Is this normal for a tortoise?

[Calummaparsonii27]

So my baby Sulcata will randomly just stop in his tracks and fall asleep for maybe 5 minutes, then resume walking around and rinse and repeat. Is this normal behavior?

 

[EllieMay]

So my baby Sulcata will randomly just stop in his tracks and fall asleep for maybe 5 minutes, then resume walking around and rinse and repeat. Is this normal behavior?

When you say rinse and repeat, do you mean he does this in his soaks?? Can we see pics of him and his enclosure please?

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

Rinse and repeat as in he does it over and over.

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

When you say rinse and repeat, do you mean he does this in his soaks?? Can we see pics of him and his enclosure please?

Sorry, forgot to reply to your comment

 

[Tortoise_Nerd]

Hmm that’s strange

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

Hmm that’s strange

He'll just be walking around then suddenly stop and doze off for a little bit then continue walking. It's adorable to watch but I'm a bit concerned. I don't know if it's because he's a baby or if it's just a trait he has.

 

[Tom]

Not normal.

What substrate is that? Do you normally have a top on the enclosure?

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

Not normal.

What substrate is that? Do you normally have a top on the enclosure?

Substrate is a mix of bark, coco fiber, potting soil, and some left over sand. I don't keep a top on the enclosure but I have one just in case it's needed. The green is left over grass that Turt has drug around his enclosure.

 

[Tom]

Substrate is a mix of bark, coco fiber, potting soil, and some left over sand. I don't keep a top on the enclosure but I have one just in case it's needed. The green is left over grass that Turt has drug around his enclosure.

I see several potential problems there:

1. Soil should never be used.
2. Sand should never be used.
3. There needs to be a top to hold in heat and humidity.
4. I don't know what you mean by "turf", but its a problem either way. Fake "astro turf" is not good because they will eat it. If it is "turf" as in sod, that's not good either since it is grown with all sorts of chemicals and also that plastic netting stuff.
5. I don't see any night heat. Is there something?

Give these a read through and see where your care and enclosure is different. Adjust as needed.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Ramirezm2]

Change your subtrate ASAP! You do not want your tortoise eating that perlite. What Tom said is absolutely right. You need more an of actual reptile bedding that holds humidity very well and is easily digestible. I believe one of the best substrate for indoor tortoises is product called “Natural Reptile Bedding” made by Lugarti.

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

I see several potential problems there:

1. Soil should never be used.
2. Sand should never be used.
3. There needs to be a top to hold in heat and humidity.
4. I don't know what you mean by "turf", but its a problem either way. Fake "astro turf" is not good because they will eat it. If it is "turf" as in sod, that's not good either since it is grown with all sorts of chemicals and also that plastic netting stuff.
5. I don't see any night heat. Is there something?

Give these a read through and see where your care and enclosure is different. Adjust as needed.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

I think you're referring to Turt, which is his name, not turf. I always have a heater on in my room so the ambient temperature is around 60-70. I'll get a ceramic bulb for at night for him just to be sure.

 

[Tom]

60 to 70° at night it's much too cold for a baby sulcata. The temperature should never drop below 80 at anytime day or night year round.

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

60 to 70° at night it's much too cold for a baby sulcata. The temperature should never drop below 80 at anytime day or night year round.

Gotcha, I'll bump the temperature up for him.

 

[Tom]

Gotcha, I'll bump the temperature up for him.

There is a lot of confusing, out-dated and wrong info circulating for this and other species out there in the world. We did it wrong for about 30 years with sulcatas, and unfortunately it is going to take a long time to break people away from the old, incorrect info. Most vets, breeders, "experts", books and websites are all still parroting the old wrong info that we've been teaching and re-printing for decades. I feel bad for someone starting out. You can spend hours diligently reading and researching and 95% of what you find will say the same things. Until you come here. We are all trying to get this life saving info out, but its slow going, and its a long uphill battle fighting the "establishment" that's been spouting the wrong info for 30+ years.

