Meet Huck !!! Born May 1st 2016 !!!

[itiswhatitis]

I've had my boxie for a very long time. Little over 16 years. A few years ago I was ask to babysit a Sulcata for a neighbor who had no idea even had a tortoise. He had family emergency and ask me to watch his Sulcata for few days because he had seen me outside with my boxie a lot.

From the second I laid eyes on his Sulcata I was hooked. I told myself once I had the room to have one I would. Once we moved I got my enclosure and everything up and running with the help and care sheets of the forum before I made my purchase.

Currently he is in a 40 breeder with cypress / coco mix. I have humid hide box with 3 thermometers and 3 hydrometers. Basking light zone set at 98. Middle of tank 90 hide zone area 80. Humidity ranges through the tank from 50-70. A small water dish on hotter end of the enclosure small water dish on other end. Sulcata seed mix growing in the 90 degree zone with a regular incandescent bulb I have a 24 inch t5 ho Uvb bulb as well. At night a have CHE bulb dead center of enclosure that keeps it out 75-80 through enclosure. I have black backside tank and placed Velcro on other 3 sides of tank so I can take off and out on black sides for his privacy/stress. I also have him outside 2x a day for no less than 30 minutes. Soaks directly after we come inside for 10 minutes.

Currently I have my cabinet guy who does my saltwater tank stands and lighting over hangs working on wooden enclosure.

Feeding is mainly grass and weeds mixed with spring mix and mazuri grinded up on top.

 

[wellington]

Very cute. Just a couple suggestions. Get the humidity higher. At least 80% higher won't hurt. Also I would take down the rocks if they are not glue up. A sulcata is like a little bull dozer and I wouldn't want him getting hurt by them.
Also when you can, replace the little disc type temp and humidity gauges. They are not very accurate. A digital with a probe is the best or get a temp gun to see if the temp disc is reading correctly

 

[itiswhatitis]

I used aquarium glue actually lol. That way I could grow the grass inside without it going wild through the enclosure as well. I was a little worried about him trying to climb it though and tipping over. But I haven't caught him yet.

Would you say that all the thermometers in my saltwater tanks and boxie enclosure are wrong to possibly ? Like how off are they usually ?

I will look in to gun though. Kinda cool if anything as well lol.

 

[itiswhatitis]

Will get on that humidity as well. I was going to raise it then I read on forum that sometimes can give them breathing problems if to high?

 

[itiswhatitis]

Does the humidity in the hide box need to be different than humidity in the enclosure?

 

[PJay]

Hi Huck. Welcome!

 

[Fredkas]

Where is the link of breathing problems towards humidity. I never read it.
Should be no problem. A lot of member hear using 80+ humidity with no problem, in fact, we see a good growth and the tort active.
We usually make the hide box humidity around max, mine is 100% but my gauge can't reach that, so it stuck 99.
Outside enclosure 80+.
Read the sticky thread in sulcata section.you will find good information there.
Ah yes, when you give high humidity for your tort, the temp should never go below 80. I'll make it never below 82, to make it safe.
Btw, welcome to the forum! Always ask if you are confuse. We like to help.

 

[Big Charlie]

Will get on that humidity as well. I was going to raise it then I read on forum that sometimes can give them breathing problems if to high?

High humidity is only a problem if they aren't kept warm enough. Then they can get respiratory problems. As long as your temperatures are high enough, you want as much humidity as you can get. If the glass is fogging up, that's a good sign.

 

[itiswhatitis]

Where is the link of breathing problems towards humidity. I never read it.
Should be no problem. A lot of member hear using 80+ humidity with no problem, in fact, we see a good growth and the tort active.
We usually make the hide box humidity around max, mine is 100% but my gauge can't reach that, so it stuck 99.
Outside enclosure 80+.
Read the sticky thread in sulcata section.you will find good information there.
Ah yes, when you give high humidity for your tort, the temp should never go below 80. I'll make it never below 82, to make it safe.
Btw, welcome to the forum! Always ask if you are confuse. We like to help.

