We have had a sulcata hatchling for almost a month. He(?) was about 6 weeks old when we purchased him from a woman in Daytona. My son (11) has named him "Donut" (My vote was for Sam or Frodo, but since the tortoise was bought for my son, he had final choice.).
We love him! I have to admit, he eats a lot more than I was expecting for such a little guy! He eats about a 50-50 mix of St. Augustine grass and spring mix, with a little zoomed grassland and wheat grass sprinkled in (he ignores both of those). I have weeds in my yard, but I don't know what they are and if he can eat them. I bought some rephashy on sale at the pet store and I've given it to him a few times and he eats it, but I'm not sure if it is really good for him or not. I give him a pinch of calcium plus D3 twice a week in his food. He gets 15 minute soaks every day (it was every other day at first, but I've read on the forum that he should have daily soaks). He gets to go outside occasionally, but it has been raining a lot the last couple of weeks and he's hardly been out at all.
I followed the advice of his previous owner and purchased a tortoise table for him (she was selling those, too). I now know (forum!) that he needs a different kind of home since I can't keep his humidity up with a table (around 30-40% outside the hide, 70% inside the hide). I use coco coir for bedding. I have a 20G long aquarium, would I be able to move him in there? Previous owner said not use an aquarium.
I have a powersun 100w lamp that hangs over the table during the day and a CHE that hangs over his hide at night. I think it still gets a little cool for him, though. The CHE keeps the hide about 79-80 degrees. He's stopped going into the hide on his own at night and burrows out on the table, but I move him into the hide because once I turn off the powersun it is warmer inside the hide than outside.
I have learned a lot by reading the forum, and hope to learn much more! Thanks!
We love him! I have to admit, he eats a lot more than I was expecting for such a little guy! He eats about a 50-50 mix of St. Augustine grass and spring mix, with a little zoomed grassland and wheat grass sprinkled in (he ignores both of those). I have weeds in my yard, but I don't know what they are and if he can eat them. I bought some rephashy on sale at the pet store and I've given it to him a few times and he eats it, but I'm not sure if it is really good for him or not. I give him a pinch of calcium plus D3 twice a week in his food. He gets 15 minute soaks every day (it was every other day at first, but I've read on the forum that he should have daily soaks). He gets to go outside occasionally, but it has been raining a lot the last couple of weeks and he's hardly been out at all.
I followed the advice of his previous owner and purchased a tortoise table for him (she was selling those, too). I now know (forum!) that he needs a different kind of home since I can't keep his humidity up with a table (around 30-40% outside the hide, 70% inside the hide). I use coco coir for bedding. I have a 20G long aquarium, would I be able to move him in there? Previous owner said not use an aquarium.
I have a powersun 100w lamp that hangs over the table during the day and a CHE that hangs over his hide at night. I think it still gets a little cool for him, though. The CHE keeps the hide about 79-80 degrees. He's stopped going into the hide on his own at night and burrows out on the table, but I move him into the hide because once I turn off the powersun it is warmer inside the hide than outside.
I have learned a lot by reading the forum, and hope to learn much more! Thanks!
