going to have to make do with this tank until I can either order or build a enclosed tank/cage in order to keep humidity levels up without me going in 12 times a day to mist everything down.

Now to my question, should I remove the reptisoil and just keep paper towels down or something until the orchid bark comes in? Or is it okay until the bark comes in and I can fix the set up? Also, due to the system currently, in order to keep humidity levels up would anyone recommend a misting system similar to what you’d use with chameleons until I can get an closed off enclosure in and set up? I want to make sure I’m giving this guy everything I can to make his start more successful.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello and welcome!
1. I would use Reptisoil for a few days. While you should be cautious about bagged soils, ZooMed Reptisoil seems to be more or less okay (people keep sensitive amphibians and invertebrates on it without trouble). However, I would replace it with orchid bark when it arrives (just because soil is organic-rich and prone to mold and gets muddy when wet enough).

2. To keep humidity high you can close tank top with a saran wrap (cling film) or tin foil. Not ideal, but working solution. Make sure that foil firmly wraps around lightning and heating fixtures.

3. You can check gardening/farming supplies stores nearby: they might have greenhouse tops, plastic planter boxes, food troughs, large storage bins etc that you can repurpose for tortoise enclosure. PVC pipes and thick plastic film can be used to make a DIY cover of desired size.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Christina673]

Hello and welcome!
1. I would use Reptisoil for a few days. While you should be cautious about bagged soils, ZooMed Reptisoil seems to be more or less okay (people keep sensitive amphibians and invertebrates on it without trouble). However, I would replace it with orchid bark when it arrives (just because soil is organic-rich and prone to mold and gets muddy when wet enough).

2. To keep humidity high you can close tank top with a saran wrap (cling film) or tin foil. Not ideal, but working solution. Make sure that foil firmly wraps around lightning and heating fixtures.

3. You can check gardening/farming supplies stores nearby: they might have greenhouse tops, plastic planter boxes, food troughs, large storage bins etc that you can repurpose for tortoise enclosure. PVC pipes and thick plastic film can be used to make a DIY cover of desired size.

Thank you! Yes, I noticed that the soil was very much becoming a muddy mess on top but staying dry at the bottom. I’m not a fan for the reptisoil in this case, but I’m glad to know it won’t harm him while I’m waiting for the orchid bark in.

I am currently using tin foil to help keep the humidity in, and I agree definitely not ideal and while it does help keep humidity at around 76% without constant misting, from what I can tell on this forum that isn’t nearly high enough long term correct?

Oh I didn’t think about using a large storage bin… you are talking about those large like Rubbermaid bins that are heavy duty correct? I’m about 1 1/2- 2 hours away from the closest store so I’ll have to make a trip to see what they have.

Thank you so much for your reply!

 

[Christina673]

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you so much!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Thank you! Yes, I noticed that the soil was very much becoming a muddy mess on top but staying dry at the bottom. I’m not a fan for the reptisoil in this case, but I’m glad to know it won’t harm him while I’m waiting for the orchid bark in.

I am currently using tin foil to help keep the humidity in, and I agree definitely not ideal and while it does help keep humidity at around 76% without constant misting, from what I can tell on this forum that isn’t nearly high enough long term correct?

Oh I didn’t think about using a large storage bin… you are talking about those large like Rubbermaid bins that are heavy duty correct? I’m about 1 1/2- 2 hours away from the closest store so I’ll have to make a trip to see what they have.

Thank you so much for your reply!

This thread showcases what you can do with a storage bin:

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Christina673]

This thread showcases what you can do with a storage bin:

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

This is great! Thank you again!

 

[Maggie3fan]

This thread showcases what you can do with a storage bin:

How to make a closed-chamber baby habitat out of a 55gal Sterilite bin

Since several folks have asked about how to make a closed chamber baby enclosure out of a 55gal Sterilite tote, here are some pics and description of how I do. This is not the most beautiful option, but since the babies will only be in here for 9-12 months, I'm okay with that. My own Russian...

tortoiseforum.org

Please show her a green house for me...I don't have time...

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Please show her a green house for me...I don't have time...

Yes, greenhouses are a cheap option to provide a large closed chamber set up. Here is a photo collage by @Littleredfootbigredheart

Visual inspiration

Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Great answers already! I’ll add these links too

I made this thread based on the forums care information and added visual aids, it covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises(only way to maintain the humidity you need, I wouldn’t recommend using humidifiers), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out! I go over a greenhouse style set up here, but there’s definitely more efficient options out there, some covered in the ‘visual inspiration’ link above

Leopard/sulcata starter

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information below on how I’d personally tackle an indoor starter set up for a leopard/sulcata until they’re bigger. Hopefully it helps give people some ideas!” I know it looks like a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is good to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Hope they help!

 

[Christina673]

Great answers already! I’ll add these links too

I made this thread based on the forums care information and added visual aids, it covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises(only way to maintain the humidity you need, I wouldn’t recommend using humidifiers), appropriately maintaining the humidity, safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, and a really handy diet link to check out! I go over a greenhouse style set up here, but there’s definitely more efficient options out there, some covered in the ‘visual inspiration’ link above

Leopard/sulcata starter

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information below on how I’d personally tackle an indoor starter set up for a leopard/sulcata until they’re bigger. Hopefully it helps give people some ideas!” I know it looks like a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered...

tortoiseforum.org

Lastly, this one here is good to go over and keep on hand, it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

Hope they help!

Wow! This is great! Thank you so much!