Ok I'm searching a lot and reading a ton of threads to find all my answers. But I still have some questions. Please be patient and kind with me as we are so new to this.
We bought Shelly from the only reptile store in our area. We didn't want to buy from the pet chains. Just looking at them in Petco you could tell they looked sickly. We were told she was bred locally. I'm doubting this now as I have been looking at pictures of wc vrs bred locally. My guess by the her coloring she is wc.
We have her in a 40 gallon tank. I'm changing her water dish to a terracotta tomorrow vrs the store bought one he sold me. I have a powersource light hanging from a stand. She has a hide log and the tortoise block from zoo med. Her substrate is a mix of the eco earth and forest flooring. The basking side is 92% and the cool side is 70%. Don't know about humidity as I didn't know it had to be a certain level.
I was told I could change the substrate every 2 weeks if I give her soaks about 3 times a week. Was told to feed her in the morning and only leave food out for 20-30 mins or feed her and leave food out for 2 days (so feeding her every 2 days essentially).
I don't have a pic to post right now of her enclosure as she is in our daughters room and well, they are sleeping. Will post tomorrow.
So looking for advice here.
1 Is substrate adequate
2 Do I only change every 2 weeks?
3 What is the best feeding method i.e. How long and how often?
4 3 soaks a week?? Less, more?
5 Posting her pic, is my assumption wc accurate?
Any help is appreciated. She is a gift for our 7 yr old who is in love with her and we want to do what's best.
I will add, outdoor enclosure isn't feasible. Hopefully one day. I was led to believe a 40 gallon was adequate.
We bought Shelly from the only reptile store in our area. We didn't want to buy from the pet chains. Just looking at them in Petco you could tell they looked sickly. We were told she was bred locally. I'm doubting this now as I have been looking at pictures of wc vrs bred locally. My guess by the her coloring she is wc.
We have her in a 40 gallon tank. I'm changing her water dish to a terracotta tomorrow vrs the store bought one he sold me. I have a powersource light hanging from a stand. She has a hide log and the tortoise block from zoo med. Her substrate is a mix of the eco earth and forest flooring. The basking side is 92% and the cool side is 70%. Don't know about humidity as I didn't know it had to be a certain level.
I was told I could change the substrate every 2 weeks if I give her soaks about 3 times a week. Was told to feed her in the morning and only leave food out for 20-30 mins or feed her and leave food out for 2 days (so feeding her every 2 days essentially).
I don't have a pic to post right now of her enclosure as she is in our daughters room and well, they are sleeping. Will post tomorrow.
So looking for advice here.
1 Is substrate adequate
2 Do I only change every 2 weeks?
3 What is the best feeding method i.e. How long and how often?
4 3 soaks a week?? Less, more?
5 Posting her pic, is my assumption wc accurate?
Any help is appreciated. She is a gift for our 7 yr old who is in love with her and we want to do what's best.
I will add, outdoor enclosure isn't feasible. Hopefully one day. I was led to believe a 40 gallon was adequate.