Meet Squirt!

hessbrit · Aug 15, 2014

Hi my name is Brittany and I am a first time tortoise owner. I fell in love with a little leopard tortoise at a CE (continuing education) event at the vet clinic I work at. I knew I just had to have him. A few days later I picked him up and brought him home . I can't wait to learn as much as possible to make his life as great as I can. Thanks for having us!

Grandpa Turtle 144 · Aug 15, 2014

Hello Brittany welcome to the TFO from AZ . Leopards are great .

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1408130024.875203.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

Jodie · Aug 15, 2014

Welcome. Always good to see another Leopard lover. I have 2. Check out the links here for care. There is a lot of bad information out there for these little guys. Keep him warm n hydrated is the first thing to know. I recently lost a baby that had been kept dry before I got her and it was horrible and devastating. Especially hatchlings need high humidity. Very cute tortoise!

Jodie · Aug 15, 2014

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/leopard-tortoise-care-sheet.63792/

Jodie · Aug 15, 2014

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/
There is a lot of info on this forum. This will get you started.

pam · Aug 15, 2014

Welcome

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute

hessbrit · Aug 15, 2014

I'm glad you guys like him . I currently have him in a 25 gallon tank to help keep up temperature and humidity. At what age does humidity become less of a factor? I guess what I'm asking is at what age do you guys move your torts from humidity dense tanks to more tort friendly pens?

Jodie · Aug 15, 2014

hessbrit said:
I'm glad you guys like him . I currently have him in a 25 gallon tank to help keep up temperature and humidity. At what age does humidity become less of a factor? I guess what I'm asking is at what age do you guys move your torts from humidity dense tanks to more tort friendly pens?

I am hoping @Tom will see this question, because I do not know. My oldest is 5 and I am still keeping him in a humid enclosure when he is inside. He spends a lot of time outside in the summer. I soak him almost daily.

ALDABRAMAN · Aug 15, 2014

Welcome!

Tom · Aug 15, 2014

We keep them humid to prevent or slow dehydration and prevent or stop pyramiding. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. So humidity will "matter" for as long as your tortoise is growing.

What I do to get around this in a practical sense in my dry climate is use a closed chamber to house them in the majority of the time. Hatchlings go out for about an hour a day into their outdoor sunning pens and get a soak on the way back in. As they gain size I leave them out longer and longer until they stay out all day by around 5-6", but they still sleep inside in their closed chambers over night. By about 8-10" I move them outside full time and at this time I put tubs of water in their heated night boxes to give them some moderate humidity overnight as they sleep.

Jodie · Aug 15, 2014

Tom said:
We keep them humid to prevent or slow dehydration and prevent or stop pyramiding. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. So humidity will "matter" for as long as your tortoise is growing.

What I do to get around this in a practical sense in my dry climate is use a closed chamber to house them in the majority of the time. Hatchlings go out for about an hour a day into their outdoor sunning pens and get a soak on the way back in. As they gain size I leave them out longer and longer until they stay out all day by around 5-6", but they still sleep inside in their closed chambers over night. By about 8-10" I move them outside full time and at this time I put tubs of water in their heated night boxes to give them some moderate humidity overnight as they sleep.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Reptilelove · Aug 16, 2014

Welcome to the forum!! Squirt is beautiful!

Kaitlynn · Aug 16, 2014

Welcome! He is adorable! He looks like he is smiling

jeffjeff · Aug 16, 2014

welcome he is so cute.

Alaskamike · Aug 16, 2014

That's a fortunate little one to be adopted by a new keeper who has found this forum He/she will grow and thrive with simple proper care. They make great pets really.

hessbrit · Aug 16, 2014

I thought I'd share some pictures of Squirt's digs with you guys too. He has both a humid hide and a less humid hide. I'm still working on perfecting the amount of humidity. Any other ideas?

ascott · Aug 25, 2014

Humidity and exposure to it is essential....but also know that in order for a shell to be healthy...it needs to also be allowed to dry out from time to time....a good outing each day will allow the tort the opportunity to bask and let their shell and lungs dry out enough to remain healthy....

WillTort2 · Aug 25, 2014

Welcome to the forum.

Yvonne G · Aug 26, 2014

Hi Brittany, and welcome to the Forum!

Meet Squirt!

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

KEEPER AT HEART

The Dog Trainer

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Old Timer

Similar threads