New tortoise owner

Crystallynda

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By a glass enclosure do you mean a big fish tank? How will that help you?...it's still open on the top. What he's in is better than a fish tank.

You can cover the enclosure that he's in. There are a couple methods. Do you have someone who can cut some lumber for you? Are you handy with a saw? You can build a very simple structure that will help hold heat and humidity. It looks like this...
View attachment 315536

As you can see it's 2 simple crossed pieces spanned by a 3rd piece. If you go to Home Depot to buy the 2x4's, they will cut them for you. Then all you need is a few nails (or screws...I like them better). Your lights will hand from the overhead piece. Then you use a shower curtain or liner and drape it over the whole structure. TaDa! A closed chamber! I would put his enclosure up off the floor onto a table. That will help with heat, humidity, and your back. Everything will be easier to do, and better for your baby. If you want to, you can also make this with PVC tubes and connectors. Either method works.
He’s on my dresser! I picked him off the floor days ago because I had an instinct that it was better!
This looks interesting..now how will he breath tho is my question?

and also how would I feed him with plastic being taped in?
 

Crystallynda

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Well, a rock comes from somebody's back yard.
A branch falls off a tree and lands in somebody's back yard.
A plant comes from a cutting from somebody's back yard that doesn't use weed killer or bug killer on their plants.

I think I would start checking out neighbors' and friends' and relatives' back yards.

If you find a plant you like, use this site to see if it's safe for torts.
ok so where I’m at there’s not many plants around unfortunately!!!
But do you think a nursery would work? That’s where you buy trees and stuff!
Cause I found artificial ones at Petsmart yesterday but I figured branches from nature would be better for him!
 

Crystallynda

Active Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
689
Location (City and/or State)
Las Vegas
By a glass enclosure do you mean a big fish tank? How will that help you?...it's still open on the top. What he's in is better than a fish tank.

You can cover the enclosure that he's in. There are a couple methods. Do you have someone who can cut some lumber for you? Are you handy with a saw? You can build a very simple structure that will help hold heat and humidity. It looks like this...
View attachment 315536

As you can see it's 2 simple crossed pieces spanned by a 3rd piece. If you go to Home Depot to buy the 2x4's, they will cut them for you. Then all you need is a few nails (or screws...I like them better). Your lights will hand from the overhead piece. Then you use a shower curtain or liner and drape it over the whole structure. TaDa! A closed chamber! I would put his enclosure up off the floor onto a table. That will help with heat, humidity, and your back. Everything will be easier to do, and better for your baby. If you want to, you can also make this with PVC tubes and connectors. Either method works.
I’m not that handy but I can probably improvise if I have to or have my fiancé do it!
 

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Crystallynda

Active Member
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Messages
689
Location (City and/or State)
Las Vegas
He’s on my dresser! I picked him off the floor days ago because I had an instinct that it was better!
This looks interesting..now how will he breath tho is my question?

and also how would I feed him with plastic being taped in?
Are his eyes normal?
 

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KarenSoCal

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Low desert 50 mi SE of Palm Springs CA
He’s on my dresser! I picked him off the floor days ago because I had an instinct that it was better!
This looks interesting..now how will he breath tho is my question?

and also how would I feed him with plastic being taped in?
Glad he's on the dresser...somehow I missed that.

There is no problem getting enough air. Nothing is air tight, and you opening it to care for him provides plenty of exchange.

It does not get taped. It just hangs, preferably into the enclosure. That way any condensation runs into the enclosure rather than onto the floor.
 

KarenSoCal

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ok so where I’m at there’s not many plants around unfortunately!!!
But do you think a nursery would work? That’s where you buy trees and stuff!
Cause I found artificial ones at Petsmart yesterday but I figured branches from nature would be better for him!
You can get plants from a nursery. The problem is that they will have had pesticides and/or weed killer used on them. That stuff takes a year to grow out of the plant. First you take the plant out of the soil it was bought in. Rinse the roots to get all the dirt off. Then repot the plant in soil that has no chemicals in it. Then wait a year.

This is why I say to try to get cuttings from people you know have not used chemicals.
 

KarenSoCal

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How can I try it a bit? It’s @97 ??

that’s why he’s the way he is!!
It needed to be died a little...I should of followed my instincts!!
97% humidity is fine! Just let it dry for a day, but keep the humidity above 80%.

"that"s why he's the way he is"
He's perfectly fine! Stop looking for trouble. You are going to make yourself sick with over obsessing about every tiny thing. Stop and relax! Your boy is doing good!
 

Crystallynda

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97% humidity is fine! Just let it dry for a day, but keep the humidity above 80%.

"that"s why he's the way he is"
He's perfectly fine! Stop looking for trouble. You are going to make yourself sick with over obsessing about every tiny thing. Stop and relax! Your boy is doing good!
I’m just concerned of his eyes now...I’m gonna let the substrate dry a bit..he seems to like it where the light is located! Should I get him a higher watt? Or is it fine S long as I keep my room between 74-80 degrees??
 

Crystallynda

Active Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
689
Location (City and/or State)
Las Vegas
You can get plants from a nursery. The problem is that they will have had pesticides and/or weed killer used on them. That stuff takes a year to grow out of the plant. First you take the plant out of the soil it was bought in. Rinse the roots to get all the dirt off. Then repot the plant in soil that has no chemicals in it. Then wait a year.

This is why I say to try to get cuttings from people you know have not used chemicals.
Ima have to ask around then!!
Cause I don’t know who may have plants I can give him ! I maybe the first one to actually have a tort lol
 

Crystallynda

Active Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
689
Location (City and/or State)
Las Vegas
Glad he's on the dresser...somehow I missed that.

There is no problem getting enough air. Nothing is air tight, and you opening it to care for him provides plenty of exchange.

It does not get taped. It just hangs, preferably into the enclosure. That way any condensation runs into the enclosure rather than onto the floor.
I’ll probably have to do more research on this to get it right for the baby! For now ima focus on getting him his hide!
The question is, where should I put his hide?
 

Crystallynda

Active Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
689
Location (City and/or State)
Las Vegas
97% humidity is fine! Just let it dry for a day, but keep the humidity above 80%.

"that"s why he's the way he is"
He's perfectly fine! Stop looking for trouble. You are going to make yourself sick with over obsessing about every tiny thing. Stop and relax! Your boy is doing good!
I’m gonna keep a close eye!!
 

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zackary2431

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Jan 7, 2021
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45
Location (City and/or State)
Los Angeles
Hello, I am new at owning a desert Tortoise that someone gave to me!
I been doing a lot of research on these guys..
the one I have seems to be still pretty young..I’m assuming about 1 year or 2 old!
So far I have noticed he’s been a little scared of me or his surroundings..I only take him out to give him a warm bath and take him out for some sunlight! I have noticed that he wants to eat when outside but all he wants to do is sleep when he’s inside! I know he’s cold..I just purchased his light on Amazon..waiting on arrival...

my question is..should I buy him coconut fiber for his substrate? He currently has sand and rocks and two plastic hideouts that he normally stays in cause I know he’s cold!
Also..what else should I get this little guy? I considered getting him a tortoise table already since he’ll be inside most of the time but will be taking him out for sunlight often! I wanna be sure he’s well taken care of!!
P.S excuse his messy enclosure...that’s how I got him..don’t have any supplies for him yet..but they are in their way!

View attachment 315237View attachment 315238
Take him to the vet ASAP
 

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