New Marginated Tort Parents

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
Hello everyone!

My wife and I are new to the Forum, as well as being new tortoise parents to our favorite little guy, Bo! He just turned about 3 months old! Check out the picture, and you can see why we are head over heels for him!

Since we are new, I wanted to see if we are doing things right. Below is a list of things we have done to help our little guy live a long and happy life. We are definitely open to comments, concerns, suggestions, or what ever you may think could help us. We love Bo, and will do anything we can for him. We have tried to educate ourselves, via this forum, articles, YouTube videos, etc.. but some information doesn't seem accurate, so I'm hoping we can get some more clarity here. Please keep in mind that we are in Vancouver, BC, Canada and it is currently winter!

About Bo!
- Marginated tortoise, 3 months old
- 2.5ish" long, 60g weight
-Loves kale! and loves his pellets
- some days he just sits in the corner under the light all day and then will go to hide after a quick snack, other days, he eats everything's and has lots of energy, walking and climbing!

-Enclosure size 3.5' x 2.5', about 8" high ( made it ourselves using 2x10s!)
- Substrate is potting soil, mixed with peat moss and some rocks. about 4" deep
- also, I cut a patch of grass from my lawn and added it into the enclosure for grazing
- Put some succulents in there that he nibbles on quite a bit!
---I see that some people keep plants in the pot then put it in the enclosure, but we take it out and dig it into the soil to give it a more natural look, is this okay?
- Basking Temp - 90-100F
- Cool side Temp - 70 F
- Diet - spring mix greens, tortoise diet pellets, rare fruits, (weeds are hard to come by right now as it is winter and gross outside!)
- Vitamins - Herptivite 2-3 times per week and he also loves the cuttlebone! (which is odd because I heard not many torts do)
- Bathe him almost every day, if not then every other day.

Sorry for the long message, but I'm sure people here can understand my love and concern for my little guy (not many people do!)

I look forward to hearing from you all! I can give more detail and pictures if needed, but I will wait for a follow up first.

All the best!

Bo's Mom and Dad
 

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pacific chelonians

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Jan 4, 2021
Messages
495
Location (City and/or State)
SanDiego California
The rocks mixed in with the substrate could be a problem I have had experiences with them eating it it can be deadly so maybe try removing the rocks to be safe nothing will probably happen either way
 

method89

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Malverne, NY
looks a bit dry in there... what is your humidity level and have you moistened the substrate?
 

Yossarian

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5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
Welcome to TFO, nice looking little tort, the enclosure is too dry though, here is our care sheet. There is a lot of bad information on line, stick to this forum and your tort will grow up great. Pls read the care sheet and come back if you have questions. There are a number of issues you need to address.

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise | Tortoise Forum
 
Last edited:

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Messages
63,264
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Southern California
Hello everyone!

My wife and I are new to the Forum, as well as being new tortoise parents to our favorite little guy, Bo! He just turned about 3 months old! Check out the picture, and you can see why we are head over heels for him!

Since we are new, I wanted to see if we are doing things right. Below is a list of things we have done to help our little guy live a long and happy life. We are definitely open to comments, concerns, suggestions, or what ever you may think could help us. We love Bo, and will do anything we can for him. We have tried to educate ourselves, via this forum, articles, YouTube videos, etc.. but some information doesn't seem accurate, so I'm hoping we can get some more clarity here. Please keep in mind that we are in Vancouver, BC, Canada and it is currently winter!

About Bo!
- Marginated tortoise, 3 months old
- 2.5ish" long, 60g weight
-Loves kale! and loves his pellets
- some days he just sits in the corner under the light all day and then will go to hide after a quick snack, other days, he eats everything's and has lots of energy, walking and climbing!

