New tortoise owner

[Crystallynda]

I would get 1-2 (2 is better for back up/accuracy, but not required) AcuRite thermometers/hygrometers (can be found online or at home improvement stores) and a thermometer probe to find the exact surface temperature. An alternative to the probe would be a temperature gun, which will allow you to get quick results.

Are you talking about recommendations for Kapidolo Farm’s items or Tortoise Supply’s?

Ah ok and yes...the next time I’ll probably get more stuff..

 

[Happytort27]

Thank you for being so willing to provide the best care for Coco! It’s always nice to see members who are open to suggestions.

 

[Crystallynda]

Thank you for being so willing to provide the best care for Coco! It’s always nice to see members who are open to suggestions.

Of course! ??
New members are treated like loyalty!

 

[Srmcclure]

Yea, you are doing great! Your baby will be so happy with you ?

 

[Srmcclure]

Alright I got mustard greens, bok choy, turnip, dandelion Greens and collard greens and endive !
I’ll come back for the escarole!

A plus side to having a tort is you also look like you eat super healthy all the time! Lol

So many cashiers have asked what I make with all of it ?

 

[Crystallynda]

A plus side to having a tort is you also look like you eat super healthy all the time! Lol

So many cashiers have asked what I make with all of it ?

Now that’s hilarious, now that’s I think of it I think I have encountered that already but the cashier did it indirectly! Lol

 

[KarenSoCal]

He wants to eat the cilantro but he keeps missing or it may be to big for him!! What should I do? ??

since I had him he’s been drinking more water than anything else!!

Baby torts frequently bite and miss the food. Even when they get older it still happens. Nothing to fret over.

 

[KarenSoCal]

He doesn’t seem to like anything..green I gave him!
Ima try strawberries!
I’m probably gonna head out to sprouts now to get him some more stuff!

Strawberries are sweet, like all fruit. Torts can't process sugars, so he really should not have fruit.

Torts eat what they are familiar with. You may need to slowly introduce some things.

Also, variety is great! But you're only feeding one tiny critter, and greens don't last very long in the fridge. Just FYI...don't buy too much at a time. ????

 

[Crystallynda]

He might be wanting a little calcium or he could just be curious lol

I have calcium powder with D3 and I have his cuttle bone on the way!

question, how should give coco his food? Like should I dust it? Should I mix it all together?How do I cut the turnip? By the way I got regular turnip I hope that’s alright!

 

[Crystallynda]

Strawberries are sweet, like all fruit. Torts can't process sugars, so he really should not have fruit.

Torts eat what they are familiar with. You may need to slowly introduce some things.

Also, variety is great! But you're only feeding one tiny critter, and greens don't last very long in the fridge. Just FYI...don't buy too much at a time. ????

Noted! Since this is my first time..I’ll probably explore with some of everything!!
I’ll hold off in strawberries!

 

[Happytort27]

Just leave the cuttle bone in his enclosure. He might ignore it at first, but one day you may wake up to find a couple of beak-shaped bites in the cuttlefish bone! He’ll occasionally munch on it when he feels like it, so don’t force him to eat it.

I would add a pinch of the calcium D3 powder on top his food and mix it together. Most tortoises don’t like the calcium powder, so I would mix with his food. It’s really easy to overdose, so just put a sprinkle of calcium 1-3 times a week.

To feed the turnip greens (not the bulb), you can leave the whole leaf in his enclosure and let him tear off the pieces himself or chop it into thin strips. Either way will work.

 

[Crystallynda]

Just leave the cuttle bone in his enclosure. He might ignore it at first, but one day you may wake up to find a couple of beak-shaped bites in the cuttlefish bone! He’ll occasionally munch on it when he feels like it, so don’t force him to eat it.

I would add a pinch of the calcium D3 powder on top his food and mix it together. Most tortoises don’t like the calcium powder, so I would mix with his food. It’s really easy to overdose, so just put a sprinkle of calcium 1-3 times a week.

To feed the turnip greens (not the bulb), you can leave the whole leaf in his enclosure and let him tear off the pieces himself or chop it into thin strips. Either way will work.

Oh darn I think I got the wrong turnip then ??

 

[Crystallynda]

Oh darn I think I got the wrong turnip then ??

I know it’s only very little needed of calcium!!

 

[Crystallynda]

Just leave the cuttle bone in his enclosure. He might ignore it at first, but one day you may wake up to find a couple of beak-shaped bites in the cuttlefish bone! He’ll occasionally munch on it when he feels like it, so don’t force him to eat it.

I would add a pinch of the calcium D3 powder on top his food and mix it together. Most tortoises don’t like the calcium powder, so I would mix with his food. It’s really easy to overdose, so just put a sprinkle of calcium 1-3 times a week.

To feed the turnip greens (not the bulb), you can leave the whole leaf in his enclosure and let him tear off the pieces himself or chop it into thin strips. Either way will work.

Who eats turnip bulb anyway lol

ugh I didn’t pay attention to the turnip green ??‍♀️

 

[Crystallynda]

Ok light schedule, what’s the recommendation for coco?

 

[KarenSoCal]

I gave him organic spinach and red chord just in case he wants to try something!! Now he’s just under the light like before!
I wouid like to take him in for a vet check up! What would be the recommendation vet here in the western area of USA!

I agree with Sydney re' the vet. Torts aren't like cats and dogs...they don't go for preventive medicine. Coco is doing well and shows no signs of anything wrong. Put your money in the bank til you really need a vet. Hopefully never.

Veggies like turnips, carrots, beets, radishes...he can eat the green tops of these, but not the actual turnip, carrot, beet, or radish.

When you get the cuttlebone, you'll see that it has a soft side and a hard side. Take a knife and scrape the hard part until you get most of it off. It's too sharp for babies to bite.

You can feed him the whole leaf of something, or you can tear/cut it up into smaller, mouth size bites. If you have to introduce a new food, the 'salad' all has to be cut up so he doesn't pick out the new food. I think most of us with 1 or 2 torts cut up the food. Someone with a lot of torts gives it whole...it's not practical to do all that cutting.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Ok light schedule, what’s the recommendation for coco?

His basking light should be on 12 hours daily, like 8AM to 8 PM, or 9 to 9. Dark the nighttime hours.

 

[Crystallynda]

His basking light should be on 12 hours daily, like 8AM to 8 PM, or 9 to 9. Dark the nighttime hours.

Gotta figure out how to set that up!

 

[Crystallynda]

I agree with Sydney re' the vet. Torts aren't like cats and dogs...they don't go for preventive medicine. Coco is doing well and shows no signs of anything wrong. Put your money in the bank til you really need a vet. Hopefully never.

Veggies like turnips, carrots, beets, radishes...he can eat the green tops of these, but not the actual turnip, carrot, beet, or radish.

When you get the cuttlebone, you'll see that it has a soft side and a hard side. Take a knife and scrape the hard part until you get most of it off. It's too sharp for babies to bite.

You can feed him the whole leaf of something, or you can tear/cut it up into smaller, mouth size bites. If you have to introduce a new food, the 'salad' all has to be cut up so he doesn't pick out the new food. I think most of us with 1 or 2 torts cut up the food. Someone with a lot of torts gives it whole...it's not practical to do all that cutting.

?

what time should I feed?

 

[Crystallynda]

Since I just turned on his light at around 5 should I turn it off already? It’s 9pm my here!!