hello! I have 2 sulcata tortoises that are 7 months old.. And I'm having a really tough time trying to find a solution to my water bowl problem.. My babies are to small to crawl into anything with deep sides.. And I'm terrified there going to fall in or even out and flip over.. But I can't keep putting them in the water bowl and watching till there done several times during the day due to working.. Any suggestions ?
Sulcata Tortoise
- Thread starter Lyssa242
- Start date
Put rocks in the bowl ? Enough so they can't get in trouble but not so much that they can't easily drink.
The rocks will need to be washed too...but as silly as it sounds to wash rocks...it's not much more work.
The rocks will need to be washed too...but as silly as it sounds to wash rocks...it's not much more work.
I tried rocks inside the bowl which works great but they can't get into the bowl.. I also read on here that someone tried using a roller paint tray.. Which I thought was a great idea.. But it's so slippery that they just slide down and can't get out..
If you use a clay terra cotta saucer (the flat bowls that go under a plant pot) you'll solve your problem.
Sink it into the substrate so the lip is level with the substrate.
I've used these (along with many others) with fresh hatchlings to grown torts...it'll work for you, too.
Sink it into the substrate so the lip is level with the substrate.
I've used these (along with many others) with fresh hatchlings to grown torts...it'll work for you, too.
See...
And they are so cute too.
Why are you putting them in the water bowl and watching them several times a day?
Terra cotta saucers used the way Heather described work well for all ages of sulcatas. I use them for brand new hatchlings for food and water.
Are they living in there own enclosures? They don't do well in pairs.
Check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
Thank you, I will try clay terra cotta saucer..
I was putting them in the bowl for them to drink because I couldn't find a solution for them to be able to get water that wouldn't make me worry about them falling in or tipping over. And yes there living together and have since they were born.. I didn't know they weren't good in pairs.. I spent about 3 months doing research on them before buying them and never once read about them not doing well in pairs.. Can you give me more information on that? Thank you all for all of your help
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...together-a-lesson-learned-the-hard-way.94114/
If you do a search you will find many more threads on this topic.
You should be soaking them daily. I use a tall sided opaque tub with warm water about half way up their shell. I soak them for about 20-30 minutes and keep the water warm the whole time in whatever way works best for you.
You are not alone here. I did the same thing a little over two decades ago, and many people do exactly what you did and probably found a lot of the same info. Here is the problem: We have been caring for this species all wrong since the late 80s. All the books, vets, breeders, and "experts" have been giving out the wrong care info for decades. I used to be one of them. We've learned a lot in the last few years and we've figured out what this species really needs and why.
I hope you enjoy these threads:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/
Feel free to ask any and all questions. If something doesn't sound right, or if it isn't explained well, ask for more info. We are all here to talk tortoises.
