Given the rundown

[SleepyWilly]

Well im getting a greek spur thighed tortoise in a few weeks and making preparations. Can anyone give me some general info on the temperatures and humidity levels they need as well as personality and other basics. Thanks.

 

[SleepyWilly]

Like substrate and some diet. I was very interested in a red-foot tortoise but no one near me sells them and so i opted for a greek tortoise.

 

[egyptiandan]

Hi,
Here's a great weed list that you can feed your greek http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Diet.htm#plantlist
Here are some good caresheets to get you started
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/iberacare.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/basicmedfood.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Basicmedcare.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/vivarium.htm

If you have any questions just ask.

Danny

 

[SleepyWilly]

Yea I have a concern on substrate, I was thinking newspaper temporarily and then moving onto sand or something I'm really lost on it. I don't want to cause it impaction or anything.

And thanks.

 

[egyptiandan]

You can go straight to the substrate your going to use. Sand is not a good substrate alone. An organic soil/sand substrate is a good choice. You want it in a 75/25 mix, soil to sand.
Also you can use finely shredded aspen bedding.

Danny

 

[SleepyWilly]

Right cool I am worried about humidity as well. I live in NE USA and it can get a bit humid in the summer some days. I have a nice plastic rubbermaid tub ready for the little guy and I am not sure that it will have the proper air circulation needed to keep the humidity low enough. Its completely open top tub.

 

[SleepyWilly]

Also a quick question on temperment, does it vary from tortoise to tortoise or are the all inherently characteristic x ? x being whatever adjective you would like to insert concerning there personality.

 

[Crazy1]

SleepyWilly, I have greeks and I think they have wonderful personallites. Mine are energentic and often come when called (looking for food I am sure). The CB are more social than my wild caught. And yes I think it does vary some from tort to tort. Greeks tend to like it a little dry but my hatchlings seem to tolerate a little more humidity. Here lately (i'm in So. Ca) it has been fairly humid about 60% and they are doing fine. I currently have mine on shredded Aspen. It is light weight and light colored so easy to see any messes. It also has vertually no dust a plus for a person with allergies.
Congrats on your new greek. Please post pics when s/he arrives.

 

[egyptiandan]

I'm in NE also and all my greeks don't mind the high air humidity.

Danny

 

[SleepyWilly]

I'm in NE also and all my greeks don't mind the high air humidity.

Danny

Oh really nice I was a little worried about that, so for my setup so far I have
a rubber-maid tub thats roughly 3ftx2ft and i was thinking a mecury vapor bulb on one side and a ceramic bulb on the other both 100watts. Think that will be ok to maintain the heat in the winter? During the summer im gonna bring him outside for a romp in the grass and such.

Of course ill post pics of it when it arrives, its coming from a petstore so i hope its a spur thighed that I get gonna be a couple of weeks at least though they are special ordering it for me.
Thanks so much for your help you guys.

 

[SleepyWilly]

Are spur thighs considered mediteranean tortoises or desert tortoises? I'm confused on this.

 

[egyptiandan]

As long as your mercury vapor bulb puts out UVB rays your all set. I would skip the ceramic bulb as you will be giving to much heat. Just go with a regular 2 foot florscent light and your combined heat and UVB bulb.
Most Testudo tortoises are considered Mediterranean tortoises, with Testudo graeca being either Sur-thighed tortoise or Greek tortoise.
Desert tortoises are Gopherus agassizi and can not be sold.

Danny

 

[SleepyWilly]

As long as your mercury vapor bulb puts out UVB rays your all set. I would skip the ceramic bulb as you will be giving to much heat. Just go with a regular 2 foot florscent light and your combined heat and UVB bulb.
Most Testudo tortoises are considered Mediterranean tortoises, with Testudo graeca being either Sur-thighed tortoise or Greek tortoise.
Desert tortoises are Gopherus agassizi and can not be sold.

Danny

I see how low can the temps go during the night? Cause thats why i wanted the ceramic bulb for winter nights it can get pretty cold.

 

[egyptiandan]

If your night time temperatures don't go below 60F, than you don't need supplemental heat.

Danny

 

[SleepyWilly]

Ok, what about the cool side during the day? It can get pretty hot and the AC doesn't work well upstairs and i don't want it to overheat.

 

[Crazy1]

They need a cool spot with shelter at room temperature (approx 20ºC or 68ºF) as well as the hot spot under the basking lamp (approx 30-35ºC or 85-95ºF). Similarly a daily temperature cycle is important so the night-time temperature should be allowed to drop to normal room temperature (approx 17-20ºC or 62.6-68ºF ) at night, just as in the wild.
Above is from the Tlady’s Guide at http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/NatRearAccom.htm

 

[SleepyWilly]

Well thanks for all the help, but apparently there was only a redfoot on the order form so, im getting a red foot instead. Thanks alot though very helpful.

 

[Crazy1]

SleepyWilly, You are getting a redfoot? is this the tort you wanted? They take very different care.
Info for Redfoots on Turletary.com and Redfoots.com

 

[SleepyWilly]

SleepyWilly, You are getting a redfoot? is this the tort you wanted? They take very different care.
Info for Redfoots on Turletary.com and Redfoots.com

I was told that i was getting a greek then a redfoot was on the order-sheet so i was getting that instead, now apparently im being told that the shop needs a redfoot license to sell them or there illegal in my state idk the specficiitites but im getting a greek instead lol.