New Keeper Here

Joined
Mar 18, 2019
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Location (City and/or State)
Alberton, South Africa
Hi there! I’m also a new owner of a little leopard tort hatchling.. he/she is a month old now.. the enclosure I’ve set up is soil with grass growing in it and some thyme which she (I just have a feeling it’s a she ) loves to eat.. then I used eucalyptus mulch in her little hut where she sleeps... any advice?
 

Tom

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Hi there! I’m also a new owner of a little leopard tort hatchling.. he/she is a month old now.. the enclosure I’ve set up is soil with grass growing in it and some thyme which she (I just have a feeling it’s a she ) loves to eat.. then I used eucalyptus mulch in her little hut where she sleeps... any advice?
Eucalyptus is toxic. I would remove that ASAP.

I wouldn't use bought in a bag soil because you can't know what competed yard waste material it is made of.

Fine grade orchid bark works the best.

You could also use dirt from outside as long as the sand content isn't too high and you take steps to minimize accidental ingestion.

Read these for more tips on raising babies:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

If your leopard is of the South African variety, they eat grass like a sulcata and can be fed similarly:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
 

Yvonne G

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I think it was Bill Zigler who mentioned that he uses eucalyptus mulch as substrate. I have since been using it too, and my animals show no ill effects.
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
42
Location (City and/or State)
Alberton, South Africa
My little one is a South African Leopard Tort so she does enjoy grass but I don’t have a yard at the moment so I take her on outings to a neighbors yard :) but she seems to be behaving normally thus far so I think it all looks good.. the soil doesn’t have a lot of sand in it but I’ll maybe remove some of it from the habitat and replace it with orchard bark... can I use orchard grass in her hide for her to borrow in?
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
42
Location (City and/or State)
Alberton, South Africa
Eucalyptus is toxic. I would remove that ASAP.

I wouldn't use bought in a bag soil because you can't know what competed yard waste material it is made of.

Fine grade orchid bark works the best.

You could also use dirt from outside as long as the sand content isn't too high and you take steps to minimize accidental ingestion.

Read these for more tips on raising babies:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

If your leopard is of the South African variety, they eat grass like a sulcata and can be fed similarly:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
Thank you Tom, I have read those threads and it has helped SOOO much :)
 

Tom

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You need a soaking tub with taller sides and the water can be a little bit deeper. The tortoise shouldn't be able to see out or climb out.
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
42
Location (City and/or State)
Alberton, South Africa
You need a soaking tub with taller sides and the water can be a little bit deeper. The tortoise shouldn't be able to see out or climb out.

Oh okay thanks, didn’t realize.. she enjoys soaking a lot, so that’s helps and then we let her climb out when she feels she is done.. this usually lasts 10 to 30 minutes. But I’ll find something bigger and higher on the sides :)
 

Lyn W

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Hi and welcome from UK
Your baby is beautiful!
You'll get great up to date advice here on every aspect of tort keeping.
When you take her to a different yard don't forget to check that no chemicals - fertilisers/pesticides/weed killers etc - have been used in the area.
As well as the caresheets many of use www.thetortoisetable.org.uk as a guide to what plants are safe or not.
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
42
Location (City and/or State)
Alberton, South Africa
Hi and welcome from UK
Your baby is beautiful!
You'll get great up to date advice here on every aspect of tort keeping.
When you take her to a different yard don't forget to check that no chemicals - fertilisers/pesticides/weed killers etc - have been used in the area.
As well as the caresheets many of use www.thetortoisetable.org.uk as a guide to what plants are safe or not.

Yeah I do check that [emoji28] thanks so much!
 
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