Here is the correct care info. Please take a look and then come back and ask for more explanation on any of it. We are here to talk tortoises and your questions will fuel the conversation and help everyone reading learn.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Calummaparsonii27]

There is a lot of confusing, out-dated and wrong info circulating for this and other species out there in the world. We did it wrong for about 30 years with sulcatas, and unfortunately it is going to take a long time to break people away from the old, incorrect info. Most vets, breeders, "experts", books and websites are all still parroting the old wrong info that we've been teaching and re-printing for decades. I feel bad for someone starting out. You can spend hours diligently reading and researching and 95% of what you find will say the same things. Until you come here. We are all trying to get this life saving info out, but its slow going, and its a long uphill battle fighting the "establishment" that's been spouting the wrong info for 30+ years.

Here is the correct care info. Please take a look and then come back and ask for more explanation on any of it. We are here to talk tortoises and your questions will fuel the conversation and help everyone reading learn.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Thank you so much for the help, it's truly been eye opening seeing information from experienced owners compared to what articles say, which were probably written by people who've little experience in the subject.

 

[Chompski]

I see several potential problems there:

1. Soil should never be used.
2. Sand should never be used.
3. There needs to be a top to hold in heat and humidity.
4. I don't know what you mean by "turf", but its a problem either way. Fake "astro turf" is not good because they will eat it. If it is "turf" as in sod, that's not good either since it is grown with all sorts of chemicals and also that plastic netting stuff.
5. I don't see any night heat. Is there something?

Give these a read through and see where your care and enclosure is different. Adjust as needed.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Is soil a bad substrate for sulcata? I'm currently using soil and coco bark as a substrate for mine because i rode at your guide to use "coco coir, orchid bark, cypress mulch, plain additive free soil, or yard dirt". If so, im gonna change it into fully coco bark/coco husk

 

[Tom]

Thank you so much for the help, it's truly been eye opening seeing information from experienced owners compared to what articles say, which were probably written by people who've little experience in the subject.

Some of them have a lot of experience, they just don't know they were taught the wrong info many years ago, and they have never tried it the "right" way, so they don't know the difference. Many of them argue against these new methods despite mountains of first hand experience and evidence from thousands of tortoise keepers from all over the world.

Its really sad, and its really confusing for mew people to the hobby. Most of all it is sad for the babies still being raised in harmful, unnatural, dry conditions.

 

[Tom]

Is soil a bad substrate for sulcata? I'm currently using soil and coco bark as a substrate for mine because i rode at your guide to use "coco coir, orchid bark, cypress mulch, plain additive free soil, or yard dirt". If so, im gonna change it into fully coco bark/coco husk

This is one of those things...

I wrote that years ago, and I've learned and evolved since then. I recommend against any kind of bought in a bag soil because you cannot know what sort of composted yard waste it is made of. Could be pesticidally treated grass clippings, could be oleander and azalea clippings, could be anything. They don't intend for it to be substrate under living baby animals. They intend for their product to go on the ground or in a pot outdoors in someone's garden.

I don't like coco coir for sulcata babies anymore because it is too messy. It sticks to everything.

The best substrate for baby sulcatas, leopards and stars is fine grade orchid bark.

 

[EllieMay]

Thank you so much for the help, it's truly been eye opening seeing information from experienced owners compared to what articles say, which were probably written by people who've little experience in the subject.

Let us know how your baby is doing periodically. He’s a cutie & I wish you the best!

 

[Chompski]

This is one of those things...

I wrote that years ago, and I've learned and evolved since then. I recommend against any kind of bought in a bag soil because you cannot know what sort of composted yard waste it is made of. Could be pesticidally treated grass clippings, could be oleander and azalea clippings, could be anything. They don't intend for it to be substrate under living baby animals. They intend for their product to go on the ground or in a pot outdoors in someone's garden.

I don't like coco coir for sulcata babies anymore because it is too messy. It sticks to everything.

The best substrate for baby sulcatas, leopards and stars is fine grade orchid bark.

Hmm i managed to get my hand on a forest bark, but it's a bit too big. I think i'll just snap them off into smaller pieces..