testudo no like woter

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Is it weird that my tort dont like water in his enclosure? He usually dumps em when i place em, so i stopped placing, he dont care, he seems cool tho. Urates look fine except when i forget to soak him for about 3-5 days
 

RosemaryDW

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Is your tortoise's enclosure outside or inside?

The Phillipines are quite humid, as I am sure you know! A tortoise from a dry climate may not want or need that much water if it's outside in the humidity. We have a little bit of humidity where I live and my outdoor Horsefield/Russian tortoise did not use her bowl once over the course of a year; we finally took it out. She gets soaked once a week, twice a week when it's hot. She's okay with soaking but doesn't actually drink much from it other than when she comes out of hibernation. She does occasionally lick dew off a plant

I'm not experienced with keeping one inside and will leave that to the experts.
 
Joined
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Is your tortoise's enclosure outside or inside?

The Phillipines are quite humid, as I am sure you know! A tortoise from a dry climate may not want or need that much water if it's outside in the humidity. We have a little bit of humidity where I live and my outdoor Horsefield/Russian tortoise did not use her bowl once over the course of a year; we finally took it out. She gets soaked once a week, twice a week when it's hot. She's okay with soaking but doesn't actually drink much from it other than when she comes out of hibernation. She does occasionally lick dew off a plant

I'm not experienced with keeping one inside and will leave that to the experts.


Yes particularly humid, and his enclosure is both indoors and outdoors, on the daytime his enclosures lid is off and we have a pretty open house so humidity does come in, i only ever close his enclosure at night, or when it gets cold when raining, he does enjoy soaks though but the water bowl thing, he doesnt like, i even observed him and never once seen him drink from it.
 
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Sounds like you need a larger bowl that the tortoise can't get under and tip.


I have actually been thinking of getting one, and upsizing his enclosure as well, and thinking of using garden soil as bedding, supplemented by hay, so i can submerge the drinking bowl in soil so it can also act as a cooling tub. Any suggestions?
 
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Maggie Cummings

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Sulcata is Geochleone. I have several numerous tortoises and box turtles, the only one who will drink while 'm watching are 5 box turtles. None of my other turtles and tortoises don't want me watching. Give them a nice sized water dish. I use the paint roller pans, he'll drink when he gets thirsty. In the mean time place a large water container and leave it and go. He'll drink when he gets thirsty, you also need to soak him daily whether he like it or not.
 
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Tom

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I have actually been thinking of getting one, and upsizing his enclosure as well, and thinking of using garden soil as bedding, supplemented by hay, so i can submerge the drinking bowl in soil so it can also act as a cooling tub. Any suggestions?

Testudo is the genus that includes greeks, russians and hermanni. Sulcatas are in the genus Centrochelys (Formerly Geochelone.) It helps us to offer better advice if we know the species we are talking about.

I would not use soil as a substrate. It is at the least messy, and if store bought potentially dangerous. Hay is also no good because it will mold and its too dry. I prefer fine grade orchid bark.

The tortoise in your avatar looks quite large. Large enough to live outside full time where it can just live on the dirt outside and not need any added "substrate". A heated night box would offer shelter on cold nights and during rainy times. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

These might also offer some tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

Big Charlie

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Sulcata is Geochleone. I have several numerous tortoises and box turtles, the only one who will drink while 'm watching are 5 box turtles. None of my other turtles and tortoises don't want me watching. Give them a nice sized water dish. I use the paint roller pans, he'll drink when he gets thirsty. In the mean time place a large water container and leave it and go. He'll drink when he gets thirsty, you also need to soak him daily whether he like it or not.
My sulcata drinks while I'm watching. He used to drain the dog's water bowl. I don't think I saw him drink when he was a baby. I think it is harder for smaller guys to get their necks bent to reach the bowl, so sinking it in the substrate might help.
 

teresaf

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These come in big sizes. you can get them off Craigslist as well or even Walmart. Sink it into the substrate and they can't get under them. If he's too big for these then try a bird bath top.
 

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Maggie Cummings

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Testudo is the genus that includes greeks, russians and hermanni. Sulcatas are in the genus Centrochelys (Formerly Geochelone.) It helps us to offer better advice if we know the species we are talking about.

I would not use soil as a substrate. It is at the least messy, and if store bought potentially dangerous. Hay is also no good because it will mold and its too dry. I prefer fine grade orchid bark.

The tortoise in your avatar looks quite large. Large enough to live outside full time where it can just live on the dirt outside and not need any added "substrate". A heated night box would offer shelter on cold nights and during rainy times. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

These might also offer some tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

I'm formerly French, (Last name)
I knew it had changed but I'm too old to try and remember another name I can't pronounce
I figured either you or my sister would correct me in public.......:p
 
M

Maggie Cummings

Guest
My sulcata drinks while I'm watching. He used to drain the dog's water bowl. I don't think I saw him drink when he was a baby. I think it is harder for smaller guys to get their necks bent to reach the bowl, so sinking it in the substrate might help.

Bob and my box turtles don't mind my watching. But I recently had 3 Sulcata dumped on me, and they are afraid of everything. I'm sure on of them never saw water before......I'll post a picture for you, his name is Knobby.
Thanks for the correction Tom. I talk to enough crowds here that I needed to know the correct name.....
Knobby
DSCN3284.JPG
 
Joined
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Sulcata is Geochleone. I have several numerous tortoises and box turtles, the only one who will drink while 'm watching are 5 box turtles. None of my other turtles and tortoises don't want me watching. Give them a nice sized water dish. I use the paint roller pans, he'll drink when he gets thirsty. In the mean time place a large water container and leave it and go. He'll drink when he gets thirsty, you also need to soak him daily whether he like it or not.

Fortunately, he gets soaked but not daily, maybe once every two days.
 
Joined
May 13, 2016
Messages
79
Location (City and/or State)
Manila philippines
Testudo is the genus that includes greeks, russians and hermanni. Sulcatas are in the genus Centrochelys (Formerly Geochelone.) It helps us to offer better advice if we know the species we are talking about.

I would not use soil as a substrate. It is at the least messy, and if store bought potentially dangerous. Hay is also no good because it will mold and its too dry. I prefer fine grade orchid bark.

The tortoise in your avatar looks quite large. Large enough to live outside full time where it can just live on the dirt outside and not need any added "substrate". A heated night box would offer shelter on cold nights and during rainy times. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

These might also offer some tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

I wouldnt call him large just yet, he's only barely at 6 inches long head stretched, and unfortunately i dont have the luxury of a backyard or an open space, i just take him out of his enclosure for some sun, or just keep the enclosure lid open so he wont overheat, and i dont think orchid bark is available here, or if it is, i dont know where to get a hold of them, dame with coco coir, the coir they sell here is the dry and hay like fibers used to make rice sacks, if iam to get that hed be uncomfortable for sure, at the moment his enclosure has no substrate just the plastic floor, :(
 
Joined
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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Manila philippines
These come in big sizes. you can get them off Craigslist as well or even Walmart. Sink it into the substrate and they can't get under them. If he's too big for these then try a bird bath top.


Thankyou, thats exactly what im going for, but i have no clear decision for substrate yet and my tort might have trouble reaching that height in his current size.
 

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