My first tortoise (a hatchling western Hermann's tortoise) is arriving tomorrow and I just wanted to share some pictures of Massimo's enclosure.
The substrate is a 50/50 mix of top soil and coconut fiber and is about 3 inches deep. I've soaked the substrate to keep the enclosure at a humidity level of around 70%. The highest temperature in the enclosure is 90 degrees F and the lowest is 70 degrees F with the help of Zoo Med's 10.0 UVB emitting bulb and 75 watt basking light. I've put some stones in and around the food and water bowls so he (I'm calling the tortoise a he for now cause he's been incubated to be a male) doesn't track substrate into water source. The enclosure, which is made of pine wood, has a private hiding area. I've also put one of those little half moon wooden log things in the higher temperate area for hiding that I'll be keeping moist and humid with a spray bottle. The enclosure is 3.5 ft in length, a little over 2 ft in width, and 6 inches high. It's not a huge enclosure, but it's only temporary as I don't want the tortoise to feel "lost" while he's a baby. I've built a larger enclosure already that I plan to use for the future.
When he arrives tomorrow morning I'll give him a fresh soak. Then I'll feed him a mix of organic dandelions and a bit of Mazuri Small Tortoise Diet wet with a mixture of several dried organic weeds. There's a cuttlefish bone in there all well for extra calcium and nibbling.
The substrate is a 50/50 mix of top soil and coconut fiber and is about 3 inches deep. I've soaked the substrate to keep the enclosure at a humidity level of around 70%. The highest temperature in the enclosure is 90 degrees F and the lowest is 70 degrees F with the help of Zoo Med's 10.0 UVB emitting bulb and 75 watt basking light. I've put some stones in and around the food and water bowls so he (I'm calling the tortoise a he for now cause he's been incubated to be a male) doesn't track substrate into water source. The enclosure, which is made of pine wood, has a private hiding area. I've also put one of those little half moon wooden log things in the higher temperate area for hiding that I'll be keeping moist and humid with a spray bottle. The enclosure is 3.5 ft in length, a little over 2 ft in width, and 6 inches high. It's not a huge enclosure, but it's only temporary as I don't want the tortoise to feel "lost" while he's a baby. I've built a larger enclosure already that I plan to use for the future.
When he arrives tomorrow morning I'll give him a fresh soak. Then I'll feed him a mix of organic dandelions and a bit of Mazuri Small Tortoise Diet wet with a mixture of several dried organic weeds. There's a cuttlefish bone in there all well for extra calcium and nibbling.
