Just some general questions!

NotATurtleAnkh

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Aug 15, 2016
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Alberta, Canada
Just want to thank everyone in advance for having a read through!

So I do my best thinking in point form so my questions will be in bullet point form for easy reading! Otherwise I ramble :/

1. I do not know the age of my tort at all, will this effect any of the things I should be doing? I'm doing daily soaks and kind of treating her like a baby because compared to how big they get she is still very small but should I really be following suggestions for juveniles? I haven't weighed or measured her at all but I can if that helps.

2. When building a more permanent tort enclosure (indoor) should I figure out some way of keeping the area very humid with a cover of some kind or is providing a humid hide in an open enclosure ok? I am located in Alberta, Canada for reference.

3. When I do build the enclosure I would like to have multiple substrates in the area so my tort can choose what it feels like laying on or walking through but I'm not sure how many substrates would be too many, if that makes sense... If I wanted to have three different substrates what would the best three be?

4. Cuddle fish bone... Do I affix it to something or does it just go into the enclosure and my tort will munch on it where it lies?

And pics to show size for more reference :D though they aren't the best for size ref they are the best I have right now. image.jpeg

Thanks again guys!!
image.jpeg
 

Tom

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Hi. Good questions. I prefer the bullet point approach too! :)

1. Using the usual baby routine won't hurt a thing, and daily soaks for the first few weeks will help ensure good hydration. After that soaking 2-4 times a week will be good enough for one the size of your, but more won't hurt anything.

The age doesn't matter for anything. Size matters.

2. Best case, and also most efficient in your climate will be a large closed chamber. Very large.

A dry enclosure with dry air, and a humid hide box is not a good way to go in my experience.

3. No need for this. Fine grade orchid bark work best. You can sink some paving stones into the substrate under the basking lamp for something different.

4. I just drop the cuttle bones into the enclosures. I've never "affixed" one to anything, but you can if you want to.

Please feel free to ask more questions.
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings..and of course Tom makes all good points. Don't over think the substrate issue, nice moist peat moss, cyprus mulch, orchid bark, are all good, and hold moisture well. Cuttlebone, one nice large piece with or near his food and you are good to go.

Heres a pix of our 27 lb two-year old sully finishing off one entire cuttlebone...

image.jpg
 

Tidgy's Dad

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3. Coco coir is another popular substrate.
4. Some tortoises won't eat their cuttlefish bone and it may be necessary to scrape a little onto the food every now and again.
 

NotATurtleAnkh

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Aug 15, 2016
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Thanks everyone!! Feeling a little less frantic and unaware now that I've read pretty much every post on the forums XD I will be sure to post any further questions I have!
 

NotATurtleAnkh

New Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2016
Messages
7
Location (City and/or State)
Alberta, Canada
Greetings..and of course Tom makes all good points. Don't over think the substrate issue, nice moist peat moss, cyprus mulch, orchid bark, are all good, and hold moisture well. Cuttlebone, one nice large piece with or near his food and you are good to go.

Heres a pix of our 27 lb two-year old sully finishing off one entire cuttlebone...

View attachment 183895


Bahahaha! That's awesome!! He/she looks so happy XD
 

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