-Enclosure size 3.5' x 2.5', about 8" high ( made it ourselves using 2x10s!)
- Substrate is potting soil, mixed with peat moss and some rocks. about 4" deep
- also, I cut a patch of grass from my lawn and added it into the enclosure for grazing
- Put some succulents in there that he nibbles on quite a bit!
---I see that some people keep plants in the pot then put it in the enclosure, but we take it out and dig it into the soil to give it a more natural look, is this okay?
- Basking Temp - 90-100F
- Cool side Temp - 70 F
- Diet - spring mix greens, tortoise diet pellets, rare fruits, (weeds are hard to come by right now as it is winter and gross outside!)
- Vitamins - Herptivite 2-3 times per week and he also loves the cuttlebone! (which is odd because I heard not many torts do)
- Bathe him almost every day, if not then every other day.

Sorry for the long message, but I'm sure people here can understand my love and concern for my little guy (not many people do!)

I look forward to hearing from you all! I can give more detail and pictures if needed, but I will wait for a follow up first.

All the best!

Bo's Mom and Dad
Hello and welcome! Gorgeous little tortoise.

Bo's size, weight and appearance all look great!

Soaking routine sounds great.

Diet might need some help. Kale is okay once in a while, but not often. Fruit should be avoided entirely. What kind of pellets?

Soil and peat should never be used for tortoise substrate. Soil is made from composted yard waste, and there is no way to know what is in it. Peat can literally rot their plastron. I've seen it.

If your lawn was from sod, this may be a bad idea. Sod is growth with all sorts of chemicals in it, and also has that little plastic netting that will eventually be exposed and could be eaten or he could get tangled in it.

Store bought decorative plants are grown with systemic pesticides. These can't be rinsed off as the plant takes them up and assimilates them into its tissues. The toxins can take a year to dissipate to safe levels. These plants are also planted in potting soil that can have all sorts of dangerous additives, like perlite, for one example. Be careful.

Your temperatures sound great.

There is lots of info you will find helpful about diet and substrate in the care sheet that Yossarian linked for you.

Questions are welcome! :)
 

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
Hello and welcome! Gorgeous little tortoise.

Bo's size, weight and appearance all look great!

Soaking routine sounds great.

Diet might need some help. Kale is okay once in a while, but not often. Fruit should be avoided entirely. What kind of pellets?

Soil and peat should never be used for tortoise substrate. Soil is made from composted yard waste, and there is no way to know what is in it. Peat can literally rot their plastron. I've seen it.

If your lawn was from sod, this may be a bad idea. Sod is growth with all sorts of chemicals in it, and also has that little plastic netting that will eventually be exposed and could be eaten or he could get tangled in it.

Store bought decorative plants are grown with systemic pesticides. These can't be rinsed off as the plant takes them up and assimilates them into its tissues. The toxins can take a year to dissipate to safe levels. These plants are also planted in potting soil that can have all sorts of dangerous additives, like perlite, for one example. Be careful.

Your temperatures sound great.

There is lots of info you will find helpful about diet and substrate in the care sheet that Yossarian linked for you.

Questions are welcome! :)

Hi and thank you for the warm welcome and advice.

The pellets we feed him are Thrive Tortoise Diet.

The plants are from a pet store, and I was told that they are reptile safe! Not sure how knowledgeable they are though. I don't put him near plants from florists and garden centers as they have been sprayed with who knows what. Spring is around the corner here in Vancouver, so I am excited to start growing some food and plants for him!

Thank you again, you help is greatly appreciated :)
 

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
Welcome to TFO, nice looking little tort, the enclosure is too dry though, here is our care sheet. There is a lot of bad information on line, stick to this forum and your tort will grow up great. Pls read the care sheet and come back if you have questions. There are a number of issues you need to address.

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise | Tortoise Forum

It's hard to find orchid bark at the moment, would reptibark work?? Or a orchid bark and soil mix?
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
It's hard to find orchid bark at the moment, would reptibark work?? Or a orchid bark and soil mix?

Repti Bark is orchid bark just more expensive because of branding. Most big garden stores and online retailers sell Orchid Bark.
 

