New tortoise owner

[Crystallynda]

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

He’s been in the colder side of the cage since like 5 pm this afternoon!!

 

[Crystallynda]

?

what time should I feed?

Can he eat later in the day? He nibbled at his food today..I took out the dried cilantro And strawberries! -“ I used to have a bearded dragon who loved raspberries and strawberries “‘didn’t have proper care at the time and the breaded obviously wasn’t great either and he perished 8 year ago”!!
So be patient with me if I ask a lot of questions!! I don’t want to go through another tragedy like that again!! All I want is the very best for this little guy!!-
He didn’t eat much today and he’s sleeping! Should I feed him tomorrow first thing??

 

[Crystallynda]

Should I leave his enclosure open ? Cause his light is hanging above with the Tun open

 

[Jan A]

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!

You can look online for lists of vets who treat herps, reptiles & torts in your area. I've seen a list somewhere put out by a tort site when I was looking to see if we had a vet in my area before I buy my first tort.

You're doing fine. These folks have more experience combined than a lot of breeders. What are you naming him?

 

[Crystallynda]

You can look online for lists of vets who treat herps, reptiles & torts in your area. I've seen a list somewhere put out by a tort site when I was looking to see if we had a vet in my area before I buy my first tort.

You're doing fine. These folks have more experience combined than a lot of breeders. What are you naming him?

I named him Coco! ????

 

[Crystallynda]

I have an adjustable light, so I can dim his light at night and not turn it off completely!
I wonder if there’s a way to program this in as well!!??

thoughts??

 

[Crystallynda]

I have an adjustable light, so I can dim his light at night and not turn it off completely!
I wonder if there’s a way to program this in as well!!??

thoughts??

Should I clean his enclosure from the little dust left from his sand he previously had before adding his new substrate?

 

[KarenSoCal]

Gotta figure out how to set that up!

Get an appliance timer at Walmart. Get one that has 2 places to plug something in. Then plug your basking lamp into the timer, and plug the timer into a wall outlet. Set the timer to come on at 8 or 9 AM. Set it to go off at 8 or 9 PM. You're done.

The light is to be off at night, not dimmed. Torts follow the same day/night cycle we do.

Torts are grazers. It's best if you feed him first thing in the morning. Give him a pile of greens about the same size that he is. Leave it there all day so he can eat whenever he wants. Take any leftovers out after lights out. If nothing is left over, give him a little more the next day. If there is just a small amount left, perfect!

Don't bother with dust cleanup...you'll be dumping a bunch of substrate in there. Just don't leave a pile of sand.

 

[Crystallynda]

Get an appliance timer at Walmart. Get one that has 2 places to plug something in. Then plug your basking lamp into the timer, and plug the timer into a wall outlet. Set the timer to come on at 8 or 9 AM. Set it to go off at 8 or 9 PM. You're done.

The light is to be off at night, not dimmed. Torts follow the same day/night cycle we do.

Torts are grazers. It's best if you feed him first thing in the morning. Give him a pile of greens about the same size that he is. Leave it there all day so he can eat whenever he wants. Take any leftovers out after lights out. If nothing is left over, give him a little more the next day. If there is just a small amount left, perfect!

Don't bother with dust cleanup...you'll be dumping a bunch of substrate in there. Just don't leave a pile of sand.

I have the one from Home Depot but I’m a little Lost on how to use it lol

 

[queen koopa]

What should I do? I bought him pellets from the pet store and powder calcium with D3 in it that’s it! The rest of the stuff I been looking at is from Amazon! Check other reply for images in which I got! I heard many bad things about coil for desert tortoise so I got him coconut fiber instead! Considering getting hay as well!!

the mercy light will arrive tomorrow and I also have a clip built for it as well to clip on his plastic enclosure! I have him without dirt in some un used sheets!!

Hi! I have the same plastic clamp light you ordered from Amazon, I put a basking bulb (60 watt flood). Do NOT use the clamp. It will break. I drilled a hole in the clamp and put a screw through it and bolted to the wall.

 

[Crystallynda]

Hi! I have the same plastic clamp light you ordered from Amazon, I put a basking bulb (60 watt flood). Do NOT use the clamp. It will break. I drilled a hole in the clamp and put a screw through it and bolted to the wall.View attachment 315352

Interesting! Yea I’m not using clamp! What Ima do is actually tape it down or something! ?

 

[tortlvr]

I had him up in a high way up on something, but it was to cold in that part of take house so I moved him in our room with a circulating heater till his lights come in!
I also dumped his dirt..it was super dirty and definitely noted he can have respiratory issues! ?

If youake sure you like

I been doing my part on keeping him as warm as possible till his lights come in!
I have him in my room...it’s actually warmer in here then where he previously was!

If you must shop for greens at the store make sure you like them as well. You will be having salads right along with this little beauty and won't waste much. Also since you live in Vegas, I don't think you will need a UVB light unless he never goes outside. Good luck and welcome!

 

[tortlvr]

Everything else I am getting him is that ok?

Get more than one temperature monitoring device. I have put 2 in the same place and they read different. I have the Acurite temp/humidity one and its ok. I'd advise getting one with a remote so you can monitor the temps without disturbing your tort. He looks great and it's life with you will be so much better.

 

[Crystallynda]

Get more than one temperature monitoring device. I have put 2 in the same place and they read different. I have the Acurite temp/humidity one and its ok. I'd advise getting one with a remote so you can monitor the temps without disturbing your tort. He looks great and it's life with you will be so much better.

I’ll def consider getting him another one! I’m still waiting on the one I ordered!!?

 

[Crystallynda]

Hey has anybody ever tried feeding them cacti?

 

[Srmcclure]

Hey has anybody ever tried feeding them cacti?

You can feed opuntia pads

 

[Crystallynda]

Im so in love!! ?

I love it when he stretches like this!!

 

[Crystallynda]

You can feed opuntia pads

How do they look? And are they in sprouts?

 

[Crystallynda]

Interesting! Yea I’m not using clamp! What Ima do is actually tape it down or something! ?

I not sure I’ll be keeping him in my room at all times since eventually I’ll be getting him a new bin!! ?

Ima tape the lap clip meanwhile or use zip ties!

 

[Crystallynda]

I have noticed coco has a little skin thing coming out his little face on the side!

Im currently basking him with his clay bowl with water under his light!!