For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata...
- Thread starter Tom
- Start date
I don't recommend humidifiers. I recommend closed chambers that hold your humidity in.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
Dry alfalfa hay is too coarse and stemmy for babies. Better to grow fresh alfalfa yourself if you want the baby to get some alfalfa. You could possibly run the chaff through some sort of screen to remove the stems and large particles, then rehydrate and mix in with some wet greens. Personally, I don't do anything with dry alfalfa for babies.
That is all a good start, but you need much more variety. At the grocery store favor endive and escarole, but also use cilantro, carrot tops, celery tops, collard greens, kale, turnip greens, etc… You can also get sprouted wheat grass at most pet shops or "organic" type grocery stores. Clip some onto the pile of greens and then keep the pot watered and in a window sill and you should get 7-8 good cuttings per plot.
ZooMed Grassland tortoise food is another good way to add some grass and fiber to the diet. Soak a half pellet in water until its all mushy and then thoroughly mix that in with the greens for the day. As the tortoise grows, you can add more and more.
M
Maggie Cummings
Guest
alfalfa has too much protein for Sulcata. Get local grass hay or orchard hay. I take a big bag and pay 2 bucks to scrape up the fresh loose hay. Even my 6 month old eats it. Orchard and grass hay are soft and sweet. And I disagree with Grassland tortoise food. I pick as much wild food as is available, and stick them in the grass and they're either gonna eat or they won't. At times for a big Sulcata I will feed Mazuri. But mostly not jarred "food". I try to feed a good wild diet. And the exercise is good for me.
Tristen Loves Reptiles :D
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2016
- Messages
- 24
In regards to lighting and heating. I have a dual hood, it has one side for uvb and the other for heating bulb. I also have an additional hood for nightime heating. The bulb I have in it is red, but it says it's fine for night time lighting and won't interrupt sleeping patterns. I noticed my baby sulcata likes to sleep under it or near it. Is the red bulb okay?
None of those are okay.
No coil type bulbs for UV. They sometimes burn reptile eyes.
No red or colored bulbs for night time. Torts can see more colors than we do. If you can see the red light, they can see it better. Don't make your tortoise live in a red world.
Dual hoods are not good because your bulbs and fixtures need to be spread out for night heat.
All this and more is explained here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
Tristen Loves Reptiles :D
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2016
- Messages
- 24
What do you do for humidity? Currently I use a coconut fiber substrate and Cyprus mulch mix. I also keep my tortoises home in my bathroom because it stays extra hot and humid in there. Allowing me to keep it at 70 percent humidity or so. Is that okay? I also want to say I appreciate all the advice you've given me so far.
In a closed chamber, you don't lose your humidity. I keep the substrate damp and my humidity hovers around 80%.
I have no issue with UVB cfl bulbs, millions are safely in use. The red I have heard two things. One, they see the bedding as red and try to eat it. Two, they see fairly well in the red light and don't see it as "night". Both make sense as torts have better vision than we do and my tort tries to bite a lot of red stuff. My camera, the laser pointer light (she chases it like a really slow cat) and one of my hats.
Do you have a hygrometer in your enclosure?
Tristen Loves Reptiles :D
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2016
- Messages
- 24
I have two things for my temperature. One tells me heat and one tells me humidity. From what I heard I probably shouldn't have bought them and saved my money from petco. But I mean, they still serve they're purpose. And I can still monitor and watch heating and such and temps.
A ceramic heat emitter is used by most for night time heat. They don't give off any light. They are fairly cheap and last a very long time. The coil bulbs meantioned also has caused eye problems in the past and recently too. I wouldn't chance it. Besides, what wasn't said, most fixture don't hold them the proper way.
Adzlan
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2016
- Messages
- 24
are they usually avoid eating grassland for first day, i mean it the first time i feed them grassland food tortoise pellet by zoomedTom,
I just welcomed a new baby Sulcata into my life yesterday and I'm very excited about having him. He hasn't eaten anything yet and he has been what looks like sleeping ever since I brought him home. The people in which I got him from say this is normal, buy I'd like a second opinion. Thanks!
n
I just welcomed a new baby Sulcata into my life yesterday and I'm very excited about having him. He hasn't eaten anything yet and he has been what looks like sleeping ever since I brought him home. The people in which I got him from say this is normal, buy I'd like a second opinion. Thanks!
n
Over and over I type up and answer diet questions and try to get people feeding the right stuff, but I find that the "norm" is grocery store food. Grocery store food is expensive, a hassle to obtain, and very low on the list of what is best for sulcatas.
