I will soon receive my first tortoise, a Russian hatchling. I'm very excited and would appreciate any advice you can offer. I also have a few general questions:
1. Cage- It must be indoors. I'd like to go to Home Depot and build a "tortoise table." Anything important I should know in advance? Must it have a depressed area for digging? How big should the hiding area be?
2. What temperature should the heated and non-heated areas be?
3. What can I buy at a common grocer's for feeding? How do I apply TNT to the food? How much at each feeding and how often should I feed? Can it overdose on dandelions (I have a lot in my yard)?
4. How many hours of light should I set on the timer?
5. How often should I bathe?
6. How much handling is too much?
7. Any interesting items to include in the cage?
Anything else I should know?
Thanks!
1. Cage- It must be indoors. I'd like to go to Home Depot and build a "tortoise table." Anything important I should know in advance? Must it have a depressed area for digging? How big should the hiding area be?
2. What temperature should the heated and non-heated areas be?
3. What can I buy at a common grocer's for feeding? How do I apply TNT to the food? How much at each feeding and how often should I feed? Can it overdose on dandelions (I have a lot in my yard)?
4. How many hours of light should I set on the timer?
5. How often should I bathe?
6. How much handling is too much?
7. Any interesting items to include in the cage?
Anything else I should know?
Thanks!