Tom

Tom

10 Year Member! Platinum Tortoise Club
The Dog Trainer From Southern California
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  • BrookeB
    Tom do you breed pancake, stars or radiated torts? If not can you recommend any reputable breeders, I’m looking to buy sometime in the beginning of next year. Thank in advance.
    Tom
    Tom
    I breed Burmese stars and should have a bunch hatching in the next few weeks. No pancakes, but I do love them. Check with my buddy Wade for those @wccmog10 I finally have a little male radiata and I'm hoping to get my first babies this coming year.
    S
    Sarah2020
    Please post again when they hatch so we can see the progress.
    Rigatigtig
    Howdy Tom! I was searching through threads for pics of adult enclosures, even though it'll be a few years before they'll need a space that big, but it's best to plan early right? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    I keep seeing the link to your old expansion thread posted, but it says the pictures are unavailable. Could you possibly repost them again please? You're the master and I want to see how to do things right.
    Rigatigtig
    Rigatigtig
    I have 1,100+ acres with nice grassy pastures, good burrowing soil and shady trees. So the sky's the limit. Other than ideas from your pics, I'm wondering if my backyard will be big enough or if I should extend it further into the pasture for more space.
    N
    I'm looking to purchase a South African Leopard Tortoise and from what I've read on here you breed them. Will you have any available soon?
    Tom
    Tom
    Hi. Yes. I have a bunch incubating right now. They should be hatching in the next months or so.
    N
    Natalie1012
    I live in Massachusetts. Do you ship in the winter?
    Tom
    Tom
    Not usually. Depends on the weather.
    T
    Tom you use the 4x2s for the main frame and the 2x2s for the lid. What are the 3x2s used for?
    Are you still using 4x2 or have you moved to smaller sizes so you don't add unnecessary weight?
    Tom
    Tom
    I use 2x3s wherever I can when framing the boxes. Around the top, one of the two uprights in each corner, around the door frames, when build the frames inside the actual doors, etc... A few parts of the build require the 2x4s: The board along the back that the lid will attach to, the rain covers over the doors, the outside framing around the lid and on the floor, and the other inside corner pieces, etc...
    • Like
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    T
    Tom I noticed your enclosures don't have a pitched roof. Are you not having water pooling on the top cover slowly eroding it?
    Tom
    Tom
    No. Never been a problem. The lids get opened every day to check temps and torts, so any pooled water is dumped. Also, none of them are on perfectly level ground, so water runs off anyway.
    • Like
    Reactions: Tolis
    Tom
    Tom
    I've had one lid get dry rot after about 10 years of use, and I simply built a new lid for replacement. The rot began on the side of the box lid in the corner. I have an 8 year old lid that is starting to show this now too, but nothing on all of the others I've built. I currently have 12 of these boxes running with torts in them.
    • Like
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    D
    hi again!! i was wondering if you could send me Carol s's contact cause i cant find her account but i have heard she is great.
    D
    Hi, I am new here and I have never had a tortoise and I live in Northern Virginia and I would really like a tortoise that would go outside when possible and I have heard that soil and sand is not good for them so I need some advice.
    C
    I bought that rabbit/bunny bedding and I knew it was a mistake but the lady at the reptile store told me it was okay. I would like to purchase the Orchid bark. I need to change his lighting but I'm lost to which one to buy. I'm might buy the herbal hay from tortoise supply. He is eating pretty good at dinner time. I try giving him carrots and hibiscus leaves and seems to be picky but only eats romaine lettuce
    View previous comments…
    Cleopatra 2020
    Cleopatra 2020
    The best way to resolve this situation is create a post asking for the care sheets for sulcatas leopards and stars and that will be all you need to take care of your baby it covers every aspect
    Cleopatra 2020
    Cleopatra 2020
    That's assuming that's what you have but if you have a different tortoise ask the same question but for your species
    Tom
    Tom
    @claudialaguna What species of tortoise are we talking about? What size?
    BrookeB
    Wanted to give you the heads up that I posted pictures of my babies on Facebook and explained that they where Sudanese sulcatas and I’m getting a lot of people asking for contact with the breeder and or your info, so I’m telling them to message you here. Thanks again they are absolutely stunning.🥰❤
    Tom
    Tom
    Thank you for the heads up and for the recommendations! I've got a few left, so that is very helpful.

