Melucky_13
New Member
Hello!
For the past year or so, I've had the pleasure of feeding & generally overseeing the habitat of 6 Sulcata tortoises (as well as a fluctuating qty of Red Eared Sliders). While there is no expectation of me to know more than I do, which is now only slightly more than zero, I feel obligated to learn as much as I can so these magestic beings are cared for in the best possible and most natural way. Most of what I've picked up has been experiential - they love a shower from the hose, sun, mud puddles, cactus paddles, grape leaves and their single lane two-way highway I've dubbed the bumper car autobahn. They're great teachers when I'm paying attention
Researching is a wonderful thing but I find I have more questions than answers either due to information that is contradictory or too advanced or scientific for my current knowledge base. Thus far, I've looked up the following (you can see how much I've retained) but plan to revisit ALL of these topics again here starting from the beginning!
Species/Genus:
It's a tortoise not a turtle. Got it. Sulcata! Yes! No? Maybe??
Sexing:
Something about scutes... what are scutes... I think scutes are the sticky outty things on their lower backside. I thought they all had those? Not sure. Check again.
Pyramiding:
Nutritional deficiency of some sort. Not life threatening but could be? Either way, it's not good. But it's also fine. Possibly.
?!?!: What the what is that?! OMG It's injured! It ruptured something! Its a prolapse! I have to call a vet. Is there a reptile vet near me? Ohhhh OK.. it's a young male. Thanks internet. Whew. Hey look at that - they have a 'lift kit' built in, that's cool. They're like monster trucks. Guess they'd have to be living in the desert. They're from the desert aren't they? They're desert tortoises. What? That's a different type? Ugh.
Also... Runny swollen eyes, runny nose, diet, housing, mating, dry shell, hydration, social structure, natural habitat, fighting, introducing new tortoise, dented shell, crooked neck, hibernation, digging, nesting, broken leg, the white stuff, age estimation, personality, how to hold & carry, etc.
I will read through the various 'beginners' posts and be mindful to search existing posts before creating a new one.
Thanks in advance & looking forward to diving in!
-Melissa
For the past year or so, I've had the pleasure of feeding & generally overseeing the habitat of 6 Sulcata tortoises (as well as a fluctuating qty of Red Eared Sliders). While there is no expectation of me to know more than I do, which is now only slightly more than zero, I feel obligated to learn as much as I can so these magestic beings are cared for in the best possible and most natural way. Most of what I've picked up has been experiential - they love a shower from the hose, sun, mud puddles, cactus paddles, grape leaves and their single lane two-way highway I've dubbed the bumper car autobahn. They're great teachers when I'm paying attention
Researching is a wonderful thing but I find I have more questions than answers either due to information that is contradictory or too advanced or scientific for my current knowledge base. Thus far, I've looked up the following (you can see how much I've retained) but plan to revisit ALL of these topics again here starting from the beginning!
Species/Genus:
It's a tortoise not a turtle. Got it. Sulcata! Yes! No? Maybe??
Sexing:
Something about scutes... what are scutes... I think scutes are the sticky outty things on their lower backside. I thought they all had those? Not sure. Check again.
Pyramiding:
Nutritional deficiency of some sort. Not life threatening but could be? Either way, it's not good. But it's also fine. Possibly.
?!?!: What the what is that?! OMG It's injured! It ruptured something! Its a prolapse! I have to call a vet. Is there a reptile vet near me? Ohhhh OK.. it's a young male. Thanks internet. Whew. Hey look at that - they have a 'lift kit' built in, that's cool. They're like monster trucks. Guess they'd have to be living in the desert. They're from the desert aren't they? They're desert tortoises. What? That's a different type? Ugh.
Also... Runny swollen eyes, runny nose, diet, housing, mating, dry shell, hydration, social structure, natural habitat, fighting, introducing new tortoise, dented shell, crooked neck, hibernation, digging, nesting, broken leg, the white stuff, age estimation, personality, how to hold & carry, etc.
I will read through the various 'beginners' posts and be mindful to search existing posts before creating a new one.
Thanks in advance & looking forward to diving in!
-Melissa