alexksquared
Member
I have just set up the enclosure and I want to double check everything and is ready for a baby marginated tortoise. It is a 40 gallon breeder tank, the temperature for basking is around 96 degrees, other side not as high. Night time temps are in the low to mid 70's. The humidity is around 73%. The bedding is a mixture of Coco Coir and Forest Floor Bedding from the pet store (all organic). The bedding is roughly around 2in for burrowing. There are natural plants inside, a spider plant and aloe (with rocks underneath the bedding to help support them. A little bridge over the middle and a half log for hiding and climbing. I have a dimmer switch for the heating with a heat probe. Turning it on when it's cold and off when it's to hot. The bulb is Mercury 160watts, the light fixture is strong enough for a 200watt bulb. The bulb is on a timer for 12.5hours. There is a water dish and a food dish, not sure which size to use for which. I have cuttlebone/turtle bone that I will leave in the cage.
For the actual care: Bathe them in warm water 3-4 times a week. They are grazers so I will keep their food dish full for the most part. Dust for calcium twice a week. I am getting the commercial diet LS (forgot the actual name) for food, but that is not the staple item. I will give organic: mustard greens, endive, escarole, dandelion greens, clover, watercress, kale, honeysuckle, parsley, carrot, coriander. Also dry herbs when I can. Rarely (if ever) fruits.
Please give me your opinions and advise, I am doing the final touches for everything.
For the actual care: Bathe them in warm water 3-4 times a week. They are grazers so I will keep their food dish full for the most part. Dust for calcium twice a week. I am getting the commercial diet LS (forgot the actual name) for food, but that is not the staple item. I will give organic: mustard greens, endive, escarole, dandelion greens, clover, watercress, kale, honeysuckle, parsley, carrot, coriander. Also dry herbs when I can. Rarely (if ever) fruits.
Please give me your opinions and advise, I am doing the final touches for everything.