TracyP
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2014
- Messages
- 1
Hello!
I recently received a new adult male EBT, Burton. I've never owned a EBT but did have a Russian Tortoise (who I mistakenly got from Petco, wild caught, and had a lot of health issues I wasn't aware of at the time pf purchase...he sadly passed away after 5 years in my care). Burton was captive breed, purchased from a breeder for a gift for a small child (that just was a mistake so I got him), but is showing all the signs of a healthy, active turtle.
Now I'm having new turtle mommy anxiety all over again. I am keeping him indoors because I live in an apartment complex, and because I have major depression and working with animals is therapy to me. I know keeping him outdoors is the best for him, but I am unable to until I get a house of my own. So I want to make the best indoor enclosure I can for him.
Right now he's in a guinea pig cage. I blacked off the sides so he's no trying to get past the wires all day. Only "nice" thing is, it has a deep pan for him to burrow in and airflow is good. It's just too tiny.
My dad is currently building me a wood turtle table 4 ft l x 2.5 ft w x 1 ft sides. I have a mixture in his temporary cage of coconut fiber (the expandable brick type) and sphagnum moss. I've been misting him every 3-4 hours making sure his humidity levels are keeping up to 50-60%. I have a UVB/UVA light above his cage that's on for 12 hours. I have a basking light, but have not been using it because of the small area he's in and the temps in my apartment have been around 72-75 throughout the day. Only dropping to 68 at night.
I soak him everyday for 15-20 minutes in a dish pan with luke warm water because once again his temporary cage does not have room for a soak dish. I haven't taken him outside yet for exercise because I'm still a little wary about disturbing him out of his burrow.
I have not been able to feed him yet. After soaking I've been putting kale and black raspberries in his food dish, but all he likes to do is bury himself in the moss. I tried feeding him a super worm and he looked interesting but I "spooked" him back into his moss. Maybe he's still adapting to the new environment and me?
I just want to make sure once I move him to the bigger turtle table that I'm doing everything correctly. And in a few days will he be ready to eat? Or should I move him out of the cage onto my kitchen floor and try and put a worm near him? Or would that stress him out too much??
Any advice I would appreciate! Its the best to learn from more experienced owners!
Thanks,
Tracy & Burton
I recently received a new adult male EBT, Burton. I've never owned a EBT but did have a Russian Tortoise (who I mistakenly got from Petco, wild caught, and had a lot of health issues I wasn't aware of at the time pf purchase...he sadly passed away after 5 years in my care). Burton was captive breed, purchased from a breeder for a gift for a small child (that just was a mistake so I got him), but is showing all the signs of a healthy, active turtle.
Now I'm having new turtle mommy anxiety all over again. I am keeping him indoors because I live in an apartment complex, and because I have major depression and working with animals is therapy to me. I know keeping him outdoors is the best for him, but I am unable to until I get a house of my own. So I want to make the best indoor enclosure I can for him.
Right now he's in a guinea pig cage. I blacked off the sides so he's no trying to get past the wires all day. Only "nice" thing is, it has a deep pan for him to burrow in and airflow is good. It's just too tiny.
My dad is currently building me a wood turtle table 4 ft l x 2.5 ft w x 1 ft sides. I have a mixture in his temporary cage of coconut fiber (the expandable brick type) and sphagnum moss. I've been misting him every 3-4 hours making sure his humidity levels are keeping up to 50-60%. I have a UVB/UVA light above his cage that's on for 12 hours. I have a basking light, but have not been using it because of the small area he's in and the temps in my apartment have been around 72-75 throughout the day. Only dropping to 68 at night.
I soak him everyday for 15-20 minutes in a dish pan with luke warm water because once again his temporary cage does not have room for a soak dish. I haven't taken him outside yet for exercise because I'm still a little wary about disturbing him out of his burrow.
I have not been able to feed him yet. After soaking I've been putting kale and black raspberries in his food dish, but all he likes to do is bury himself in the moss. I tried feeding him a super worm and he looked interesting but I "spooked" him back into his moss. Maybe he's still adapting to the new environment and me?
I just want to make sure once I move him to the bigger turtle table that I'm doing everything correctly. And in a few days will he be ready to eat? Or should I move him out of the cage onto my kitchen floor and try and put a worm near him? Or would that stress him out too much??
Any advice I would appreciate! Its the best to learn from more experienced owners!
Thanks,
Tracy & Burton