Aldabra baby- tub or outdoor enclosure?

Zach B · May 24, 2015

So, I hope to be welcoming home a baby Aldabra in the next 6 months. I want to plan ahead. I have seen conflicting opinions on how to start them for the first couple years. I was planning on a tortoise tub in order to maintain humidity and temp for the first year or so. But I have recently seen a post from Sam at Florida Iguana stating that all babies should be raised outdoors, he describes a problem with rear legs? My concern about an outdoor pen is lack of tight humidity control, but will the lack of space in a tub be a problem as far as exercise goes?

Yvonne G · May 25, 2015

I got my two as hatchlings in the middle of summer. I set them up outside in the same pen/yard they live in today, 15 years later. As they grew, the fence was moved back further and further. There is an insulated shed in their yard and every night I put them into their shed to protect them from night time critters. They have never lived in a container.

The only problem with this is they were raised without enough humidity and they are now pyramided.

Zach B · May 25, 2015

Hi Yvonne,
Did you do anything to increase the relative humidity i.e. misters, sprinkles, soaks etc? This is my concern, and why I had originally wanted to start in a humid tort tub.

Yvonne G · May 25, 2015

When I got the tortoises I hadn't learned yet that humidity is the pyramiding culprit, so no. The grass in their yard was watered on a weekly basis, but that wasn't enough to provide the humidity they needed. Oh well...coulda, woulda shoulda!

Levi the Leopard · May 25, 2015

Yvonne, do I remember correctly that one of your Aldabras suffers from rear leg issues?

If that's the case, could Sam from Florida Iguana be mistaken that "outside only" would prevent leg issues? Since yours have been outside only?
Hmm.. ?

Note: I have no experience with aldabra tortoises and I'm not implying anything by pointing that out. I'm actually asking for the simple reason that the original question has me curious.

Yvonne G · May 25, 2015

No, my Aldabran tortoise's leg problem isn't legs, it's calcium deficiency. I didn't realize until it was almost too late that what they were grazing on and being fed didn't have enough calcium to support their fast growth...that, plus at the time they were babies, the majority of the yard was clover and dichondra - not enough calcium. I've been working on his problem for several years. Some days he can lift himself up, but most days he drags along on his plastron. It's very slow going. It affected BO worse than SO. I was able to get SO back up to speed in just a few months.

So a very important note to those of you who have the larger species that grow quickly - supplement with calcium!

I believe what the OP is referring to here in this thread has to do with the tortoise starting to walk on the sides of his back feet instead of on the flat bottom of the foot. If you look at the bottoms of both my Aldabran tortoises, it's nice and flat.

Holycow · May 25, 2015

Hi,
Keeping tortoises outside (when it is warm enough) is the best way for them to get the correct level of UV light to allow the calcium/D3 synthesis to work property. You can buy special lights and dietary supplements... but the natural sun is by far the best. The early years are a critical time to get these guys going right. Why risk weird deformities or long term health problems by keeping them inside?
You might consider setting up part of the outdoor habitat as a greenhouse type area with a mist system and limited airflow to keep the humidity up- allow the animal to come and go thru this area with additional access to direct sunlight in another part of the enclosure. Maybe feed him there each day so his routine involves him loitering in the area reliably.
Also you could bring the animal(s) indoors and overnight them in a high humidity "closed chamber" setup as seen in the other forums on this site. This is what I do for my small aldabara. This would at least insure exposure to nice high humidity for night time/sleeping hours (it's better than nothing).
Roughly where in the world are you located?
-Jeff

ALDABRAMAN · May 25, 2015

Holycow said:
Keeping tortoises outside (when it is warm enough) is the best way for them to get the correct level of UV light to allow the calcium/D3 synthesis to work property // but the natural sun is by far the best.

ALDABRAMAN · May 25, 2015

Holycow said:
The early years are a critical time to get these guys going right.

ALDABRAMAN · May 25, 2015

Zach B said:
problem with rear legs?

~ They need a proper diet and exercise levels!

ALDABRAMAN · May 25, 2015

Zach B said:
I have seen conflicting opinions on how to start them

~ They need a natural diet, natural sunshine with good shade options, fresh water sources and plenty of space for exercise. They should grow and develop flawlessly if this is provided!

Zach B · May 25, 2015

Holycow said:
Hi,
Keeping tortoises outside (when it is warm enough) is the best way for them to get the correct level of UV light to allow the calcium/D3 synthesis to work property. You can buy special lights and dietary supplements... but the natural sun is by far the best. The early years are a critical time to get these guys going right. Why risk weird deformities or long term health problems by keeping them inside?
You might consider setting up part of the outdoor habitat as a greenhouse type area with a mist system and limited airflow to keep the humidity up- allow the animal to come and go thru this area with additional access to direct sunlight in another part of the enclosure. Maybe feed him there each day so his routine involves him loitering in the area reliably.
Also you could bring the animal(s) indoors and overnight them in a high humidity "closed chamber" setup as seen in the other forums on this site. This is what I do for my small aldabara. This would at least insure exposure to nice high humidity for night time/sleeping hours (it's better than nothing).
Roughly where in the world are you located?
-Jeff

Thanks for the advice. I am in Phoenix, Arizona. Pretty hot and dry. Which is why I worry about keeping it humid enough outside for a baby. The enclosure I am working on is half covered in shade all day. I have tortoise grazing mix, wildflower mix and edible weed mix from AZ tortoise compound planted. I also have a good amount of hibiscus and opuntia. I have a fine sprinkler system that waters 3 times a day. I watched the humidity levels over the past 24hrs, it averaged around 60%, ranging from 30-80% depending on the time of day. I also have a 24"x52" closed chamber tub that I was planning on using in the beginning, but now I'm not so sure....

