Rodrigo
New Member
Hello, I'm new to caring for reptiles, I'm a high school student in California and I might not have all the time for my tortoise. I'm making this so that I can see what I'm doing wrong and right and what I need to change. I've had my leopard tortoise for about a week now and it's a baby. I've done research and I've set up my enclosure as suggested.
Enclosure Size: The enclosure itself measure 15.25 inches (width) x 20.5 inches (length) x 7 inches (height) the walls are all black so the tortoise can't see through.
Humidity: The humidity of the enclosure is usually around 40%-60% according to an Analog Zoo Med dual thermometer and humidity gauge.
Temperature: The temperature of the enclosure is usually at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit; keep in mind that I only have one thermometer gauge and it's in the whole enclosure and it's in the middle (i'm thinking about getting more that are digital). The warmest area is about 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit (a guess) and the coldest area is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit and above (a guess).
Substrate: The substrate for the enclosure is "Reptichip" a coconut substrate, this was a recommended substrate for tortoises (although I've seen my tortoise nibble on the substrate, I've never seen it eat it).
Heating & UVB: For UVB I use a Zoo Med ReptiSun mini compact bulb and I just turn this on in the morning and then turn it off in the afternoon. For heating, I use a Ceramic Infrared Heat emitter and I leave this thing on the whole time even through the night. If necessary sometimes I turn on an Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp for extra heat (I usually turn it on after it eats then later I turn it off) I've noticed that this bulb gets really hot so that's why I only have it on sometimes.
Hide & Moisture: I also do have a hide inside the enclosure; normal, basic hide. Within the hide, I have moist orchid moss (not sure if it's a suitable substitute for sphagnum moss or if it's the same). I also have the same moss inside its water plate because it was also recommended (the water plate is linked here; I also have the same plate for the food).
Daily Care & Food: My daily care is I turn on its UVB light and if it's during the weekdays that's all I do for the morning. After school is over which is at 3 PM (PDT) I soak him in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes then I prepare its food, which usually consists of dandelion leaves and a Mazuri Tortoise Diet pellet soaked in water. I'm planning on planting dandelions, timothy grass, and crimson clovers so I could grow its food.
The baby tortoise whenever it is soaked it kind of poops but it looks like pieces of poop instead of a single turd (I wonder if this is normal?). Usually after eating the baby tortoise goes into its hide and it sleeps ( I also wonder if this is also normal?). I've also noticed the tortoise burrow sometimes in the corner after eating usually in its basking spot (I wonder if this is normal because I've read somewhere that leopard tortoises don't burrow). Feel free to critique what I have set up and provided advice and or alternatives to what I'm doing.
Enclosure Size: The enclosure itself measure 15.25 inches (width) x 20.5 inches (length) x 7 inches (height) the walls are all black so the tortoise can't see through.
Humidity: The humidity of the enclosure is usually around 40%-60% according to an Analog Zoo Med dual thermometer and humidity gauge.
Temperature: The temperature of the enclosure is usually at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit; keep in mind that I only have one thermometer gauge and it's in the whole enclosure and it's in the middle (i'm thinking about getting more that are digital). The warmest area is about 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit (a guess) and the coldest area is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit and above (a guess).
Substrate: The substrate for the enclosure is "Reptichip" a coconut substrate, this was a recommended substrate for tortoises (although I've seen my tortoise nibble on the substrate, I've never seen it eat it).
Heating & UVB: For UVB I use a Zoo Med ReptiSun mini compact bulb and I just turn this on in the morning and then turn it off in the afternoon. For heating, I use a Ceramic Infrared Heat emitter and I leave this thing on the whole time even through the night. If necessary sometimes I turn on an Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp for extra heat (I usually turn it on after it eats then later I turn it off) I've noticed that this bulb gets really hot so that's why I only have it on sometimes.
Hide & Moisture: I also do have a hide inside the enclosure; normal, basic hide. Within the hide, I have moist orchid moss (not sure if it's a suitable substitute for sphagnum moss or if it's the same). I also have the same moss inside its water plate because it was also recommended (the water plate is linked here; I also have the same plate for the food).
Daily Care & Food: My daily care is I turn on its UVB light and if it's during the weekdays that's all I do for the morning. After school is over which is at 3 PM (PDT) I soak him in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes then I prepare its food, which usually consists of dandelion leaves and a Mazuri Tortoise Diet pellet soaked in water. I'm planning on planting dandelions, timothy grass, and crimson clovers so I could grow its food.
The baby tortoise whenever it is soaked it kind of poops but it looks like pieces of poop instead of a single turd (I wonder if this is normal?). Usually after eating the baby tortoise goes into its hide and it sleeps ( I also wonder if this is also normal?). I've also noticed the tortoise burrow sometimes in the corner after eating usually in its basking spot (I wonder if this is normal because I've read somewhere that leopard tortoises don't burrow). Feel free to critique what I have set up and provided advice and or alternatives to what I'm doing.