That's what it was saying about the humidity and low temp but I've heard plenty say they let there night temp go to 70-75. If the humidity is high at that night temp will there be a problem? Thanks BTW

 

[Fredkas]

That's what it was saying about the humidity and low temp but I've heard plenty say they let there night temp go to 70-75. If the humidity is high at that night temp will there be a problem? Thanks BTW

Yes, there will be a problem.
So it is easy for the night time..
">80F" and "80+humidity" = healthy no pyramid cute tort.
"<80F" and "80+humidity" = expose to sickness because too cold, usually respiratory problem.
"<80F" and "low/dry humidity" = pyramid tort for sure, sickness i don't know, never thinking about this route.

Stay >80F and 80+humidity. That is super best.

 

[BrianWI]

The disc thermometers /hygrometers aren't bad. I would believe them. If one seems way out from the rest, then maybe look at it. The digital ones can go bad as well, I have had 2 where the humidity started reading extremely low, likely water/ corrosion on the sensor.

 

[itiswhatitis]

Awesome thanks guys !!!
I'm going to pick up one of the guns that way a can always check the disc randomly to make sure they're working.

 

[itiswhatitis]

I'm actually tried something @Tom said in an older thread that isn't necessary but he had done and proven not bad for keeping humidity up. Run very wet. Thickened my substrate about another inch and got very very wet. I did this last night before bed after you guys suggested getting humidity higher. It raised it right around 75-85 through out enclosure. Stuck through out the night as well.

Side note : I think HUCK liked it. It was the first time he's actually burrowed in the substrate. My webcam showed that he stayed burrowed in the humid hide all night until about 6AM. Then he came out and laid under the CHE until the basking light kicked on.

 

[BrianWI]

I got one from China for $4.40 shipped to my door. Its a nice little temp gun. As a bonus, the cat loves the laser in it.

 

[itiswhatitis]

Lol, I found one 19$ Amazon. Still A lot cheaper than what they would be !!!

 

[Big Charlie]

I'm actually tried something @Tom said in an older thread that isn't necessary but he had done and proven not bad for keeping humidity up. Run very wet. Thickened my substrate about another inch and got very very wet. I did this last night before bed after you guys suggested getting humidity higher. It raised it right around 75-85 through out enclosure. Stuck through out the night as well.

Side note : I think HUCK liked it. It was the first time he's actually burrowed in the substrate. My webcam showed that he stayed burrowed in the humid hide all night until about 6AM. Then he came out and laid under the CHE until the basking light kicked on.

That's a great idea. Wetting the substrate is the way many people keep up the humidity and they love to burrow.

 

[BrianWI]

Nadine, my sulcata, was hatched around May 15. She is about 90 grams now. What does Huck weigh in at?

 

[itiswhatitis]

Nadine, my sulcata, was hatched around May 15. She is about 90 grams now. What does Huck weigh in at?

Wow we are only 2 weeks apart !!!
I need to get a scale actually. We have some of those head shop places in gas stations around here that sell pipes. I think they have gram scales to. I'm going to get one tomorrow. He does eat very well though so hopefully he's growing. How much did yours weigh when you get her?

 

[itiswhatitis]

I did just email my guy though to verify birth date and he said June 1st.

 

[TSchadel]

WOW - you have done your homework for sure! Huck is very handsome! Glad he has a responsibly owner. I myself use the dual temp/humidity disc thermometers for the past year and Irwin has grown leaps and bounds with no health problems (to date!). I got him from my daughter who was going off to college..... he was a year when I got him. Huck will grow so fast....take tons of pictures! I have a weight/length chart and I do this monthly. When Irwin was put in my care (7/30/15) - he weighed 6 1/4 ounces and was 3 1/2 inches. As of 8/14/16 - he's 6lbs 8 ozs and 10 1/2 inches!
So - keep doing what you're doing - use this forum - it is WONDERFUL - and Huck will have a long healthy life