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- Nov 5, 2013
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Working on it.
- Thread starter susieque2004
- Start date
An excellent use for an old aquarium! Is it hard to reach the floor of it?
Get rid of the hay and use a substrate you can moisten...cypress mulch, orchid bark, coco coir.
Put in some hiding places, water dish, fake plants, decorations, etc.
Get rid of the hay and use a substrate you can moisten...cypress mulch, orchid bark, coco coir.
Put in some hiding places, water dish, fake plants, decorations, etc.
hey there! many of us were steered in the wrong direction before finding the help offered here on the forum, myself included. and we're always improving on our torts home and husbandry.
honestly, it definitely needs work. but i understand the money situation. what i do is buy a couple things a week, or make myself a small budget if i need more supplies.
i would replace the hay as soon as possible with ecoearth or if you have clean, pesticide free dirt in your backyard, use that! dig it up and bake it for 30 min to kill any creepy crawlies. hay molds which is horrible for the baby and your tort likes to bury himself in dirt! that's the first thing I'd do.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-79895.html
this is a thread on how to raise a healthy sulcata. you should find it very helpful. many people are going to be upset about your enclosure, but you just read that sheet and the sulcata caresheet on this forum and get what you need when you can, sooner then later though. you're doing your best but we're here to make you better
honestly, it definitely needs work. but i understand the money situation. what i do is buy a couple things a week, or make myself a small budget if i need more supplies.
i would replace the hay as soon as possible with ecoearth or if you have clean, pesticide free dirt in your backyard, use that! dig it up and bake it for 30 min to kill any creepy crawlies. hay molds which is horrible for the baby and your tort likes to bury himself in dirt! that's the first thing I'd do.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-79895.html
this is a thread on how to raise a healthy sulcata. you should find it very helpful. many people are going to be upset about your enclosure, but you just read that sheet and the sulcata caresheet on this forum and get what you need when you can, sooner then later though. you're doing your best but we're here to make you better
Agree with all the above. Read Toms threads below in my post for proper raising and housing your sully. First thing, get rid of hay, put in hide and water dish(not from pet store) clay or even plastic saucer for water. The type that goes under flower pots. And get the humidity and temps correct. Also soak him every day for 20-30 minutes in warm water.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2013
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The money situation is hard but I'm working on it, I should have a completely new enclosure in about a month, it will be perfect! Reading this forum has changed a lot, the place where I got my tortoise from told me to soak 5 minute once every week, I am now soaking him everyday for 20 minutes. 10 at the least. But anyways my new enclosure should be here in about a month
A bag of plain top soil (what I use for substrate) costs me $2.27 at Home Depot in CA. Can you get any of this? Real cheap and better than the hay
I think it is great except for what everyone else said, x-nay the hay-hay. Free dirt is free. Just be sure-sure-sure it has not been sprayed in any way. Or a clean fresh bag as suggested by Team Gomberg. Hidey places can be an old pot for plants. My babies have terra cotta pots on their sides and they look so cute in them, like little Volkswagens in their garages. One of our members, Elohi, repurposed a Greek yogurt container, upside down and she cut a little entrance. Garage sales and thrift stores are great places to look for things to use for your tortoise, and the 99 cents only stores. To cover the top for a closed chamber, you could use a car window cover if it fits and clip it on. Baby steps for baby. I think its great that you are doing what you can to improve your sulcata's habitat. Yay! : )
This is not a money thing. We are talking about a few bucks here. I think the enclosure itself if fine. Here is how to make it good for your baby right now for a few bucks:
1. Substrate: A huge bad of fine grade orchid bark or cypress mulch is about $4-5 at any hardware store. Or you can get a bulk bag of coco coir for about $12. If the dirt in your yard is suitable, you can use that for free. Your substrate just needs to be damp.
2. Get a 4" or 6" terra cotta plant saucer at the hardware store. These cost $1.86 at my local Lowes. Sink it into the substrate so the rim is level with the surface. Rinse and refill at least daily. I like to use another one for the food.
3. You can get a remote probed digital thermometer for $6-10 at any hardware store or Walmart. This will tell you your temps.
4. Get a small black dishwashing tub at Walmart for $1.82. Flip it upside down, cut out a door hole and you have a perfect, function humid hide. Wet the substrate under it.
5. Find a flat rock, or buy one for .10 cents a pound at a landscaping supply place, and put it directly under the basking bulb, to make a nice warm, dry basking spot.
6. Use tinfoil to cover most to the top to hold in your heat and humidity.
Then start planning your next enclosure. If you do these things, your baby will thrive and start to grow pretty quickly. This enclosure is only going to last you a few months.
1. Substrate: A huge bad of fine grade orchid bark or cypress mulch is about $4-5 at any hardware store. Or you can get a bulk bag of coco coir for about $12. If the dirt in your yard is suitable, you can use that for free. Your substrate just needs to be damp.
2. Get a 4" or 6" terra cotta plant saucer at the hardware store. These cost $1.86 at my local Lowes. Sink it into the substrate so the rim is level with the surface. Rinse and refill at least daily. I like to use another one for the food.
3. You can get a remote probed digital thermometer for $6-10 at any hardware store or Walmart. This will tell you your temps.
4. Get a small black dishwashing tub at Walmart for $1.82. Flip it upside down, cut out a door hole and you have a perfect, function humid hide. Wet the substrate under it.
5. Find a flat rock, or buy one for .10 cents a pound at a landscaping supply place, and put it directly under the basking bulb, to make a nice warm, dry basking spot.
6. Use tinfoil to cover most to the top to hold in your heat and humidity.
Then start planning your next enclosure. If you do these things, your baby will thrive and start to grow pretty quickly. This enclosure is only going to last you a few months.
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I agree with Tom spend the 30.00 bucks and your tort will be very healthy and happy.
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- Nov 17, 2012
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Great advice from Tom. Cheap and affective
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- Nov 5, 2013
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- 13
Thank you all, I will do as soon as I get the money :shy:
