Beginner Mistakes - commentary

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Great information Tom! I'm wondering if I should add any substrate to my outdoor enclosure. I have native species and am using the land that was already there. I have a bunch of sand back there, although I added some soil for softness and for some plants i planted. What would you recommend and why is sand dangerous ?
 

Ellen & Toby

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This is an excellent post, full of advice that not only helps new tortoise owners but reassures inexperienced owners (such as myself) that we are doing something right! Wish I had seen this when I first got Toby, it was a steep learning curve trying to figure out what was best for Toby and this would have given me a head start. When I first joined TFO I received a welcome message suggesting that I post in the introductions area, could we not add a link to this post in that message? I think everyone should read this experienced or not! Well done and thank you Tom :D
 

Tom

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Great information Tom! I'm wondering if I should add any substrate to my outdoor enclosure. I have native species and am using the land that was already there. I have a bunch of sand back there, although I added some soil for softness and for some plants i planted. What would you recommend and why is sand dangerous ?

Sand is an impaction hazard and possible skin and eye irritant. I would just be sure to not feed him anywhere near the sand. Feed them on grassy or planted areas, and use a feeding tray of some sort.

I don't know how much of the area is sandy, or how sandy, so its difficult to make any sort of recommendation. Pics might help.
 
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Sand is an impaction hazard and possible skin and eye irritant. I would just be sure to not feed him anywhere near the sand. Feed them on grassy or planted areas, and use a feeding tray of some sort.

I don't know how much of the area is sandy, or how sandy, so its difficult to make any sort of recommendation. Pics might help.

No problem here is a picture, more plants will be added later. I put their food on the pink brick to trim beak but sometimes they carry their food to sand or it falls off. Thank you for that answer by the way
 

Tom

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I can't tell from your pic how sandy the soil is. It looks like regular "dirt" to me.

I high fiber diet and regular soaks, should prevent impaction.
 
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That probably wasn't the best of pictures to represent the dirt lol. But alright I figure it'll be alright I try and feed them on rocks anyway. And i water it alot thanks alot for your help Tom!
 

KaitlinKeefe_

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i love this! i read it way back when i first adopted my tortoise and i have seen so many threads that if they just read this theyd have their questions answered
 

NalaDog1

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good information on this site we've learned a lot from here .wife convinced me to join she's a member as well we have 3 torts she got me into them. I like building the enclosures the best fun for me
 

jcalpacagirl34

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good information on this site we've learned a lot from here .wife convinced me to join she's a member as well we have 3 torts she got me into them. I like building the enclosures the best fun for me
What do you suggest as the best half top for a red foot tortoise enclosure to keep the humidity up? Also the heat and light source are from the outside of it.
 

lexrex7

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This is such great information! I have 3 month baby sulcata and all the temperature research I've done is varied by different owners what's an overall good method to finding what works best for the sulcata?
 

Tom

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What do you suggest as the best half top for a red foot tortoise enclosure to keep the humidity up? Also the heat and light source are from the outside of it.

I wouldn't make a "half top". I would build a full closed chamber.
 

Tom

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charles leek

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wow lots of great info. but #6 i agree with 100 percent but what are the 4 temps? i am only 4 days into this and want to do the best for my guy and teach my grandson to do his best also. after all he will be the one finishing this job. thanks to you and all of you this is a great place to hang out with tort lovers from all over.
 

K8E K

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(Moderator note: I've moved all the commentary off Tom's thread and onto here. To read Tom's thread go here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-45180.html









Tom-OUTSTANDING!

In my opinion this document should be the first thing that opens when a new member signs on to TFO. If only we could post this outside of every pet shop in America too!

There is little to nothing that could be added to this "tortoise bill of captive care rights". But I will say that one thing that I find disturbing that takes place most often with beginners, but even with keepers of a few years or more experience is pointed out in #6: They often maintain their tortoises far too hot night and day. Along with this comes excessive dryness, dehydration, poor food processing and more.
Absolutely agree- I've had a breeder or two recommend temps too hot, and I always do my research to verify those recommendations because I've lost a tortoise to overly hot temps. Something I'd rather not own up to, and a lesson I will not *ever* repeat, it was heartbreaking, accidental, and could have been prevented by an inexpensive thermostat, more routine temp gun checking, and some more education on my part. Simple fixes. Chalk it up to mistakes made in my 20's, but when another creature's life is at stake.... anyway. This resonated with me, I'm still very sensitive to the dire, utterly heartbreaking consequences of incorrect temperature.
 

Tom

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wow lots of great info. but #6 i agree with 100 percent but what are the 4 temps? i am only 4 days into this and want to do the best for my guy and teach my grandson to do his best also. after all he will be the one finishing this job. thanks to you and all of you this is a great place to hang out with tort lovers from all over.

Depends on the species. Over all warmer with warm nights for tropical species, and you need a night time cooling period for temperate species.
 

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