Worried i’m not being a good mom - 3 month old horsfield baby

Voiletthetort

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Hey guys i’ve had my little for a few days now and i was sold the wrong bulb i’ve now bought a combi and reflector so that’ll be up when it arrives. i’ve attached a pic of the table but again i’ve now moved the light to be 30cm ish from him now so won’t burn him.
I’m worried he keeps burrowing so i have now moved the light higher up and attached on a wood fixing to be sturdy, but he’s still burrowing when turned off?
Also i’m worried when foraging for weeds i may confuse one for another or pick something harmful thinking it’s safe!
I’m so nervous i joined a group on facebook and got harassed by nasty people so hoping you guys won’t be the same i’m new to this i want him to have a good happy life but i’m still learning so i’m open to advice rather than people just being straight rude saying he will die in a few weeks!!
At the moment i feed him bistro salad with carrot and some cucumber but i want to feed flowers but scared to forage but i know shop bought are no good. Please can i have some reassurance and help.
 

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Cherryshell

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method89

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Hey guys i’ve had my little for a few days now and i was sold the wrong bulb i’ve now bought a combi and reflector so that’ll be up when it arrives. i’ve attached a pic of the table but again i’ve now moved the light to be 30cm ish from him now so won’t burn him.
I’m worried he keeps burrowing so i have now moved the light higher up and attached on a wood fixing to be sturdy, but he’s still burrowing when turned off?
Also i’m worried when foraging for weeds i may confuse one for another or pick something harmful thinking it’s safe!
I’m so nervous i joined a group on facebook and got harassed by nasty people so hoping you guys won’t be the same i’m new to this i want him to have a good happy life but i’m still learning so i’m open to advice rather than people just being straight rude saying he will die in a few weeks!!
At the moment i feed him bistro salad with carrot and some cucumber but i want to feed flowers but scared to forage but i know shop bought are no good. Please can i have some reassurance and help.
He's a baby... they burrow... a lot.

STAY AWAY FROM FACEBOOK!!

You are in the right place. read the caresheet posted above. it is a great way to get your husbandry in perfect order.

He needs better humidity which you will only get from putting a top on your enclosure. Substrate looks pretty dry. add water till its moist but not dripping when you squeeze it.

I believe you said you moved the light. please post better pictures.

he will also need a uvb bulb.

Deep breathe... almost everyone starts this way. its how well and fast you correct it that counts.
 

Sarah2020

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Welcome your on the right site . Questions welcome. Burrowing us ok they like to bury and if deep enough top scute will only show. They twist their face left to right and manage to breath ! As your new just start slowly grasp the basics and build from there to make youd new charge happy and healthy, read the care sheet. Any questions please ask. For food they love dandelion flowers go for a walk on a sunny day and they will be obvious.
 

Voiletthetort

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He's a baby... they burrow... a lot.

STAY AWAY FROM FACEBOOK!!

You are in the right place. read the caresheet posted above. it is a great way to get your husbandry in perfect order.

He needs better humidity which you will only get from putting a top on your enclosure. Substrate looks pretty dry. add water till its moist but not dripping when you squeeze it.

I believe you said you moved the light. please post better pictures.

he will also need a uvb bulb.

Deep breathe... almost everyone starts this way. its how well and fast you correct it that counts.
i’m getting the Arcadia D3 basking bulb with reflector hopefully by monday, i’m going to buy a spray bottle tomorrow shall i just put water in a spray until like you say or actually pour water on?
 

Sarah2020

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Stop the carrot and cucumber as too much sugar. Check out lambs lettuce and radicchio available at a gree grocer. Also list will help.
 

Voiletthetort

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Welcome your on the right site . Questions welcome. Burrowing us ok they like to bury and if deep enough top scute will only show. They twist their face left to right and manage to breath ! As your new just start slowly grasp the basics and build from there to make youd new charge happy and healthy, read the care sheet. Any questions please ask. For food they love dandelion flowers go for a walk on a sunny day and they will be obvious.
i’ve saved the care sheet so will read daily to keep reminding myself, i’m going to go foraging this weekend to see what i can find out behind in the fields. What are common mistake when foraging can i ask?
 

method89

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i’m getting the Arcadia D3 basking bulb with reflector hopefully by monday, i’m going to buy a spray bottle tomorrow shall i just put water in a spray until like you say or actually pour water on?
pour water directly in, mixing it as go, getting to the where you want it.
 

Sleppo

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Use the care sheet as your guide it is a tremendous help. Getting set up is the hardest part once you meet all the required specs and slide into a routine with your tortoise it will be much easier. Follow the advice from members on this site they have years and years of tortoise husbandry experience which is way more valuable then any other information you will find on the internet, in books, and even from "most" veterinarians. We are all here to help each other out so ask questions. Good luck!
 

method89

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i’ve saved the care sheet so will read daily to keep reminding myself, i’m going to go foraging this weekend to see what i can find out behind in the fields. What are common mistake when foraging can i ask?
pesticides... pick weeds and flowers from know pesticide free locations. do your best to stay away from fertilizer as well.
 

method89

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he looks like he needs a good soak as well... read that part of the caresheet and get him soaking. it will really help his new growth come in smooth
 

Voiletthetort

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he looks like he needs a good soak as well... read that part of the caresheet and get him soaking. it will really help his new growth come in smooth
yes i forgot i had to soak her everyday i felt awful soaking her the first day as :he wouldn’t move or the second day she just sits there and closes her eyes is that ok?
 

method89

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yes i forgot i had to soak her everyday i felt awful soaking her the first day as :he wouldn’t move or the second day she just sits there and closes her eyes is that ok?
what temp is the water? too cold/too hot not good.
 

Sleppo

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i’ve saved the care sheet so will read daily to keep reminding myself, i’m going to go foraging this weekend to see what i can find out behind in the fields. What are common mistake when foraging can i ask?

Just use common sense if you aren't 100% sure of what you pick don't feed it to your tortoise. "When in doubt throw it out" is what I always say. Keep in mind you will want to make sure wherever you are foraging that it is not an area that could have been sprayed with pesticides or chemicals. I would not forage close to any roads or highways either due to any run off of road pollution. I am not familiar with your climate/environment in the UK but most of us will supplement with dried flowers/weeds along with limited grocery store staples until weeds are plentiful outside. (Lucky for me my yard is nothing but weeds) Check out Kapidolo Farms and Tortoise Supply Company, they offer lots of dried mixes and seeds that you can use to grow your own weeds.
 

Sleppo

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i read luke warm like you’d put a baby in?

They need really warm water but not too hot that it burns them. I usually dip my wrist in the water and if it burns me its too hot. Think of what you would like your bathwater to be that's a good temp for them. If the water starts to get too cold add additional warm water.
 

zolasmum

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He/she looks very cute. I just noticed on that reference guide that it says feed for 20 minutes daily - I think
that the general feeling now is to let them eat as much as they want through the day, topping up their food as necessary.
Angie (from Devon, UK)
 
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