victoria.shayne
Member
Hello everyone, my name is Tori and I am a new tort mommy to our little Bo who hatched on Jan. 16, 2021 and came home to us on March 2, 2021.
Photos below are of our baby and his enclosure. You'll see his enclosure is a tortoise table (2' x 4'), half covered with a "water proof" tarp to keep that side humid at around 60% at 79.3F( I am still missing a humid hide, but the boy is smart and will tuck himself behind the Buddha with air plants). Basking temp ranges between 95.2F-99.8F, cool side is around 79.7F-83.5F with 48-55% humidity. Bulbs in the two dome lights are 75W basking bulbs. I use a slimline tube UVB light for a few hours in the morning while he grazes.
Today in particular he has been more active—yesterday (day two of being home) he slept probably about 18 hours if not more, ate romaine with baby arugula and butterhead (working on indoor garden) all dusted slightly with calcium powder. Today I offered collard greens, romaine, carrot tops, and a pinch of fresh dill weed with a single watered down grassland tortoise food pellet (?); after this morning's bath he ate a little, roamed, found his water dish—peed with a small urate and a nice solid little poop. He napped briefly before roaming again, finding his cuddle bone, and then back to take another bite of food to basking.
Currently, I have two main concerns:
1.) How long should Bo be exposed to UVB tube light? My breeder told me only a few hours a day is sufficient as long as the basking bulbs were on for 12-14 hours.
2.) I did get strictly organic fresh items for him to eat until I can get my garden going, wash them appropriately, but I'd love any advice on what to feed my Bobo.
I've wanted him for nearly a decade and he's here and it's like all my research went out the door !
Photos below are of our baby and his enclosure. You'll see his enclosure is a tortoise table (2' x 4'), half covered with a "water proof" tarp to keep that side humid at around 60% at 79.3F( I am still missing a humid hide, but the boy is smart and will tuck himself behind the Buddha with air plants). Basking temp ranges between 95.2F-99.8F, cool side is around 79.7F-83.5F with 48-55% humidity. Bulbs in the two dome lights are 75W basking bulbs. I use a slimline tube UVB light for a few hours in the morning while he grazes.
Today in particular he has been more active—yesterday (day two of being home) he slept probably about 18 hours if not more, ate romaine with baby arugula and butterhead (working on indoor garden) all dusted slightly with calcium powder. Today I offered collard greens, romaine, carrot tops, and a pinch of fresh dill weed with a single watered down grassland tortoise food pellet (?); after this morning's bath he ate a little, roamed, found his water dish—peed with a small urate and a nice solid little poop. He napped briefly before roaming again, finding his cuddle bone, and then back to take another bite of food to basking.
Currently, I have two main concerns:
1.) How long should Bo be exposed to UVB tube light? My breeder told me only a few hours a day is sufficient as long as the basking bulbs were on for 12-14 hours.
2.) I did get strictly organic fresh items for him to eat until I can get my garden going, wash them appropriately, but I'd love any advice on what to feed my Bobo.
I've wanted him for nearly a decade and he's here and it's like all my research went out the door !