Adopting a sulcata!!

[shawnateerow]

Posting because I'm too excited/nervous to keep it in! A friend of my husband has an adult sulcata and is giving it up for adoption, so of course I said yes!!! Oh lord I'm nervous?? but his name is shellman and he's a cutie?? does he look good and healthy?

 

[Blackdog1714]

His shell could be smoother but he looks really good. Good luck with the new bulldozer!

 

[Tom]

Looks okay in the pictures. Do you have a heated night box ready?

 

[shawnateerow]

Looks okay in the pictures. Do you have a heated night box ready?

I dont but its still hot here right now so I have about a month to get one set up

 

[shawnateerow]

I dont but its still hot here right now so I have about a month to get one set up

Im going to wait until after the weekend to get him because we have ANOTHER damn hurricane coming?

 

[Pastel Tortie]

@shawnateerow I feel for you guys in Louisiana, getting hit with so many hurricanes this year! Yeesh. I know you have quite a few critters... Do you normally have to evacuate?

In a way, it's good that you have at least a little bit of time before you get the other sulcata. You're going to have to be really careful with your biosecurity procedures. I know you'll do whatever it takes, and I know you'll do a great job, but I still need to articulate this...

We still don't know what caused the yellow bumps on the little ones, and it's entirely possible there's more than one thing involved. We haven't seen yellow bumps in adults, but that doesn't mean they're immune. So moving forward, it's a high priority to make sure the big one doesn't get exposed to anything the little ones may have.

@mastershake

 

[Tom]

I dont but its still hot here right now so I have about a month to get one set up

Its getting into the 60s and low 70s at night there in the next few days. They need to be kept 80 at night, especially with humidity. They also need a secure place to sleep at night. You should have the night box set up, running and adjusted, before you bring home the tortoise.

 

[shawnateerow]

@shawnateerow I feel for you guys in Louisiana, getting hit with so many hurricanes this year! Yeesh. I know you have quite a few critters... Do you normally have to evacuate?

In a way, it's good that you have at least a little bit of time before you get the other sulcata. You're going to have to be really careful with your biosecurity procedures. I know you'll do whatever it takes, and I know you'll do a great job, but I still need to articulate this...

We still don't know what caused the yellow bumps on the little ones, and it's entirely possible there's more than one thing involved. We haven't seen yellow bumps in adults, but that doesn't mean they're immune. So moving forward, it's a high priority to make sure the big one doesn't get exposed to anything the little ones may have.

@mastershake

Yes, not a problem. There's only small squared off space I let the babies in outside, and the big boy will enclosed in a completely separate spot and will not go inside. Everything they touch wi be completely different. And no, unfortunately we don't 3
Evacuate. A hurricane for me means 120 hour work week, cooking for the energy companies? and for my husband it could also mean overtime. So I am in the process of figuring out some sort of portable enclosure to bring Bonnie with me Sunday and Monday because I'm having to feed her 3-4 times a day since she's having a little trouble swallowing

 

[shawnateerow]

Its getting into the 60s and low 70s at night there in the next few days. They need to be kept 80 at night, especially with humidity. They also need a secure place to sleep at night. You should have the night box set up, running and adjusted, before you bring home the tortoise.

Shouldn't be an issue because I definitely won't bring him home until I am done working hurricane relief so that I have enough time to set him up. Could be even late next week ? best recommendation for the outdoor heat source?

 

[Tom]

Shouldn't be an issue because I definitely won't bring him home until I am done working hurricane relief so that I have enough time to set him up. Could be even late next week ? best recommendation for the outdoor heat source?

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

If you want a bigger box heated differently, you can make one like this with a single door:

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Pastel Tortie]

So I am in the process of figuring out some sort of portable enclosure to bring Bonnie with me Sunday and Monday because I'm having to feed her 3-4 times a day since she's having a little trouble swallowing

Then focus on how to maintain appropriate temperatures. They have to be warm enough to digest.

 

[shawnateerow]

Then focus on how to maintain appropriate temperatures. They have to be warm enough to digest.

It stays almost 90 in the kitchen but I'm also going to bring her heat lamp and keep the substrate moist. So sad..I drive 30 min each way in the afternoon on break to feed and soak the babies and just watch them..and the end of the night I cant wait to get home to see them. Sigh..tort love??❤

 

[mastershake]

please do keep them separated from the adult. never handle or touch one after the other. clean with pure ammonia for the time being. until we have this confirmed i highly suggest keeping them HIGHLY quarantined from each other i.e wear gloves to handle ones with bumps and do not let them in the same spaces in the yard etc. i have seen first hand this spread to others twice now. wash anything the ones with bumps have touched with straight ammonia and leave it sit for 15 minutes wet before rinsing off. i will let you know asap what this comes back as i may have another baby who they think will pass and will send in also. they have the bumps but in an earlier stage like the new ones you are seeing instead of the more yellow stage.