These tortoises are GRASS eaters. From the moment they hatch, until the day they die, grass should be a large part of their diet. Spring mix, romaine, kale and other greens are okay as a small part of a varied diet, but should not be the bulk of the diet. If someone must feed grocery store foods, the pile should be sprinkled with grass clippings or "Salad Style". For those who like the convenience of pre-packaged, easy to handle stuff, "Salad Style" is basically finely blended up grass hay that can be sprinkled over any other food to add bulk and fiber. I got my "Salad Style" from Tyler at tortoisesupply.com.
For those that have a lawn, or access to one: Get a tub, get some scissors, get down on your knees, and go to work! It is so EASY to cut a few handfuls of fresh, green, tender, young grass, and dramatically improve your baby sulcatas diet. Any kind of grass will work. Finely chop it for little tortoises and sprinkle it all over the other food, or feed it by itself in a pile. Do be careful about lawn chemicals and pesticides. If you have a gardener, or its not your lawn, use extreme caution. Live in a condo or apartment complex? Don't do it. Not worth the risk, no matter what they tell you. Just grow your own grass in pots on your patio or window sills. Friends, family and neighbors might be able to help you out here.
For those who still just love the grocery store: Most stores are now selling little plastic pots of live, freshly sprouted, organic wheat grass. You can find it at many pet stores too. This is a great way to add grass to the diet of a young sulcata. Get your scissors, hold the pot over the food pile and chop away. Water it and keep the pot in a window sill, and in a few days, you'll have more. You might need several pots as your baby grows, or you can buy seed from one of our site sponsors (Thank you Carolina Pet Supply) and sprout even bigger trays of it yourself.
Some of you may find that your "grass eating" tortoise wants nothing to do with eating grass. This should surprise no one, since most breeders and most keepers never even attempt to feed actual grass to their grass eating tortoise babies. So sad! I can tell you from first hand experience with literally HUNDREDS of babies, they WILL eat it. It may take a month or more to slowly introduce it, but PLEASE, slowly introduce it.
Other items that are good for babies and young sulcatas:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads
Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard
Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food
When sulcatas get a little older and bigger, usually around 10-12" for me, they will start munching on plain, dry grass hay, all on their own. I like orchard grass hay the best for this, but I also used bermuda grass hay for years too. When they hit this stage, life gets MUCH easier. Just make sure you have drinking water readily available when they start eating hay, and consider soaking regularly if you are not 100% sure your tortoise is drinking enough, or if you live in a really dry area, like me.
I live in a desert and yet there is still green stuff all around me. I beg you to take a walk and learn about all the green stuff around you, INSTEAD of driving to the store again. Instead of a trip to the grocery store, take a trip to a local nursery for some weed IDs, and tips on growing your own stuff. What could be better than stepping out into your backyard and collecting all the free, healthy tortoise food you can carry? Think of the gas savings! Anyone who is a tortoise keeper, ought to be somewhat of a gardener too.
I beg of you... PLEASE stop the grocery store MADNESS!!!
We'll need to know a lot more about how you are housing him and what his four temperatures are.
Some of them will take a day to adjust, but if conditions, lighting and temps are correct, most of them will eat well the next day.
Randa Ward
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2016
- Messages
- 3
I am so glad I joined this forum! I love my Sulcata! She is however very picky! When I rescued her the woman only fed her grocery store salads. As I read and read I decided to go to the reptile store in our town and they gave me dry grasses that she refuse to eat. I went back and they gave me Nature zone tortoise salad dressing with calcium. Let's just say she smells it and gets the hint that's not what it really is! I have been feeding her my squash plant leaves and squash from a squash plant that we grew and mulberry leaves from outsides she loves them and I know the are pesticide free we have our own garden. I have an aloe plant as well but am not sure if there is certain aloe she can have or not. As of right now she is only 12.3\4 oz and 5 3\8 long she had some pyramiding before we had gotten her. Im so glad I came across this so I can plant my own grasses as she does not like dried grasses! I hope it doesn't sound weird but I'd do anything for Shelly!Over and over I type up and answer diet questions and try to get people feeding the right stuff, but I find that the "norm" is grocery store food. Grocery store food is expensive, a hassle to obtain, and very low on the list of what is best for sulcatas.
