Hello from a very grateful newbie!!

Ak4now

New Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Alaska
Hey everyone, my name is Adam and I live in the interior of Alaska. I recently acquired a baby sulcata and instantly fell in love! Unfortunately I got sucked in to the "old methods" in my planning so it's been a rough go but my little buddy seems to be doing ok now!

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Big Charlie

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Jul 28, 2015
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Location (City and/or State)
California
Welcome Adam! We have another sulcata owner from Alaska on the forum. My sulcata is 17 1/2 years old. I live in California so it isn't too challenging.
 

Ak4now

New Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Alaska
Welcome Adam! We have another sulcata owner from Alaska on the forum. My sulcata is 17 1/2 years old. I live in California so it isn't too challenging.
Thank you! I didn't like being set up for failure right out of the gate with all the old info out there but as soon as I saw (he) wasn't quite acting right I started looking for more info and thankfully found this forum. That was a couple of days ago and I haven't been able to stop reading. Just want the best!
 

wellington

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Hello and Welcome. Glad you found the right place. Your not alone with getting bad info. But now you got all the info you will need. Yet, if you still have questions, please ask. We only want the best for your shelled friend and for you to be able to enjoy him or her for a long time.
 

Ak4now

New Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Alaska
Thank you very much! I do have one question at the moment. With the bad info I had an improper table. Too dry, no uvb, bad substrate and uncovered. I know have him maintaining in a sealed tub until I can finish his real spot. My question is does it matter how many sides of their enclosure are glass or plexiglass? I have enough material to do all sides (minus bottom) but I'm wondering what is recommended? The enclosure will be 8x3 with at least 20" height above substrate.
 

Alexio

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Mar 2, 2016
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Syracuse, New York
This is a highly debated topic, depending on who answers will depend largely on the answer.
I will say this free from bias however. I have 6 tortoises and have kept them in ; all wooden enclosures with no see through part at all, 3 sides wood and one side glass, glass tanks, transparent and non transparent tubs. I have found there is no constant. I had 3 tortoises all start out in 3 different 40 gallon breeder tanks. Two of the tortoises paced around the tanks incessantly for days. So i up graded 2 of them to a 4*4 enclosure split in half with all wooden sides and a glass front. Since the up grade one of them has stopped pacing and running into the wall. The other one still runs into the wall sometimes but its the wooden wall that divides the center of the enclosure and not the front glass window that they can see out of. The third tortoise finally started pacing around her tank so i got her a 2*4 ft tub which is less transparent, sometimes she will pace around the section of her tub that's by the her light but instead of pacing the whole tub she just goes in a tiny square.
Personally i think a tortoises trying to escape has more to do with the size, temperature, and humidity, of the enclosure rather than the materials you build it with.
I will say this after the amount of time and money i spend on them i do like having at least a few sides glass so i can see what there doing. Some of my all wooden enclosures leave me wondering what they are doing all day unless i go over and open it.
 

cmacusa3

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Bixby
I agree with the above, it's size, a small space causes stress and that leads to the pacing and running into walls, glass or wood.

You can always install a camera inside the enclosures. I have old Iphones that run on wifi and I can watch my torts from anywhere in the US.
 
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Ak4now

New Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Messages
12
Location (City and/or State)
Alaska
I agree it's size, a small space causes stress and that leads to the pacing and running into walls, glass or wood.

You can always install a camera inside the enclosures. I have old Iphones that run on wifi and I can watch my torts from anywhere in the US.
Thanks for the advice!
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Feb 11, 2015
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Location (City and/or State)
Fes, Morocco
Hello, Adam, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum from Adam in the interior of Morocco.:)
What a splendid name you have.
And a nice tortoise, too.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Jan 9, 2010
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Southern California
Thank you! I actually have a couple of questions for you Tom. Would you mind if I send you a private message?

I don't mind at all, but I usually prefer to talk on the open forum so that other readers who might have similar questions can read along and chime in and so that you can get experienced based feedback for other members too.

Your call. Whichever you prefer.
 
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