New Sulcata

[KaliSue]

Hi,
My name is Kali and my husband and I just brought home our Sulcata "Koopa" yesterday. I am excited to learn more about our new family member and connect with others who love these tortoises as well.
I became very intrigued by turtles and tortoises when I was young. My mom used to have turtles when she was younger. After hearing all her stories, I have wanted to add one to our family. I couldn't be happier to finally have one.
We currently reside in Southern California.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Do you have a hatchling or an older one? Great threads to read at the bottom of my post. Oh and we love pics

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Kali and welcome to the Forum!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Kali

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Kali, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Koopa .
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
are good to begin.

 

[Jodie]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Click here for the correct care info. Most of the info circulating around out in the world is based on old incorrect assumptions and much of the tortoise world has not kept up.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[KaliSue]

Thank you everyone for your warm welcomes! Also thank you for the various links of information.
Koopa is a hatchling and fits in the palm of my hand. S/He is quite active, a great eater and drinker as well. I expected Koopa to hide from us the first few days, but that hasn't been the case.
Below is a picture of little Koopa from a few days ago.

 

[Careym13]

Welcome to TFO!! Koopa is adorable! What is your enclosure like?

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome from the Desert !

Kali and Koopa .

 

[KaliSue]

Welcome to TFO!! Koopa is adorable! What is your enclosure like?

We currently have a 20 gallon tank with Cyprus mulch, UV light, water, food and a half log that I am soaking in water daily for a humid hide away. We will be buying a new home here soon so I will be making a safe outdoor sanctuary for Koopa. I am reading a lot of threads and will be adjusting as I learn new things.

 

[Tom]

We currently have a 20 gallon tank with Cyprus mulch, UV light, water, food and a half log that I am soaking in water daily for a humid hide away. We will be buying a new home here soon so I will be making a safe outdoor sanctuary for Koopa. I am reading a lot of threads and will be adjusting as I learn new things.

The following is intended to be helpful tips:
1. 20 is too small. You need something bigger. Preferably something with an closed top to hold your heat and humidity in. It is difficult to provide the correct conditions in an enclosure that is too small.
2. Soaking a half log does not a humid hide make. Those half logs are good for hiding spots, but they are too open to contain adequate humidity. You need a plastic box of some sort. I use black plastic dishwashing tubs from Walmart. They only cost $1.82. I flip them over and cut out a door hole just big enough for the tortoise. You'll have to periodically enlarge the hole as he grows.
3. What sort of UV bulb are you using? The cfl types that screw in can sometimes burn their eyes. If you are using one of those, I'd shut it off right now.
4. Orchid bark works better than cypress mulch, but this is more of a personal preference thing.

All of this and more is explained in detail in the threads I linked above.

 

[KaliSue]

The following is intended to be helpful tips:
1. 20 is too small. You need something bigger. Preferably something with an closed top to hold your heat and humidity in. It is difficult to provide the correct conditions in an enclosure that is too small.
2. Soaking a half log does not a humid hide make. Those half logs are good for hiding spots, but they are too open to contain adequate humidity. You need a plastic box of some sort. I use black plastic dishwashing tubs from Walmart. They only cost $1.82. I flip them over and cut out a door hole just big enough for the tortoise. You'll have to periodically enlarge the hole as he grows.
3. What sort of UV bulb are you using? The cfl types that screw in can sometimes burn their eyes. If you are using one of those, I'd shut it off right now.
4. Orchid bark works better than cypress mulch, but this is more of a personal preference thing.

All of this and more is explained in detail in the threads I linked above.

Thank you Tom, we will be purchasing a larger aquarium for Koopa. The person we bought Koopa from did not give us the correct details of the species Koopa was. So we had this stuff before Koopa came home with us. After researching, we found out the type of Tortoise Koopa really is. So this will be a learning and making adjustments as we go deal.
I plan to now run to Walmart tonight and purchase a proper humid hide away. I defiantly want the best of the best for my tortoise. I'm a bit obsessed over this little one.
I will have to ask my husband about the bulb, since he was the one who picked it out and we no longer have the packaging to it.

 

[Careym13]

Take a look at this thread, it helped me a lot when I was trying to decide how to house my hatchling Leopards (which need basically the same care as Sulcatas): http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

 

[Yvonne G]

Thank you Tom, we will be purchasing a larger aquarium for Koopa. The person we bought Koopa from did not give us the correct details of the species Koopa was. So we had this stuff before Koopa came home with us. After researching, we found out the type of Tortoise Koopa really is. So this will be a learning and making adjustments as we go deal.
I plan to now run to Walmart tonight and purchase a proper humid hide away. I defiantly want the best of the best for my tortoise. I'm a bit obsessed over this little one.
I will have to ask my husband about the bulb, since he was the one who picked it out and we no longer have the packaging to it.

Aquariums can be pretty expensive, and you can buy a very large plastic bin, or a horse/cattle trough for a much cheaper price.