Oh I know! How can you say no to such an adorable face? ;D I'm always so happy to read about captive animals being spoiled! It's an art form creating a domestic habit that so closely resembles their native habitat, and I never get tired of all the ideas.
I think these ideas are anything but little
Thank you so much for the updates, I am learning so much from all you've done, and enjoying the story along the way!
Being in Minnesota, it is even more of a challenge to try and replicate their native habitat, and the bigger he gets the more work it will require, but as you said, with a face like that how can I say no?Oh I know! How can you say no to such an adorable face? ;D I'm always so happy to read about captive animals being spoiled! It's an art form creating a domestic habit that so closely resembles their native habitat, and I never get tired of all the ideas.
Also, I'm quite sure you've mentioned before, but how deep are your layers of dirt in each section of the tortoise mansion? I'm starting to get pretty jealous of the greenhouse idea!
If we didn't have the separate boxes with different temps I would be concerned about that kind of brutal, dry heat, but the middle box was at 78 degrees (the MVB wasn't on in that one yet, and the CHE in that one is on a timer set to go on mostly overnight to maintain lower temps, rather than a thermostat like the desert box) and the greenhouse was at 82 with 85% humidity, so it is easy enough for him to choose what he is in the mood for.So far I have avoided buying any mixes, none of them that I have found specifically list the ingredients, and with all the misinformation on sully care I can't help but worry that the mixes may have something that isn't good for him or maybe just have good items in incorrect or unhealthy amounts. With me buying all the seeds individually I can control how much of each plant I will have, (for example, 5-10 radish seeds for every handful of grass seed). I can also reseed specific items that he mows down when he has a craving for one particular thing or stop seeding for things he isn't currently munching.
Great thread! Love your work! Wish I was as handy...but we at least have Texas climate in our favor so outdoor enclosure is a plan for my grand-tort-babies once they get bigger and I'll get some help with the hide box. With very short winter our babies will enjoy the back yard almost full time and we'll figure something out for the few cold days we get here. But I just wanted to say how impressed I am with your work! Wow! Awesome! Love what you've done with Odin's new home, loved all the pictures, and Odin looks like a king of a castle. Your cats are beautiful. I have 3 of those (full time indoors) and love them to pieces. Thank you for sharing your building experience with us. Great learning opportunity for so many of us!Odin is settling in nicely and seems pretty pleased with the set-up! This morning I checked in on him before I left for work and he was chilling in the desert box under the basking light that I temped at a steamy 112 degrees!
So far I have avoided buying any mixes, none of them that I have found specifically list the ingredients, and with all the misinformation on sully care I can't help but worry that the mixes may have something that isn't good for him or maybe just have good items in incorrect or unhealthy amounts. With me buying all the seeds individually I can control how much of each plant I will have, (for example, 5-10 radish seeds for every handful of grass seed). I can also reseed specific items that he mows down when he has a craving for one particular thing or stop seeding for things he isn't currently munching.
I know, I know, I am a little paranoid, and as always, have completely overthought it, but that's just how I roll.
Thank you so much! The kind words and encouragement are a huge boost for this very nervous first time tort Grandma!
Odin is settling in nicely and seems pretty pleased with the set-up! This morning I checked in on him before I left for work and he was chilling in the desert box under the basking light that I temped at a steamy 112 degrees!
So far I have avoided buying any mixes, none of them that I have found specifically list the ingredients, and with all the misinformation on sully care I can't help but worry that the mixes may have something that isn't good for him or maybe just have good items in incorrect or unhealthy amounts. With me buying all the seeds individually I can control how much of each plant I will have, (for example, 5-10 radish seeds for every handful of grass seed). I can also reseed specific items that he mows down when he has a craving for one particular thing or stop seeding for things he isn't currently munching.
I know, I know, I am a little paranoid, and as always, have completely overthought it, but that's just how I roll.
. His two favorite areas seem to be the greenhouse and the cactus wing, and I rarely see him in the small middle section except to pass through it, briefly pausing to take a few bites of aloe vera. 
Well, my son smushed a couple more of those pesky wasps yesterday and today I found a few more and gave the whole greenhouse a liberal dose of diatomaceous earth. Odin does not seem to give a rat's patootie about them and seems to really be "warming up" to the new set-up
It's too soon to call it a success, but once we work out the kinks (like the wasps) I think it will be.
Oh my goodness! Great website!I ordered from here.
http://www.greenhousebusiness.com/bananaplants.html
One super dwarf and one Blue Java, they say it tastes like ice cream, What?!?
Good to hear someone else liked the website! I still have to order something from there!
Perhaps the dwarf mulberry -- haven't decided yet!
Always a good sign!!
They are trying mine too, but between smushing and diatomaceous earth they seem to be under control. We are still seeing 1-3 new ones a day but ones the eggs stop hatching I think we will be okay.if it helps and is possible... our flat had an invasion due to a nest last summer... an empty soda bottle with the top cut around a 3rd down and inverted... put some golden syrup in the bottom. the little pests will go in, but can't get out! i was catching around 20 daily with this method.
bloomin things tryed my patience to say the least
Little Odin is growing so fast!!! What a veritable tortoise paradise!!I'm so pleased with your progress! Now it's time to celebrate with Steve and Mazuri!
Thanks! As long as he is giving me that smile and stomping around like he owns the place, I am pleased.