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
Repti Bark is orchid bark just more expensive because of branding. Most big garden stores and online retailers sell Orchid Bark.

The Garden stores near me are all re stocking since spring is around the corner, they won't have any for a couple weeks at least. I am going to try coco coir and repti bark mix from petsmart for the time being, unless you don't think that is a good idea?
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
The Garden stores near me are all re stocking since spring is around the corner, they won't have any for a couple weeks at least. I am going to try coco coir and repti bark mix from petsmart for the time being, unless you don't think that is a good idea?

As long as you dont mind paying the extra the mix is fine, honestly though I dont mix anything with coco anymore, there isnt much point, I would just use one or the other. Coco is good, its just a bit messy.
 

harrythetortoise

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
455
Location (City and/or State)
Virginia
Hello and welcome!
Bo looks very cute ?
Only 3 months old and already 60 grams?! Wow I'm jealous!
My baby is about 5 months old now and weighed 39 g today.
Have some catching up to do!

Read the care sheet here, it provides a lot of good information. Again, welcome!
 

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
Hello and welcome!
Bo looks very cute ?
Only 3 months old and already 60 grams?! Wow I'm jealous!
My baby is about 5 months old now and weighed 39 g today.
Have some catching up to do!

Read the care sheet here, it provides a lot of good information. Again, welcome!

They are all unique in there own way! Thank you for the warm welcome :)
 

maureen allenza

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
86
Hello everyone!

My wife and I are new to the Forum, as well as being new tortoise parents to our favorite little guy, Bo! He just turned about 3 months old! Check out the picture, and you can see why we are head over heels for him!

Since we are new, I wanted to see if we are doing things right. Below is a list of things we have done to help our little guy live a long and happy life. We are definitely open to comments, concerns, suggestions, or what ever you may think could help us. We love Bo, and will do anything we can for him. We have tried to educate ourselves, via this forum, articles, YouTube videos, etc.. but some information doesn't seem accurate, so I'm hoping we can get some more clarity here. Please keep in mind that we are in Vancouver, BC, Canada and it is currently winter!

About Bo!
- Marginated tortoise, 3 months old
- 2.5ish" long, 60g weight
-Loves kale! and loves his pellets
- some days he just sits in the corner under the light all day and then will go to hide after a quick snack, other days, he eats everything's and has lots of energy, walking and climbing!

-Enclosure size 3.5' x 2.5', about 8" high ( made it ourselves using 2x10s!)
- Substrate is potting soil, mixed with peat moss and some rocks. about 4" deep
- also, I cut a patch of grass from my lawn and added it into the enclosure for grazing
- Put some succulents in there that he nibbles on quite a bit!
---I see that some people keep plants in the pot then put it in the enclosure, but we take it out and dig it into the soil to give it a more natural look, is this okay?
- Basking Temp - 90-100F
- Cool side Temp - 70 F
- Diet - spring mix greens, tortoise diet pellets, rare fruits, (weeds are hard to come by right now as it is winter and gross outside!)
- Vitamins - Herptivite 2-3 times per week and he also loves the cuttlebone! (which is odd because I heard not many torts do)
- Bathe him almost every day, if not then every other day.

Sorry for the long message, but I'm sure people here can understand my love and concern for my little guy (not many people do!)

I look forward to hearing from you all! I can give more detail and pictures if needed, but I will wait for a follow up first.

All the best!

Bo's Mom and Dad
 

maureen allenza

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
86
What a doll! I don't know enough about this type of tort. Mine was a Russian. It sounds like you've done a great job! And it's great that that you're not assuming anything and going to the experts! May you and the little addition have a long and healthy life together!
 

Bo's Mom & Dad

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver, B.C.
What a doll! I don't know enough about this type of tort. Mine was a Russian. It sounds like you've done a great job! And it's great that that you're not assuming anything and going to the experts! May you and the little addition have a long and healthy life together!

Thank you for your kind words! :)
 
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