what do you think?

[Hurcules_sulcata]

This is our new tortoise home. I looking for opinions on what we can do to make his first home better until I can make him a table this summer. He has a uva uvb that also serves as a 100 watt heat lamp. His bedding is aspen flakes one side and Timothy hay on the other. The home has a sponge glued to the top that is kept wet so he has a humid area. We put paper on the corners cause he kept running into trying to hit his reflection.

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

This is our new tortoise home. I looking for opinions on what we can do to make his first home better until I can make him a table this summer. He has a uva uvb that also serves as a 100 watt heat lamp. His bedding is aspen flakes one side and Timothy hay on the other. The home has a sponge glued to the top that is kept wet so he has a humid area. We put paper on the corners cause he kept running into trying to hit his reflection.

He is about an inch and half long

 

[Tom]

You have a hatchling. If you do things correctly he could reach 100+ pounds in 10 years. You ready for that?

Your set up is okay. Better than most people who are just starting out. There is still room for improvement.

1. What are you doing for night heat? They need it warm at night but still dark.
2. You need a different substrate that can be kept damp.
3. You need a covered top. Instead of building him a table, build him a closed chamber.
4. I don't like those bowls because they are too slick. A tortoise will not use a water bowl that its not comfortable with. You placed them perfectly and they are the right size and shape, but regular terra cotta offers much better traction for wet tortoise feet.
5. We already talked about diet stuff in the other thread...
6. Cage size. Yours is on the small side. They need lots of room to move. A healthy sulcata will outgrow that in a month or two, so start thinking big now.

Here are some threads that will explain what you need to do:
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/closed-chambers.32333/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

You have a hatchling. If you do things correctly he could reach 100+ pounds in 10 years. You ready for that?

Your set up is okay. Better than most people who are just starting out. There is still room for improvement.

1. What are you doing for night heat? They need it warm at night but still dark.
2. You need a different substrate that can be kept damp.
3. You need a covered top. Instead of building him a table, build him a closed chamber.
4. I don't like those bowls because they are too slick. A tortoise will not use a water bowl that its not comfortable with. You placed them perfectly and they are the right size and shape, but regular terra cotta offers much better traction for wet tortoise feet.
5. We already talked about diet stuff in the other thread...
6. Cage size. Yours is on the small side. They need lots of room to move. A healthy sulcata will outgrow that in a month or two, so start thinking big now.

Here are some threads that will explain what you need to do:
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/closed-chambers.32333/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

When you say a different substrate what would you recommend ?

 

[Maro2Bear]

Good substrates to use include coco coir, orchid bark, or shredded cypress mulch. All are usually available in gardening stores.

 

[Tom]

When you say a different substrate what would you recommend ?

For baby sulcatas I prefer orchid bark. Called "Repti-Bark" at the pet shops. Coco coir works fine too. Also called Eco Earth or Bed-A-Beast.

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

I made a slight alteration to add some humidity i put the top on and cot a hole out for the lamp won't do an excellent job but it will make him feel better

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

How is this @Tom ?

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

 

[Tom]

How is this @Tom ?

Looks like you might need to cut away a little more material there. Got a Dremmel tool?

 

[wellington]

Line the opening with tin foil. Your plastic could melt and or start a fire. I lined mine with tin foil and never had a problem.

 

[mikeylazer]

I would do away with the aspen. Im using a mix right now for my leo that is 70% coco coir, 30% organic topsoil (roughly). It retains moisture well and your sulcata will be able to burrow in it much more easily. If I am not mistaken Aspen shavings can cause some health problems?

 

[Hurcules_sulcata]

I would do away with the aspen. Im using a mix right now for my leo that is 70% coco coir, 30% organic topsoil (roughly). It retains moisture well and your sulcata will be able to burrow in it much more easily. If I am not mistaken Aspen shavings can cause some health problems?

Yeah we are changing it this week