Help with New Baby - First Time Turtle Owner

[TurtleAndMaddi]

HELLO! My name is Mercede and I am a worrier. I need some help with my new baby sulcata. My boyfriend keeps giving me information that he got from the reptile store guy but I keep reading differently.

Right now he is in a 30 gallon glass tank (until I get him a 50 gallon stock tank) I have a 100 w heat bulb that is above his hide (which a log bridge looking one) We were told that it needs to be on for 10-12 hours and then off at night. It gets cold in our house right now (we are in Phoenix area) and I feel like he is getting too cold. Also I don't know how to keep his tank humid other than spraying and that doesn't seem to help too much.

So here are the concerns:

1. Is the 100 watt heating lamp good and for the 10-12 hours.
2. Do I need a CHE for the night time?
3. How can I obtain humidity and keep it?
3. We keep his food on the other side of the heated area if I get a CHE where should I keep his food?
4. Do I need to wet his shell with the sprayer? Or is it preferred to soak him EVERYDAY?
5. Do I need to keep water in his tank?

I did read the different threads but I just felt like I couldn't get the answer I needed. Thank you in advance! <3

 

[Big Charlie]

He needs heat all the time. The 50 gallon stock tank won't be big enough either. Don't listen to pet stores. The best information is on this forum. Start with these threads: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/african-spurred-tortoise-sulcata-care-sheet.52524/
You'll need a covered enclosure to keep the humidity in. You get humidity by having a thick layer of substrate that you wet thoroughly. Then when you cover the enclosure, you'll get the humidity you'll need.
You should provide a water dish but it needs to be shallow so he can't fall upside down in it.
You need a large enough enclosure that there are temperature gradients. It's best to get one that is about 4 feet by 8 feet. They travel great distances in the wild and need lots of exercise in order to digest their food. There are cheap ways to make an enclosure. Some people use a plastic Christmas tree storage box, or join several plastic containers together. The lights need to be inside the cover. This can be done cheaply by creating a frame to hang the lights from and covering the entire thing with a plastic shower curtain. There are lots of enclosure ideas in the enclosure section of the forum. https://tortoiseforum.org/forums/tortoise-enclosures.7/
A CHE is good for nighttime heat. It's good to have it dark and warm at night. Don't use any colored lights.
Yes, you should soak him daily in warm water.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome Mercede! Dump the pet store info. The members here are very knowledgeable. When I got my sully they sold me a 15 gallon aquarium the wrong substrate,lights and heating . Told me to feed spring mix and occasionally strawberry and water melon.
Thankfully I found TFO.