Hi,
Recently "inherited" 2 small what I believe are Desert Tortoises. They came from a breeder in Parker AZ and I think are between 1 and 2 years old. They are the same age I think and I assume are from the same egg clutch (is that the right terminology?). One is about 2 inches and the other substantially smaller looking at about an inch and a half(? (haven't measured)). They spent about the last year living in a shoebox but with regular trips outside during the day. Upon getting them, we put them in a 10 gal terarium, but quickly found thru our research that they need something larger and need to spend as much time as possible outside, so I'm in the process of building a 20" x 6' tort table. I'm kind of looking for whatever input anyone wants to throw out there regarding care and enclosures.
I'm somewhat knowledgable about herps. Have been in CA most of my life (50+ yrs) and have kept a few snakes and lizards at various times over the years. My brother was very involved in herpetology as a biologist and a dentist (not lizard teeth ;-)) and I accompanied him on some local desert expeditions and captures. I Live in Corona CA now.
I have an old photo somewhere where my Grandad back in the 1920s, who was a desert enthusiast since before then, in a Model T Ford out in the Mojave came across about a half a dozen Desert Torts probably about 6 or 7", and made a gag photo of hitching the Torts up to the Model T, he sitting on the bumber with crop in hand lashing the beasts of burden into a frothing frenzie (not!) to pull the car out of the sand. I get a chuckle out of the photo every time I see it.
We are quite excited to have these new charges and it should be fun to set up the new enclosure for them. We haven't really given new names to them yet. Any suggestions?
Recently "inherited" 2 small what I believe are Desert Tortoises. They came from a breeder in Parker AZ and I think are between 1 and 2 years old. They are the same age I think and I assume are from the same egg clutch (is that the right terminology?). One is about 2 inches and the other substantially smaller looking at about an inch and a half(? (haven't measured)). They spent about the last year living in a shoebox but with regular trips outside during the day. Upon getting them, we put them in a 10 gal terarium, but quickly found thru our research that they need something larger and need to spend as much time as possible outside, so I'm in the process of building a 20" x 6' tort table. I'm kind of looking for whatever input anyone wants to throw out there regarding care and enclosures.
I'm somewhat knowledgable about herps. Have been in CA most of my life (50+ yrs) and have kept a few snakes and lizards at various times over the years. My brother was very involved in herpetology as a biologist and a dentist (not lizard teeth ;-)) and I accompanied him on some local desert expeditions and captures. I Live in Corona CA now.
I have an old photo somewhere where my Grandad back in the 1920s, who was a desert enthusiast since before then, in a Model T Ford out in the Mojave came across about a half a dozen Desert Torts probably about 6 or 7", and made a gag photo of hitching the Torts up to the Model T, he sitting on the bumber with crop in hand lashing the beasts of burden into a frothing frenzie (not!) to pull the car out of the sand. I get a chuckle out of the photo every time I see it.
We are quite excited to have these new charges and it should be fun to set up the new enclosure for them. We haven't really given new names to them yet. Any suggestions?
