I recently got a few tortoises and needed to get some input on if I am doing everything correctly.
The three tortoises I have are:
All three of them have been housed together and seem to be in good health. I currently have them in a 110 gallon tuff tub, but plan on purchasing a new enclosure for the gopher tortoise. I will need to take them to a vet to get checked out.
Some of the things I am planning to order:
My Questions are:
I had some more questions, but can't think of them right now. I've been doing some reading and have come to realize that it's much more difficult to care for these tortoises than I thought. I'm glad there's a forum like this to help people out.
Thanks!
Steve
The three tortoises I have are:
- Gopher Tortoise
- Sri-Lankan Star
- Elongated
All three of them have been housed together and seem to be in good health. I currently have them in a 110 gallon tuff tub, but plan on purchasing a new enclosure for the gopher tortoise. I will need to take them to a vet to get checked out.
Some of the things I am planning to order:
- Waterland Medium Land Enclosure ($169.99, but shipping was $120!)
- Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Emitter - 150 watts
- Exo Terra Solar Glo UVB Bulb 160W
- Two 100w Night Time Bulbs
- Two 100w Daytime Basking Lights
- 5 Ceramic Heat Lamps
- 2 Heat Lamp Stands
- Programmable Power Strip
- Play Sand, Top Soil, and some Timothy hay for bedding
- Two Granite Corner Bowls - Large for water
- Two Ceramic low side croc dishes for food
- Reptisafe Water Conditioner
- Mardel Herpcare skin and shell treatment
- Reptivite Vitamin Powder
- Reptile Claw Clippers
- Mazuri Tortoise Diet
My Questions are:
- Is there any thing else I should purchase for my setup?
- The Gopher Tortoise has a "parrot" beak - is this something I can file down a bit myself or should I have a vet do it?
- The star and elongated tortoise both had fairly long nails. I was able to clip the nails on the elongated tortoise, but can't really see the quick on the star tortoise, so I don't know where to clip them. How can you tell where you need to clip his nails?
- Do I need to house the three tortoises separately even if they have already been housed together?
- They seem to like Romaine, Green Leaf, and Red Leaf lettuce - is this an ok food source for them if I supplement with vitamins and the Mazuri tortoise diet? The star tortoise loves tomatoes and the elongated tortoise loves bananas - are these ok?
- I live in Maryland and take the tortoises out for a walk whenever I can for about an hour a day. I live in a townhouse and don't have an enclosed backyard so I can't leave them out. I'm trying to get the biggest enclosure I can for them. Would the Gopher tortoise be better off at a rescue center where he could be outside? If so, do you know of anyone I could contact about taking him?
I had some more questions, but can't think of them right now. I've been doing some reading and have come to realize that it's much more difficult to care for these tortoises than I thought. I'm glad there's a forum like this to help people out.
Thanks!
Steve