    Please feel free to pass on my number if someone doesn't want to go through the forum, but it would be best to encourage them to go through the forum, as you've been doing, so they learn proper care first. Much appreciated Brooke. :)
    T
    I went ahead and separated them as you advised, now i have the dad alone and the mom with 3 2&3 year old babies. I suppose I should bring him back next spring when they wake up to mate? How often and for how long should I keep them together? Thanks my guru!
    • Like
    Reactions: Tom
    Tom
    Tom
    Many ways to do this. Many opinions, and to some degree it is by feel. You have to observe and make adjustments. During breeding seasons, I put the one male in with my females each weekend. M-F the girls get peace and quiet. Sat and Sun, its party time! Some people do one day. Some people do one week. It varies a lot, and there are many ways to do it "right'.
    Patrick McMullen
    Interested in Sudanese Sulcata hatchlings. Might you have any available?
    Tom
    Tom
    I do. Message me anytime, or tell me how to reach you. See them here:

    Sudan Sulcatas (This never gets old...)

    My very first clutch of true 100% pure Sudan sulcatas is now hatching. I don't care how many times I see this, it just never gets old. I dig up the eggs carefully place them in my prepared shoe boxes, watch the temperature in the incubator and tend to them for months, and then... When that...
    tortoiseforum.org
    T
    Tom, my male ibera is biting the female's legs and banging her all the time chasing her around the enclosure. I know it's how they mate, but in nature, she can run away. This looks more like rape than flirt. I am wondering if I should get a second female to allow the first one to get a break or keep him separated when he gets very excited and starts biting.
    Tom
    Tom
    Tortoises should never live in pairs. You need to separate them ASAP.
    H
    I am looking for a pp
    Tom
    Tom
    Hi. Got you message. I should have some in January. I'm on pace to get over 200 eggs this season. I'll contact you.
    Intricate
    Hello- do you happen to have any pardalis pardalis available? Hatchling or juveniles
    Tom
    Tom
    I'm sitting on 110 eggs about halfway through the laying season. They take many months to diapause and incubate. I should have hatchings in January. I only know of one other breeder producing true pp that starts their babies correctly. They are @Rodriguez Chelonians here on the forum and also on FB. If you want a healthy, well started baby that will grow and thrive, buy from one of us.
    Rodriguez Chelonians
    Rodriguez Chelonians
    Thanks Tom. I do have hatchings right now but they won’t be ready for a couple months. We raise them up to 100g before selling to assure our buys get a healthy well started tortoise. 😃
    Babyh
    Hi Tom! I was wondering if you have any female eastern hermann's tortoises? Preferably hatchling or juvenile. Thank you!
    Tom
    Tom
    Thanks for asking. Unfortunately hermanni is a species I really like and want to work with, but I don't have any currently.
    N
    hi tom, i was wondering when you would have any sulcata hatchlings ready ?
    Tom
    Tom
    I have a batch that should be hatching in a couple of weeks.
    koathetort
    Hi Tom, I have a couple questions for you:
    -for you flood bulbs, do you use dome fixtures to house them in?
    -would you recommend 5.0 or 10.0 reptisun T5 HO tube lighting?
    Thanks in advance!
    Tom
    Tom
    For the floods, I use whatever fixture works for the enclosure, including dome, and open type ceiling mounted ones. 5.0 tubes produce very little UV. the 10.0 is the way to go, but not for lighting. Only for mid day UV. LED for lighting.

    The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

    I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...
    tortoiseforum.org
    koathetort
    koathetort
    Thanks, I appreciate it!
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