sulcata tips

[Debora]

Hi, Im very excited, im gonna get a 3 months old Sulcata this week, I would love some tips for a new Sulcata owner.

Thanks

DEB

 

[lismar79]

Get one of these! I use mine every day.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CVHIJDK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Debora]

Get one of these! I use mine every day.
http://www.amazon.com/Nubee®-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416869751&sr=8-1&keywords=temperature gun

 

[Debora]

To chech the enclosure temp?, you prefer that one than the ones that you leave inside the enclosure to know the temp and humidity?

What about the lighting i bought a 125 watts powersun (uvb and heat include) bulb? Is that enough?

 

[Maro2Bear]

Hi, Im very excited, im gonna get a 3 months old Sulcata this week, I would love some tips for a new Sulcata owner.

Thanks

DEB

Welcome and good luck! Go to the sulcata section on here and read everything twice maybe three times; read all of Tom's sully info links; don't get any info from pet stores; don't use sand or rabbit pellets as substrate; don't buy water bowls, use terra cotta plant saucers instead; get your enclosure all set up today and monitor all your temps and other externals now BEFORE ur sully arrives; high heat and high humidity; get urself good temperature and hygrometer gauges, not cheap ones from pet stores. Adapt your enclosure to your conditions. Soak your new guy daily in nice warm bath. Offer wide variety of sulcata approved food; start off with proper lights; include cuttlefish bone for calcium. Ask questions!

 

[Debora]

Cypress mulch as bedding and soil under the hide, to have humidity and cold temp, good idea?

 

[lismar79]

That tool helps spot check your entire enclosure since the other is stationary. I like reptibark and coir better than cyress...most cypress is sold as "cypress blend" which contains pine. Pine is toxic to torts so be carefull.

 

[Debora]

I bought the mulch in the pet store, said 100% cypress mulch, reptile bedding. What about the lighting?

 

[lismar79]

Depends on the size of your enclosure. I like the power sun lights myself. What are you using for night heat? These work great:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQCPK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Debora]

125 watts powersun zoo med bulb, for day, for night i thought it was enough to have this bulb on at least 12 hours daily?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Deb, and welcome to the Forum!

125 watts might be too big. I only use 100 watt bulbs in my baby habitats.

 

[lismar79]

125 watts powersun zoo med bulb, for day, for night i thought it was enough to have this bulb on at least 12 hours daily?

You will still leave it on 12-14 hrs but will most likely need a night heat as well. Babies need high humidity and cold and wet will make him sick.

 

[Tom]

#1 TIP: Buy from the right source. Most people don't start their babies correctly and a lot of them die weeks or months down the road. Read this BEFORE you buy: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

How to house and care for them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

What to feed them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

What not to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Outdoor sunning ideas:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/


Please understand that these are NOT desert animals. Captive dry conditions will desiccate their shells and can damage their internal organs.

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and Welcome to the forum. Just read through the thread that Tom provided above, you will be pretty much on the right track.

Welcome.

 

[Debora]

My enclosure size is 4ft long and 2 1/2 wide, I bought a 125 watts power sun bulb, but it looks like is not enough, the temp dont increase more than 82 °, what you recommend, another heat bulb or a heat mat?

Deb

Welcome and good luck! Go to the sulcata section on here and read everything twice maybe three times; read all of Tom's sully info links; don't get any info from pet stores; don't use sand or rabbit pellets as substrate; don't buy water bowls, use terra cotta plant saucers instead; get your enclosure all set up today and monitor all your temps and other externals now BEFORE ur sully arrives; high heat and high humidity; get urself good temperature and hygrometer gauges, not cheap ones from pet stores. Adapt your enclosure to your conditions. Soak your new guy daily in nice warm bath. Offer wide variety of sulcata approved food; start off with proper lights; include cuttlefish bone for calcium. Ask questions!

 

[Tom]

82 where? There are four temps to know and adjust. Warm side, cool side, basking area and over night low. Where is it 82?

You can lower your fixture, raise the wattage, add more bulbs, or add a CHE set on a thermostat to maintain ambient temps.

 

[Debora]

Im so confused that I want to cry!

82 in the warm side, I know that is awful.

I know about the cool side, I have the house, in the cool side. The other two, im clueless.

Deb

 

[lismar79]

Basking area 95-100, cool side low 80's, warm side high 80's night temp also 80's. A che ( ceramic heat emitter, the no light bulb in the link I gave you) will help you raise your temps.