juvenile leopard humidity level?

Tigerfish

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Hi!

I am new to these forums and entirely new to torties. I bought a 5 week baby leopard last Saturday and so far things have gone pretty good. I got him/her from a breeder here in Sweden that seemed good. He/she is very active, eats well and has nice poop.

I think it was hard to find good information first, since many sources say different things. Like that they are desert animals and you should avoid moisture at all costs. Then that they should have a lot of humidity.

My ambient humidity is between 34-40%. Is this good? The ambient temp lays at 83 F.
 

Gillian M

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A warm welcome to the :tort: forum.

I'd suggest that you post pictures so that you get the help you need. Good luck to you and your tort.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

I think you need more humidity in the habitat. Read the care sheet pinned at the top of our Leopard section here on the Forum.
 

Tom

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My ambient humidity is between 34-40%. Is this good? The ambient temp lays at 83 F.

Your ambient temperature is good, but your humidity is far too low. We have learned in the last few years that they thrive with higher humidity as long as they are kept warm. Daily soaks are good too. Humidity and hydration are keys to good health. Older sources of info still share the old, out dated, incorrect methods. We know better now, but not everyone has received the new info.

Your tortoise won't be a juvenile for a couple of years. I would still call it a hatchling at this point. Once the egg tooth is gone (usually around 6 weeks), then I would call it a baby.

Here is how they ought to be housed and raised:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

Here is what happens when they are kept too dry:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

Watch out for these pitfalls:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

More explanation on the newer methods with the reasoning explained and evidence demonstrated.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding-ii-the-leopards.18931/
 

Neal

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I would agree with the other posts that you might want to consider bumping up the humidity a little.

Could you explain a little more about the temperatures in your enclosure and how you are measuring? What are the enclosures hottest and coldest temperatures during the day? What temperature do you maintain the enclosure at night?
 

Jodie

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Welcome to the forum and the world of leopard tortoises. I keep my babies in a closed chamber enclosure with 80 % humidity. The cool side and night temps are never below 80F. The basking area is about 100F. You have come to the right place for great info to help you raise a beautiful leopard.
 

Tigerfish

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Thanks for all the replies! I will get back to you tomorrow when I have more time to show my setup. I already suspect the kit that was assembled for me is too tiny, and it has an open top which makes it hard to maintain the humidity. I will sit down and read the links thoroughly tomorrow as well.
 

Tigerfish

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I am a bit ashamed to show you this, but yes... This is what it looks like. Yes, that is sand, I was told it was good substrate. Today I went out and bought a ceramic heat lamp as the night temps plummet. I also bought new substrate that I will be mixing with the sand tomorrow, called orchid soil. Additive-free soil that has bark and coco in it. I went and got some reptile moss too, to make a humid hide and some more wet spots. I will also, despite not even having this for a week, go out and buy a new larger enclosure tomorrow. As well as an IR temp reader that I can use to check different temps, I have a regular stationary one now. The more I have read, the more I know that my tips that I got are very outdated. The pet store that I bought everything at do infact specialise in reptiles, but not tortoises per se. We mean well and want well, just sometimes we need to look out for better and newer information.

Thank you guys for being so helpful!
 

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leigti

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Welcome to the forum. Don't be ashamed, you followed the information you were given. We expect pet stores and veterinarians to know what they're talking about but unfortunately they often don't. I bought so much stuff at the beginning and in the first year so that I now know is not right and that I do not use. I made some costly mistakes but that's the way it goes. you are on the right track, just stay here on this for him and you will get all of the new and updated information that is out there.
 

Jodie

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As the owner of a pyramided leopard, well 2, but only one is my fault, I agree with legit. We all make mistakes. You are fixing yours early. No shame in that. Ask lots of questions as you're getting everything all set up.
 

Tigerfish

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I have a new and better tank! It's as big as I can fit in this room, but as he/she grows I will be able to build a table at another place in my apartment. I will take pictures once everything is set up.
 

Tigerfish

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One question though, he does not seem to like his vitamins that I powder on top of the food. I mist the food so it's not as dry, but he tries to find the un-prepared leaves. Can I maybe put vitamins in his soak twice a week instead? He always drinks from the soak before he goes doo-doo. :)
 

Tigerfish

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I got this as calcium supplement as well as cuttlebone in the actual tank, is that good?
 

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Jodie

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That is not the supplement I use, but I believe the miner all is highly recommended. Use just a pinch, and mix it in well. I don't believe it will be effective in the water. Cuttlebone available is great. He likely will not touch it until/unless he needs it.
 

Tigerfish

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Hi, guys! I just got everything set up. I will see what the temps and humidity is at in a few hours, right now they are at 48% humidity and 81 f ambient temp. I have a drier side and a wetter side. The wet side is actually really damp. The IR gun I bought is acting up a bit so I don't know the temp spots yet, I left it by accident in a cold car and it did not seem to like it.

I had to wake him up and soak him while I moved his old substrate and that might have stressed him, he had soft poop. Or it might be because he ate a huge amount of romaine today, he really loves it. What do you think?
 

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Tigerfish

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He's eating now though. Not lethargic at all.
 

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Jodie

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He is so darn cute. I love the hide with the plants on it. It looks great. I am so going to steal that idea when mine outgrow their current hides. I am worried about the dry, i assume, side. Is that sand and small gravel? They will sometimes eat this and it will cause impactation. Orchid bark would be a better choice if you're wanting seperate areas. I just use coco coir in the entire enclosure, because they just drag it around n mess it up anyway.
 

Tigerfish

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Thanks!! So glad you like! :) he's already explored a few times, so cute! It's sand with coco husk pieces on the dry side, but I can replace that with the orchid bark that I got if that is better. :)
 

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