Zach B · May 25, 2015

ALDABRAMAN said:
~ They need a natural diet, natural sunshine with good shade options, fresh water sources and plenty of space for exercise. They should grow and develop flawlessly if this is provided!

View attachment 131534

Those sure are beautiful young ones Alsabraman! Please let me know if you have any babies available! I would prefer to get them from the best!!!

Zach

Alaskamike · May 26, 2015

I know there are those who advocate for the controlled heat/humidity environments that can be provided in indoor enclosures for the first 1-2 years of life. They make good points. However, I personally think if you can mitigate for a low humidity evironnment, there are many good reasons to raise a young one in an outdoor pen.

In the warm climates of Southern US this is easy. Here in So. Florida the humidity is high 7+ months a yr. I use an outside heated , insulated box that stays between 80 - 92f all the time. The box has a shelf with a water pan on it, have never seen humidity in the box drop below 40% (Just looked at my remote temp guage and it is 80f in there with 89% humidity at 8am, I don't have the heater working in summer as it does not drop below 70f at night now) My 17 mo Aldabra spends allot of time in his box, and he comes and goes out of it on his own, and has been in this enviroment since he was 9 mos old.

Having a 10' x 20' planted surround to wander in gives him lots of exersise area and interest, as well as food (it is covered agaisnt predators). And I am a strong advocate for natural sunlight. Lamps are a substitute, but not as safe or good.

An enclosed humid environment solves the humidity problem, for sure. But the trade off is space to roam and lack of natural sunlight and a natural foraging activity. I believe exersise is a key componant to health. You can always bring them in at night to a closed chamber while young, that could help too. I just let mine stay in his box at will, and he seem to self regulate that way - but he was 7 mos old whe I got him (an Aldabraman baby).

Yvonne G · May 26, 2015

Zach B said:
Thanks for the advice. I am in Phoenix, Arizona. Pretty hot and dry. Which is why I worry about keeping it humid enough outside for a baby. The enclosure I am working on is half covered in shade all day. I have tortoise grazing mix, wildflower mix and edible weed mix from AZ tortoise compound planted. I also have a good amount of hibiscus and opuntia. I have a fine sprinkler system that waters 3 times a day. I watched the humidity levels over the past 24hrs, it averaged around 60%, ranging from 30-80% depending on the time of day. I also have a 24"x52" closed chamber tub that I was planning on using in the beginning, but now I'm not so sure....

Now that I know about the humidity/pyramiding issue, I have solved this problem by putting up misters over the yards. I pounded in T-posts every 5' or so, then I hung a drip pipe along the posts. At intervals I punched in a drip emitter that puts out a fine spray of water in a circle, overlapping. When this is turned on it drops the temperature nicely and provides the humidity required.

Holycow · May 26, 2015

Alaskamike said:
I know there are those who advocate for the controlled heat/humidity environments that can be

Having a 10' x 20' planted surround to wander in gives him lots of exersise area and interest, as well as food (it is covered agaisnt predators). And I am a strong advocate for natural sunlight. Lamps are a substitute, but not as safe or good.

An enclosed humid environment solves the humidity problem, for sure. But the trade off is space to roam and lack of natural sunlight and a natural foraging activity. I believe exersise is a key componant to health. You can always bring them in at night to a closed chamber while young, that could help too. I just let mine stay in his box at will, and he seem to self regulate that way - but he was 7 mos old whe I got him (an Aldabraman baby).View attachment 131576

That's a nice setup!

leigti · May 26, 2015

Alaskamike said:
I know there are those who advocate for the controlled heat/humidity environments that can be provided in indoor enclosures for the first 1-2 years of life. They make good points. However, I personally think if you can mitigate for a low humidity evironnment, there are many good reasons to raise a young one in an outdoor pen.

In the warm climates of Southern US this is easy. Here in So. Florida the humidity is high 7+ months a yr. I use an outside heated , insulated box that stays between 80 - 92f all the time. The box has a shelf with a water pan on it, have never seen humidity in the box drop below 40% (Just looked at my remote temp guage and it is 80f in there with 89% humidity at 8am, I don't have the heater working in summer as it does not drop below 70f at night now) My 17 mo Aldabra spends allot of time in his box, and he comes and goes out of it on his own, and has been in this enviroment since he was 9 mos old.

Having a 10' x 20' planted surround to wander in gives him lots of exersise area and interest, as well as food (it is covered agaisnt predators). And I am a strong advocate for natural sunlight. Lamps are a substitute, but not as safe or good.

An enclosed humid environment solves the humidity problem, for sure. But the trade off is space to roam and lack of natural sunlight and a natural foraging activity. I believe exersise is a key componant to health. You can always bring them in at night to a closed chamber while young, that could help too. I just let mine stay in his box at will, and he seem to self regulate that way - but he was 7 mos old whe I got him (an Aldabraman baby).View attachment 131576

Are you just going to make the sides taller as he gets bigger? At least for a couple years?

Alaskamike · May 27, 2015

leigti said:
Are you just going to make the sides taller as he gets bigger? At least for a couple years?

Funny 'cause that is on my agenda in the next few weeks. Going to add a 10" board on top of others. Already need to make the entry way to box taller. Might give me a bit more time till I have to expand it out to a much larger area. Get me thru this next year then.... I have one huge tree I need to have removed first (big oak) before opening up about 1/4 acre.

Soefianto · Jun 10, 2015

Nice.. hope you will enjoy the Aldabra..
Trully amazing torts

Soefianto · Jun 10, 2015

Alaskamike said:
...before opening up about 1/4 acre.

Wow... 5 more giant Aldabras on the way

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