Thoughts??

[TortillaTortoise1]

Can I have some improvements for this enclosure??

 

[Tom]

You need a different water bowl. That one is too deep and too steep.

I can't tell what substrate you've got in there, but it needs to be damp.

Here is the care info for your species:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

You need a different water bowl. That one is too deep and too steep.

I can't tell what substrate you've got in there, but it needs to be damp.

Here is the care info for your species:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

Thanks so much. The substrate was recommended by her old owner, it is made up of top soil and tortoise terrain from pets at home. What do you think??

 

[Tom]

Thanks so much. The substrate was recommended by her old owner, it is made up of top soil and tortoise terrain from pets at home. What do you think??

Both of those are unsuitable for tortoises. No sand and no soil. The care sheet I linked will explain it all for you.

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

Thanks for the info. I will change the substrate as soon as possible.

 

[Markw84]

It is way too dark. You need more light. Also too barren. Tortoises never would live in an area without plant cover. Totally stressful. Put some plants in there the tortoise can hide beneath.

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

It is way too dark. You need more light. Also too barren. Tortoises never would live in an area without plant cover. Totally stressful. Put some plants in there the tortoise can hide beneath.

Thanks for the info. I will change that ASAP.

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

Both of those are unsuitable for tortoises. No sand and no soil. The care sheet I linked will explain it all for you.

I just read you help sheet and thought: Great i have been doing everything wrong. Don't worry though, now I have read this i will make sure i give my tortoise the best life possible and do everything on that sheet. Thank you very much Tom.

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

 

[Lyn W]

Spider plants are good to use and tort safe but try to get them from someone who hasn't used any chemicals on them,
Check www,thetortoisetable.org.uk to see if theres any tort safe plants you already have.

Shops tend to use fertilisers and pesticides so if you buy from them you need to wash roots repot in safe soil and wait at least a year for anything absorbed by the plant to grow out,

Leave plants in pots and sink in substrate so the are easy to remove if they get nibbled or bulldozed!

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

Spider plants are good to use and tort safe but try to get them from someone who hasn't used any chemicals on them,
Check www,thetortoisetable.org.uk to see if theres any tort safe plants you already have.

Shops tend to use fertilisers and pesticides so if you buy from them you need to wash roots repot in safe soil and wait at least a year for anything absorbed by the plant to grow out,

Leave plants in pots and sink in substrate so the are easy to remove if they get nibbled or bulldozed!

Thanks for the info My dad has loads of spider plants at his home which he has grown from seeds. would these be fine??

 

[Lyn W]

View attachment 315738

He's lovely!
Sounds like he will be even happier when you've made some changes.

The dial type thermometers and hygrometers aren't that relaible so invest in a decent digital thermometer and hygrometer - usually with a probe.

A digital temp gun is also great to have to to check temps around the enclosure at tort level.

 

[Yossarian]

I just read you help sheet and thought: Great i have been doing everything wrong. Don't worry though, now I have read this i will make sure i give my tortoise the best life possible and do everything on that sheet. Thank you very much Tom.

Dont worry, your not alone, many of us were blindly following bad info until we found this forum. Unfortunately the internet never forgets yesterdays bad practice and the advice you will find here is no the same as you will find most other soc media sources. Think of it as a challenge to be overcome.

 

[Lyn W]

Thanks for the info My dad has loads of spider plants at his home which he has grown from seeds. would these be fine??

Ideal - as long as they've not been sprayed with chemicals or had fertilisers used on them and in soil in the last year or so. Just one or two depending on size to give him some ground cover.

 

[TortillaTortoise1]

He's lovely!
Sounds like he will be even happier when you've made some changes.

The dial type thermometers and hygrometers aren't that relaible so invest in a decent digital thermometer and hygrometer - usually with a probe.

A digital temp gun is also great to have to to check temps around the enclosure at tort level.

Thanks