Introducing Jadzia Dax, my new Sulcata!

Hello!

After many years of research and debating I finally decided on getting a Sulcata and here she is! She's about a month old and is named Jadzia Dax, Dax for Short (All my trekkies out there get it!). She's very active, is always running around her enclosure and is a bottomless pit when it comes to eating! She's also one of the friendliest tortoises I've ever met! The second you pic her up she's out and ready to play!

Hi, and welcome to the forum! Dax is sooooo adorable!!!!


-Tort-Rex/Colleen

Welcome to TFO!

Nice! Seems to already be scoping out that fresh grass.

OMG! A fellow trekkie and tort lover! Hello, Dax! This is my Dax.


May, Aussies, & THBs
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

Jabuticaba said:

OMG! A fellow trekkie and tort lover! Hello, Dax! This is my Dax. View attachment 92024


May, Aussies, & THBs
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

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That's adorable! Is that a Jadzia or Curzon?

Nice looking tort .


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

DrSkyentist said:

That's adorable! Is that a Jadzia or Curzon?

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Thanks! Curzon and he fits the personality: total ladies' man and brat.


May, Aussies, & THBs
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

COMPLETELY adorable! Welcome!

Looks like you are using a red bulb for heat. I wouldn't use that. They need white light for daytime and they do best with darkness at night, but still need warm temps.

Congrats on the new baby. Hope it all goes well.

Welcome Sooooooooooooooooo cute

Tom said:

Looks like you are using a red bulb for heat. I wouldn't use that. They need white light for daytime and they do best with darkness at night, but still need warm temps.

Congrats on the new baby. Hope it all goes well.

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Thanks! I've got a full spectrum D3 bulb over the rest of the enclosure

DrSkyentist said:

Thanks! I've got a full spectrum D3 bulb over the rest of the enclosure

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That does not negate the effects of the red light.

And what sort of UV bulb have you got? The coil types sometimes damage their eyes.

Not trying to bother you. Just trying to help you avoid some common errors for the benefit of your baby.

its the florescent type, so I should switch the red light for a white light?

Welcome!

DrSkyentist said:

its the florescent type, so I should switch the red light for a white light?

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There are two types of florescent lights. There are the long tube types that are 24-48", and there are the coil type cfl type. THe long tubes are fine. The coil types should not be used.

I would use a white light set on a timer for basking during the day, and a CHE set on a thermostat for night time and daytime ambient temp maintenance. These two things make life much easier.

Tom said:

There are two types of florescent lights. There are the long tube types that are 24-48", and there are the coil type cfl type. THe long tubes are fine. The coil types should not be used.

I would use a white light set on a timer for basking during the day, and a CHE set on a thermostat for night time and daytime ambient temp maintenance. These two things make life much easier.

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Thanks for the advice, its is the long tube. 24 inches. If I may ask, whats the issue with the red bulb?

Welcome to the forum!!

Welcome!! Your tort is SO ADORABLE!!! Congrats!!

DrSkyentist said:

Thanks for the advice, its is the long tube. 24 inches. If I may ask, whats the issue with the red bulb?

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Oh please ask ALL your questions. We don't mind explaining. Often times other people reading are wondering the same thing. This also gives the assertion maker (Me, in this case.) a chance to explain an experience based answer, or expose themself as someone who really doesn't know what they are talking about, but repeated a blurb they read on the internet somewhere. It helps readers decide if the assertion is credible and they should consider a change in their husbandry, or if they should dismiss the poster as an internet parrot.

The issue with the red bulbs is that they make things look "funny" to the tortoises. During the day the red bulbs makes it look more like night and they discolor the food and substrate. Often the tortoises kept under them don't eat their food and do eat their substrate. Tortoises have a broader spectrum of color vision than we do, so at night all that red light makes things too bright in there. Think about how it has happened in the wild for them for millions of years. Sun comes up and its bright "white" full spectrum lighting. Sun goes down and it is dark. At no time in tortoise history, until very recently has their been red light to deal with either day or night. Its an artificial human contrivance, and it sometimes causes problems. Best to avoid the colored bulbs and simulate natural light cycles in my experience.