Leopard Tortoise Preparations

Gizmick

New Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Hello guys, i just joined the forum and i was wondering what are some thoughts on my Homemade Tortoise Table and how effective can i give my future Leopard Tortoise Hatchling a life he can enjoy. What Pros and Cons would my tortoise have on my future tortoise.

PS: I noticed that tortoise tables make it hard to retain heat and humidity, so would there be a way that i can control that without getting ride of my table.
PPS: I keep hearing different numbers and philosophies with raising baby tortoises. So i'm a bit confused with what i should actually do, so what better place to ask than THE PEOPLE themselves lol. I appreciate any answers/help i can get. Thank you so much :)
20191028_110951.jpg
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hello and welcome.

You already answered your own question. You can't maintain the correct heat and humidity for a leopard in an open table like that. It also looks like the sides are too low to contain any tortoise species. A table like that would be fine for a Testudo species that comes from a drier and more temperate climate. For your leopard, you will need a large closed chamber.

Do I see moss in there? Tortoises will eat it and it can cause and impaction.

Where are you getting the tortoise. Most people don't start them correctly and a lot of babies die weeks or months after purchase because of this fact. Be sure to buy from the right source. Daily soaks, damp substrate and mostly indoors for babies.

There is a lot of often repeated misinformation out there. You've found the right info.

Here is all the info in one place for you:
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/
 

Gizmick

New Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Its just dried up sod, might replace soon. The walls are about 5" from the top of the substrate(sunject to change as he grows).

So ive been measuring and by night the temps averages to 76 degrees and by day its around 80s.(without any lights) Ive noticed many people(youtube)who live in florida own open top enclosures(like the likely recommended cement mixing tub for beginners) so even if it takes adding another layer of wall could it be possible to keep the enclosure open in any way.

Also i was planning on buying from a breeder here in florida call "The Turtle Source" they hatchling(about 2" shells) for about $200. Ive seen their facility. Seems really good.

Im welcome to any information that might deflect/refute anything ive said. I wanna make sure i provide a good home.
 

Gizmick

New Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
4
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Hello and welcome.

You already answered your own question. You can't maintain the correct heat and humidity for a leopard in an open table like that. It also looks like the sides are too low to contain any tortoise species. A table like that would be fine for a Testudo species that comes from a drier and more temperate climate. For your leopard, you will need a large closed chamber.

Do I see moss in there? Tortoises will eat it and it can cause and impaction.

Where are you getting the tortoise. Most people don't start them correctly and a lot of babies die weeks or months after purchase because of this fact. Be sure to buy from the right source. Daily soaks, damp substrate and mostly indoors for babies.

There is a lot of often repeated misinformation out there. You've found the right info.

Here is all the info in one place for you:
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/

Its just dried up sod, might replace soon. The walls are about 5" from the top of the substrate(sunject to change as he grows).

So ive been measuring and by night the temps averages to 76 degrees and by day its around 80s.(without any lights) Ive noticed many people(youtube)who live in florida own open top enclosures(like the likely recommended cement mixing tub for beginners) so even if it takes adding another layer of wall could it be possible to keep the enclosure open in any way.

Also i was planning on buying from a breeder here in florida call "The Turtle Source" they hatchling(about 2" shells) for about $200. Ive seen their facility. Seems really good.

Im welcome to any information that might deflect/refute anything ive said. I wanna make sure i provide a good home.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Many people recommend all sorts of wrong things. Open tubs don't work well for babies. Climate doesn't matter. Climate especially doesn't matter indoors in a house with heat and A/C.

5" sides are too low.

The info we dispense here is different and better than most of what you will find while doing "research". This info has been earned from decades of trial and error, experimentation, and side-by-side comparisons.

I would never buy from any breeder or seller who doesn't soak daily, keep them warm and humid, and keep the babies mostly indoors. You'll get a far healthier tortoise from a small time breeder who takes care of each and every baby and knows every detail of their life.

The info is there for you. Its up to you to decide who to listen to.
 
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