These tortoises are GRASS eaters. From the moment they hatch, until the day they die, grass should be a large part of their diet. Spring mix, romaine, kale and other greens are okay as a small part of a varied diet, but should not be the bulk of the diet. If someone must feed grocery store foods, the pile should be sprinkled with grass clippings or "Salad Style". For those who like the convenience of pre-packaged, easy to handle stuff, "Salad Style" is basically finely blended up grass hay that can be sprinkled over any other food to add bulk and fiber. I got my "Salad Style" from Tyler at tortoisesupply.com.
For those that have a lawn, or access to one: Get a tub, get some scissors, get down on your knees, and go to work! It is so EASY to cut a few handfuls of fresh, green, tender, young grass, and dramatically improve your baby sulcatas diet. Any kind of grass will work. Finely chop it for little tortoises and sprinkle it all over the other food, or feed it by itself in a pile. Do be careful about lawn chemicals and pesticides. If you have a gardener, or its not your lawn, use extreme caution. Live in a condo or apartment complex? Don't do it. Not worth the risk, no matter what they tell you. Just grow your own grass in pots on your patio or window sills. Friends, family and neighbors might be able to help you out here.
For those who still just love the grocery store: Most stores are now selling little plastic pots of live, freshly sprouted, organic wheat grass. You can find it at many pet stores too. This is a great way to add grass to the diet of a young sulcata. Get your scissors, hold the pot over the food pile and chop away. Water it and keep the pot in a window sill, and in a few days, you'll have more. You might need several pots as your baby grows, or you can buy seed from one of our site sponsors (Thank you Carolina Pet Supply) and sprout even bigger trays of it yourself.
Some of you may find that your "grass eating" tortoise wants nothing to do with eating grass. This should surprise no one, since most breeders and most keepers never even attempt to feed actual grass to their grass eating tortoise babies. So sad! I can tell you from first hand experience with literally HUNDREDS of babies, they WILL eat it. It may take a month or more to slowly introduce it, but PLEASE, slowly introduce it.
Other items that are good for babies and young sulcatas:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads
Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard
Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food
When sulcatas get a little older and bigger, usually around 10-12" for me, they will start munching on plain, dry grass hay, all on their own. I like orchard grass hay the best for this, but I also used bermuda grass hay for years too. When they hit this stage, life gets MUCH easier. Just make sure you have drinking water readily available when they start eating hay, and consider soaking regularly if you are not 100% sure your tortoise is drinking enough, or if you live in a really dry area, like me.
I live in a desert and yet there is still green stuff all around me. I beg you to take a walk and learn about all the green stuff around you, INSTEAD of driving to the store again. Instead of a trip to the grocery store, take a trip to a local nursery for some weed IDs, and tips on growing your own stuff. What could be better than stepping out into your backyard and collecting all the free, healthy tortoise food you can carry? Think of the gas savings! Anyone who is a tortoise keeper, ought to be somewhat of a gardener too.
I beg of you... PLEASE stop the grocery store MADNESS!!!
Attachments
Hello and welcome.
As you have seen, smaller ones usually do not like to eat the dry grass hay. Once your baby gets about 12 to 14 inches, you can begin to try to reintroduce the dry grass again. I find that it helps if you cut it into small pieces, soak it in some warm water for an hour, and then mix it in with some of your tortoises favorite other food items. If you start with a very small amount of the dry grass at first and gradually increase the amount over time, your tort will eventually eat the dry grass hay all by itself. This process will take time and no need to get started just yet.
All the other food items you mentioned sound very very good. They can eat any of the types of aloe, but some of them don't seem to care too much for it. You can offer it and see what happens.
