New Hatchling Habitat!

[SammyLyn]

Hello TFO! I'm preparing to welcome a hatchling into the family, and I wanted to run everything by you guys first just to make sure I have everything and it's all the correct items. I've done weeks worth of research, mostly using this site, so please don't just link the "Russian Care Guide" or the "Baby Russian Care Guide" as a response because I'm fairly certain I have those memorized at this point ? Anyways, here's everything I plan on getting, with everything linked to Amazon (links in italic) items for visuals. I live in north San Diego county if that's necessary to know; I'm guessing my main battle will be with keeping humidity around 70-80%. Here's my list!

1) I will be using a 40 gallon aquarium indoors, with the lower half of the glass covered, with a partial lid on top to help keep humidity in. Outdoors will be a small sheltered kiddie pool type setup, so the baby can be outside in natural sun for a couple hours each day.

2) Substrate - extra small orchid bark - Extra Small Orchid Bark (1/8") 1 Gallon Bag. I'll thoroughly wet the substrate and then mist a couple times per day to keep things damp/the humidity up
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFKJI3I/?coliid=I36EDM4FY3K32&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

3) Eating & Basking Slate
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GNJXM8H/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

4) 18" Fluorescent Light Fixture and 18" 15 Watt HO 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HJ75PW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006346G0/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

5) For basking, a 75 Watt flood in this hood:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHODG/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

6) A CHE heat source for night time, to be positioned over the humid hide. Using the same hood as above. Babies need to be kept above 80 degrees 24/7, correct? So I'll need nighttime heat for the humid hide?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQCPK/?coliid=I1G7UG7B53HIR4&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

7) A lamp stand for the basking light and CHE. I'll be reinforcing the clamps so there's no danger of the lights falling
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D58KL8D/?coliid=I12D637I5DWEM9&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

8) A thermostat for inside the humid hide, which the CHE will be hooked up to
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I15S6OM/?coliid=I2YC8VTTFCW8RZ&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

9) Digital temp and humidity gauges to place around the enclosure until I can find a laser gun version. They seem to be sold out almost everywhere right now
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GNMKYCZ/?coliid=I3H1UIQLOR5CSW&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

10) A humid hide and sphagnum moss to fill it with
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FU4Z7O/?coliid=I21K4K54GHCUDY&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019J2MA2/?coliid=IE3NH3DDZ3CXJ&colid=1WOZ8YXCFYN5F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

That's about it for the specific things. I'll have a terracotta water dish, sunk into the substrate, as well as a couple of terracotta pots on their sides as alternate hides other than the humid hide. I plan on following the dietary guidelines on here, and using Mazuri to supplement the diet 2-3 times per week. One thing I AM missing, is what type of calcium/vitamins to sprinkle on the food, so suggestions for that as well please! Oh and of course there will be daily soaks as well, for 20-30 mins each day.

Still on the fence about a fogger. Question about humidity - does the entire habitat need to be at 70-80% humidity or just the humid hide? I'm hoping by keeping the habitat covered and the substrate moist that will be enough to keep it high and I won't need a fogger.

I think that's everything. Let me know your thoughts and if I'm forgetting anything!

 

[haydog_99]

Look at DIYcages.com I have one and really like it. and you can avoid the light stands and keep your heat in much easier.

 

[SammyLyn]

Look at DIYcages.com I have one and really like it. and you can avoid the light stands and keep your heat in much easier.

Thanks, I'll check it out! I only plan on using the aquarium style setup until the baby is big enough to move into a full size open top tortoise table - at 4" or 2 yrs old, whichever is first. But it would be nice to have a more compact setup

 

[iAmCentrochelys sulcata]

seems like you have most of it covered. keep us Updated, and welcome to TTF!

 

[aholdshoe]

Do you have a picture of the enclosure you can share? It sounds perfect!

 

[SammyLyn]

Do you have a picture of the enclosure you can share? It sounds perfect!

No, I haven't built it yet. I did about a month's worth of research and then wanted to make a list and run it by everyone on here before I spent any money and accidentally got the wrong things. I'm hoping to slowly start gathering things soon though! I'll probably just end up ordering most things from Amazon to avoid going out. I know hatchling season runs from around now thru August so I want to be up and running soon!

 

[SammyLyn]

@Tom could I bug you with a couple questions when you have a moment?

1) Living in southern CA, in an indoor habitat will a hatchling need overnight heat above the humid hide - using a CHE & thermostat - or is it generally warm enough now to not warrant it? I've read in a few places that hatchlings need to be kept at minimum 80 degrees 24/7. On that same note, will baby be ok in the outdoor enclosure (for natural sunlight) for a few hours if it's only around 70 degrees out? There would be a shaded area as well so baby doesn't roast

2) Does the entire habitat need to be at 70-80% humidity or just the humid hide? I'm hoping by keeping the habitat covered and the substrate moist that will be enough to keep it high and I won't need a fogger

3) Will I need both TNT and a calcium supplement? TNT 3x per week and calcium powder 2x per week?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Tom]

That's a lot of info! Well done.

The florescent tube and fixture you linked are not the HO type, and they won't project UV more than about 10 inches. The HO models work much better.

You will need a lot more than one gallon of o bark. You need a 3-4 inch layer. If you are getting a baby, I prefer coco coir for them at first. I don't switch to o bark until they are around 3-4 inches.

Temperate species of tortoises do NOT need 80 degrees 24/7. There should be a night time drop for all Testudo species. Down into the low 70s for a baby. 80 is great for an ambient during the day, but room temp is fine at night.

Overall humidity of 50-70% is fine for a Russian. The humid hide should be 90-100%. Don't use any moss. They will eat it and it can cause impaction. Just wet the substrate under the humid hid box and it will be fine.

No foggers. Not needed.

I've never used TNT. I have no knowledge of that. I like calcium carbonate based calcium supplements. I use RepCal. A tiny pinch once or twice a week is plenty.

 

[SammyLyn]

That's a lot of info! Well done.

The florescent tube and fixture you linked are not the HO type, and they won't project UV more than about 10 inches. The HO models work much better.

You will need a lot more than one gallon of o bark. You need a 3-4 inch layer. If you are getting a baby, I prefer coco coir for them at first. I don't switch to o bark until they are around 3-4 inches.

Temperate species of tortoises do NOT need 80 degrees 24/7. There should be a night time drop for all Testudo species. Down into the low 70s for a baby. 80 is great for an ambient during the day, but room temp is fine at night.

Overall humidity of 50-70% is fine for a Russian. The humid hide should be 90-100%. Don't use any moss. They will eat it and it can cause impaction. Just wet the substrate under the humid hid box and it will be fine.

No foggers. Not needed.

I've never used TNT. I have no knowledge of that. I like calcium carbonate based calcium supplements. I use RepCal. A tiny pinch once or twice a week is plenty.

Thank you so much, Tom! Duly noted about the HO type light, I thought that one had "HO" on it but on closer inspection it does not. I'll make sure to get an HO one.

For the coco coir, would you use only the coco coir or would you mix it 50/50 with (organic/clean) topsoil?

I still might use a CHE for night just in case; I usually keep my windows open at night and it's still getting down to around 62-65 in my house overnight.

No moss and no fogger, gotcha. And thanks for the RepCal recommendation! I appreciate your help with everything!

 

[Tom]

No soil. It is made from composted yard waste and there is no way to know what is in it. Could be something toxic. The people who make it do not intend for live animals to be living on it in indoor enclosures. Its also messy and muddy.