Hello. First time tortoise owner so looking for advice on my less than a year old tortoise. His shell has darkened a ton. I am wondering if any mine can confirm that this is normal. Attached are two photos, I’m getting mixed information on the internet. I already know I need to increase the humidity of his cage. Thank you in advance.
Meet Dino - my first sulcata - question for the experts
- Thread starter Kkwoodson
- Start date
Looks good, perfectly normal.
Get him in a closed chamber enclosure with 80% humidity and do not use hay for a substrate or food at this age. If he already eats it that's good, but likely las babies they don't eat it and should be soaked if fed
Orchid or fir bark should be the substrate or coconut coir or combo of both.
Get him in a closed chamber enclosure with 80% humidity and do not use hay for a substrate or food at this age. If he already eats it that's good, but likely las babies they don't eat it and should be soaked if fed
Orchid or fir bark should be the substrate or coconut coir or combo of both.
He's adorable. Cracks me up when I see their little underbellies (plastron). This is a baby pic of my rescue. Out of the three pictures I got, this age....
was the darkest one. Looks about the same age as yours maybe? I've seen darker and lighter.
Welcome to the forum 🙂
was the darkest one. Looks about the same age as yours maybe? I've seen darker and lighter.Welcome to the forum 🙂
Welcome!
Welcome. You will need to keep the humidity high for the little guy to ensure severe health issues do not happen.
OMG Thank you for answering, wow, I really appreciate help from the experts and this community!
Okay, so in regards to humidity should I buy something like this? https://a.co/d/fmGLKNu
We have a smaller enclosure and plan to do a bigger one as soon as the weather warms up. He seems happy as he comes out everyday, eats from my hand, and gets to roam outside of his enclosure 1-2 times per day. He's a good dude, he even lets us rub noses. I am so in love and just want the best for him.
I live in Colorado so if you have any help or tips on humidity knowing that we live in a dry yet cold state, lmk. I plan on building him the outdoor pen of his dreams come April or May.
Thank you Yvonne!
I am getting a themometer to measure humidity and then should I get a reptile humidifier? I have a smaller enclosure for now but plan to make him a badass outdoor area as we have ten acres and native grasses. Any tips on humidity and diet are welcomed!
Good to know! I saw some really light sulcatas and thought, uh oh, am I doing something wrong! but sounds like its all good.
I know, we live in an ultra dry area, he is in a tank and I know you aren't suppose to put them in a glass enclosure so for now, I put colored paper to line the bottom of his tank so that he doesn't get stressed. The lady at the pet store sold me all this, so I am glad I did research and am making it the best I can until I can upgrade to an outdoor area. Any other suggestions on products to get are welcomed!
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No humidifier or misters
Also, do not let him roam your floors. Too cold and dangerous.
He needs a closed chamber, check out getting one like in the pic I posted. This will give you a good environment for humidity and to hold temps steady
They are meant to be used indoors and outside. So once your little one is old/big enough, over 10 inches, to live outside 24/7 in summer, you can use the greenhouse to grow food or as a warmer area for your tortoise to go into if he wants
Also, do not let him roam your floors. Too cold and dangerous.
He needs a closed chamber, check out getting one like in the pic I posted. This will give you a good environment for humidity and to hold temps steady
They are meant to be used indoors and outside. So once your little one is old/big enough, over 10 inches, to live outside 24/7 in summer, you can use the greenhouse to grow food or as a warmer area for your tortoise to go into if he wants
Yeah me too! Like "TipToe" is very light colored. I saw a post of when he was a baby and he looked just like ours, very dark. 2 years ago he was already 175 lbs. I wonder if he is a Sudan 🤔
Thanks so much, this is tremendously helpful!
Never in pairs. Get them separated ASAP and get the fake grass out! Orchid bark, fir bark or coconut coir for substrate in a closed chamber.
NELSUN737
New Member
I think it's normal, as you can see my baby Spurs,
(well you guys call them SULCATA I call them AFRICAN SPURS BOX TURTLES).
but if you look you can notice one of them is lighter than the other and the details are beautiful, when they first came they were both light and I have them for approximately 7 months and yeah they looking beautiful it's normal to change color detail hat I know of!
(well you guys call them SULCATA I call them AFRICAN SPURS BOX TURTLES).
but if you look you can notice one of them is lighter than the other and the details are beautiful, when they first came they were both light and I have them for approximately 7 months and yeah they looking beautiful it's normal to change color detail hat I know of!
NELSUN737
New Member
I think it's normal, as you can see my baby Spurs,
(well you guys call them SULCATA I call them AFRICAN SPURS BOX TURTLES).
but if you look you can notice one of them is lighter than the other and the details are beautiful, when they first came they were both light and I have them for approximately 7 months and yeah they looking beautiful it's normal to change coloration!
(well you guys call them SULCATA I call them AFRICAN SPURS BOX TURTLES).
but if you look you can notice one of them is lighter than the other and the details are beautiful, when they first came they were both light and I have them for approximately 7 months and yeah they looking beautiful it's normal to change coloration!
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NELSUN737
New Member
Get a Spray Bottle, I Spray The Hole Enclosure and The Coconut 🥥 Fiber AT Least 3 Times a Day! I Also Bought a Temperature and Humidity Merter To Keep It Right!
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NELSUN737
New Member
I Didn’t Ask You About Pairs Or Fake Grass But Thank you Anyway!
I Use The F-Grass When I Feed Them Only, And As Of Having a Pair I ALWAY Had Pairs With NO Problem!
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Last edited:
NELSUN737
New Member
PERFECTLY NORMAL, AS YOU CAN SEE BOTH OF MY AFRICAN SPURS ARE DIFERENT IN COLORATION AND THE WERE SAME COLOR 7 MO AGO!
IS GENETIC, JUST FEED THEM WELL AND ENJOY YOUR BABIES!
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Pairs are not good. You might not notice it but there is an issue with them being in pairs or any others you have had. There is a TON of proof about this on this forum. It is simply a choice of "What level of care am I willing to give my tortoise."
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