First Post

[BowDownBowser]

Hello,

My name is Justin I just got a Sulcata yesterday. His name is Bowser and he was just born on Jan 20th. He seems to be starting off well. He is 2 1/4" and weighs about 50 grams. So far he's eating like a champ and he is very active. He was shy for the first few hours until he adjusted to his new home. Right now I'm using moistened coconut coir as a substrate. I'm feeding him cactus pads, kale, spring mix, and I'm mixing in bermuda grass and orchard grass hays to try to get his grassy diet started early. I'm also supplementing with Rep-Cal As a hide i have the common half log with some sphagnum moss underneath and another pile of moistened sphagnum moss in the enclosure as a hide as well. I have a 160 watt mercury vapor lamp as well as a 10.0 fluorescent uv b lamp. I also have a 75 watt red light incandescent bulb to keep the temperature at about 77 at night. during the day time the temperature gradient is about 93-74 with a basking area around 98. Is there anything else I should be providing or is this a good set up? I got most of my information from this site and it's been a huge help so thank you everyone who has shared what they know.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. I would bump those temps up to no lower then 80. Hot and humid is what you want. Cold and damp makes a sick tort.

 

[muu]

Hiya, I'm pretty new here too. I've found this forum extremely helpful. Everyone is so friendly too.

 

[mikeh]

Is the 10.0 florescent UVB a compact screw in type or long tube type? Compact florescents (screw in type) are known to cause damage to eyes. If it is compact type, I would remove it at once. If your Mercury Vapor bulb produces UVB you don't need any additional UVB. If not, zoomed T5HO long tube is a good choice with solid UVB ouput.

 

[BowDownBowser]

Is the 10.0 florescent UVB a compact screw in type or long tube type? Compact florescents (screw in type) are known to cause damage to eyes. If it is compact type, I would remove it at once. If your Mercury Vapor bulb produces UVB you don't need any additional UVB. If not, zoomed T5HO long tube is a good choice with solid UVB ouput.

It's the long tube type

 

[BowDownBowser]

Does anyone have any recommendation on how to bump the temps up about 5 degrees? Right now like I said before I have a 160 watt mercury vapor UVA/B lamp that i am using as the uv/heat lamp and a heating pad and I have a red incandescent lamp for night time to keep temperatures comfortable. How else can i raise the temperature?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Justin:

Welcome to the Forum!!

To raise the temperature in the habitat, lower the light just a little. You can also try partially covering the habitat.

 

[BowDownBowser]

Thanks for the tip. Is it bad to have too much UV light? I am use a mvb that gives off uva/b and I have a uvb fluorescent bulb. Also, any tips on converting diet to grass hay?

 

[Dizisdalife]

Also, any tips on converting diet to grass hay?

Babies aren't likely to eat grass hay right away. When it's time you can cut up hay real fine and mix some in with their greens to get them used to the taste. Here is a thread on feeding babies that is very informative.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-76744.html

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Justin welcome to the TFO from AZ