I tried to make this clear and concise. I may seem to be asking a lot of questions, but I have a deep passion for understanding things and later being able to share the info I’ve acquired with others! Sorry in advance for all the words!!!!
Hello everyone, I’ve spent countless hours reading posts here and learning from everyone back when I was getting ready to adopt my first tort (baba , the Russian tortoise) I’ve had him living in his outdoor enclosure and he seems pretty happy. I ended up becoming extremely fascinated with all tortoises the more I learned about them and decided to make an attempt at providing a wonderful life for a 4 -8 week old cherry head. I’ve been reading and asking questions on Facebook and I have received tons of excellent information, some of you I’m sure will be reading this, so thanks again! I’m posting here now with my current setup for the baby, and with some comments and suggestions that people have offered me. I really want to get a couple more hatchlings but only once I have the setup near perfect. Any info is greatly appreciated!
Here’s what Taika and I are working with as of now. I don’t mind redoing the entire setup. The health of my baby is my priority. (This is her )
40 gallon tank covered with a metal screen and foil (to trap humidity)
Substrate bottom level is sphagnum. Apprx 2 inches moistened, not soaked (fear of shell rot)
On top of that i added some coco coir mulch today and misted it down to try and raise the humidity/keep it from drying while I’m at work.
He has a log hide in the “cool” corner on some not-as-damp sphagnum.
I’m currently using the zoomed tropical dual light set that was suggested to me but have since learned that it could be harmful to the eyes and would like to use a reptisun top with a radiated heat panel as was suggested by a wonderful member of the forum. If someone can help me out with selecting that for my tank size, or explaining how to calculate it, I would appreciate it! I assume I would need a different cover than my current half screen half foil cover. Also, any comments on why or why not to change to this would be awesome!
I’m using a CHE at night for warmth.
I have a single hygrometer in the center, a little closer to the “hot” side at substrate level to keep an eye on things.
Taika has been eating squash, which is his primary choice from what I’ve seen. She really likes spineless opuntia as well. She loves plantain (the plant not the fruit) also nibbles some endive leaves as well as red leaf lettuce and some curly lettuce. Nibbles some papaya, ate a quarter of a strawberry on the first day. She also ate a beetle when she was free roaming 2 days ago so I got some little mealworms that are now in a container eating carrots. I haven’t fed her the worms yet because I would like opinions. I’ve read not to give animal protein at this age but if she went looking for it on her own... I believe in nature and instincts.
I have a cuttlebone in her tank , which she is not yet interested in.
I am not adding calcium supplements because I “believe” she will get her requirements from the varied diet. Please correct me if I’m wrong!
I live in Miami, weekdays I take her out when I get home after work for some free roaming foraging. She doesn’t eat as much as my Russian does, but I feel she might just not feel safe yet in the yard. On the weekend, Taika and Baba, spend a good couple of hours a day out in the yard getting some sun and fresh weeds. (They eat the weeds, not us)
I soak her in the morning for a couple of minutes while I prep breakfast for the two and re-mist the substrate while she’s out. I also mist her while she eats or right before I leave for work if she’s not back under the log. She pooped this morning while soaking and it looked fine.
I’m worried about over dampening the sphagnum to maintain humidity because I don’t want her to get plastron/shell rot. How wet is too wet?
I put a large wine glass of water in the enclosure, it’s heavy enough that she can’t knock it down and tall enough that she can’t climb in , with a thin footprint so it doesn’t take up her walking space - I’m hoping it adds humidity while evaporating so that I don’t have to moisten the substrate too much. Maybe a bad idea? Better tips? I plan on getting a humidifier but am overwhelmed with the options. I need to have it sense the levels and activate accordingly since I can not control it while at work. If anyone wants to help me with this I’ll love you forever!
Ok - I think that’s it for now. If you read all of this, you’re awesome! Thanks again to everyone who’s offered suggestions already! Can’t wait to see my little lady grow big , strong and healthy!
Hello everyone, I’ve spent countless hours reading posts here and learning from everyone back when I was getting ready to adopt my first tort (baba , the Russian tortoise) I’ve had him living in his outdoor enclosure and he seems pretty happy. I ended up becoming extremely fascinated with all tortoises the more I learned about them and decided to make an attempt at providing a wonderful life for a 4 -8 week old cherry head. I’ve been reading and asking questions on Facebook and I have received tons of excellent information, some of you I’m sure will be reading this, so thanks again! I’m posting here now with my current setup for the baby, and with some comments and suggestions that people have offered me. I really want to get a couple more hatchlings but only once I have the setup near perfect. Any info is greatly appreciated!
Here’s what Taika and I are working with as of now. I don’t mind redoing the entire setup. The health of my baby is my priority. (This is her )
40 gallon tank covered with a metal screen and foil (to trap humidity)
Substrate bottom level is sphagnum. Apprx 2 inches moistened, not soaked (fear of shell rot)
On top of that i added some coco coir mulch today and misted it down to try and raise the humidity/keep it from drying while I’m at work.
He has a log hide in the “cool” corner on some not-as-damp sphagnum.
I’m currently using the zoomed tropical dual light set that was suggested to me but have since learned that it could be harmful to the eyes and would like to use a reptisun top with a radiated heat panel as was suggested by a wonderful member of the forum. If someone can help me out with selecting that for my tank size, or explaining how to calculate it, I would appreciate it! I assume I would need a different cover than my current half screen half foil cover. Also, any comments on why or why not to change to this would be awesome!
I’m using a CHE at night for warmth.
I have a single hygrometer in the center, a little closer to the “hot” side at substrate level to keep an eye on things.
Taika has been eating squash, which is his primary choice from what I’ve seen. She really likes spineless opuntia as well. She loves plantain (the plant not the fruit) also nibbles some endive leaves as well as red leaf lettuce and some curly lettuce. Nibbles some papaya, ate a quarter of a strawberry on the first day. She also ate a beetle when she was free roaming 2 days ago so I got some little mealworms that are now in a container eating carrots. I haven’t fed her the worms yet because I would like opinions. I’ve read not to give animal protein at this age but if she went looking for it on her own... I believe in nature and instincts.
I have a cuttlebone in her tank , which she is not yet interested in.
I am not adding calcium supplements because I “believe” she will get her requirements from the varied diet. Please correct me if I’m wrong!
I live in Miami, weekdays I take her out when I get home after work for some free roaming foraging. She doesn’t eat as much as my Russian does, but I feel she might just not feel safe yet in the yard. On the weekend, Taika and Baba, spend a good couple of hours a day out in the yard getting some sun and fresh weeds. (They eat the weeds, not us)
I soak her in the morning for a couple of minutes while I prep breakfast for the two and re-mist the substrate while she’s out. I also mist her while she eats or right before I leave for work if she’s not back under the log. She pooped this morning while soaking and it looked fine.
I’m worried about over dampening the sphagnum to maintain humidity because I don’t want her to get plastron/shell rot. How wet is too wet?
I put a large wine glass of water in the enclosure, it’s heavy enough that she can’t knock it down and tall enough that she can’t climb in , with a thin footprint so it doesn’t take up her walking space - I’m hoping it adds humidity while evaporating so that I don’t have to moisten the substrate too much. Maybe a bad idea? Better tips? I plan on getting a humidifier but am overwhelmed with the options. I need to have it sense the levels and activate accordingly since I can not control it while at work. If anyone wants to help me with this I’ll love you forever!
Ok - I think that’s it for now. If you read all of this, you’re awesome! Thanks again to everyone who’s offered suggestions already! Can’t wait to see my little lady grow big , strong and healthy!