TonytheTortoise_
New Member
Hey guys, so I recently got a Sulcata tortoise (Tony) from my boyfriend. A little background about Tony is that he was bought in Cali around 2020, lived with my boyfriend in Flagstaff, Az around late 2020 to early 2022, and now Tony is living with me in Yuma, Az. For timeline purposes, I got him on Monday (04/18), and this is his 5th day with me. According to my boyfriend, Tony is 2.5 yrs old, however, he is only 5.5 inches in length (including head and tail) --- which is concerning to me because I have been doing my research and some tort owners have bigger torts after having it over months only.
Tony's daily routine is basking and soaking him around 9:30 am with warm water --- I'm striving for 15-10mins but he keeps on trying to climb out the tub, so he would soak for less than 5 min., and then I would put him back to his enclosure since it seems like he's done hydrating himself whenever he climbs out. After the soak and Tony back to the enclosure, he would walk towards his food, eat some and he would take a nap after walking around his enclosure. His enclosure is left outside because I would bask him with natural sunlight and a busking bulb around the afternoon when the sun is not hitting him anymore. When it's 7:30 pm, I would switch with the heating bulb, spray his tank for moisture, and leave a wet towel hanging on the side of the enclosure (to simulate humidity) --- Nights in Yuma are usually 60F and rarely drops to the 50s. Once, 7:30 am comes, I would switch the heating bulb with the basking bulb, and turn off the basking bulb once the sun is hitting his enclosure, and I start soaking him again with warm water.
Right now, his enclosure consists of topsoil and coconut husk chunks. His diet mostly contains romaine lettuce and sometimes I would change it up with tort snacks. From the time I got him and how is now, Tony's movement and activity have increased greatly especially after soaking him with warm water and leaving him outside in the sun (for the shade, I put a whiteboard on top of his enclosure as we don't have a budget for a tort stone cave --- tho I was thought of buying a big plastic cup as a substitute). Tony is eating more now, sleeps less, and is drinking water. HOWEVER, I have not seen him poop or pee/excrete urates --- I'm concerned something is wrong with his urinary system. In terms of his respiratory system, I don't see any distress with breathing, his nose is mostly dry, and his eyes are not red or swollen.
I'm planning to get him checked up ASAP and change his lightbulb (and possibly change to a ceramic heating bulb) when me and my boyfriend can afford it but I'm a very anxious pet owner and I just want to know how to best improve my care for Tony.
ANY ADVICE WILL HELP AND IS APPRECIATED!
Here are some pictures of Tony:
Tony's daily routine is basking and soaking him around 9:30 am with warm water --- I'm striving for 15-10mins but he keeps on trying to climb out the tub, so he would soak for less than 5 min., and then I would put him back to his enclosure since it seems like he's done hydrating himself whenever he climbs out. After the soak and Tony back to the enclosure, he would walk towards his food, eat some and he would take a nap after walking around his enclosure. His enclosure is left outside because I would bask him with natural sunlight and a busking bulb around the afternoon when the sun is not hitting him anymore. When it's 7:30 pm, I would switch with the heating bulb, spray his tank for moisture, and leave a wet towel hanging on the side of the enclosure (to simulate humidity) --- Nights in Yuma are usually 60F and rarely drops to the 50s. Once, 7:30 am comes, I would switch the heating bulb with the basking bulb, and turn off the basking bulb once the sun is hitting his enclosure, and I start soaking him again with warm water.
Right now, his enclosure consists of topsoil and coconut husk chunks. His diet mostly contains romaine lettuce and sometimes I would change it up with tort snacks. From the time I got him and how is now, Tony's movement and activity have increased greatly especially after soaking him with warm water and leaving him outside in the sun (for the shade, I put a whiteboard on top of his enclosure as we don't have a budget for a tort stone cave --- tho I was thought of buying a big plastic cup as a substitute). Tony is eating more now, sleeps less, and is drinking water. HOWEVER, I have not seen him poop or pee/excrete urates --- I'm concerned something is wrong with his urinary system. In terms of his respiratory system, I don't see any distress with breathing, his nose is mostly dry, and his eyes are not red or swollen.
I'm planning to get him checked up ASAP and change his lightbulb (and possibly change to a ceramic heating bulb) when me and my boyfriend can afford it but I'm a very anxious pet owner and I just want to know how to best improve my care for Tony.
ANY ADVICE WILL HELP AND IS APPRECIATED!
Here are some pictures of Tony: