longlivethetorts0912
New Member
Hello,
I am a new member of the site and a newbie to tortoises in general. I have researched endlessly and have wanted to make a tortoise a part of my home for quite a while now! My interest is in Russian torts, although all are so beautiful! I plan to get my first Russian fairly soon and wanted some advice. Even doing so much research, I feel like I don't know everything. Here is my plan for my future tortoise:
I plan to get a female ( I realize they do get a bit bigger than the males). I plan to keep her in a 50 or more gallon plastic tote or cement mixing container. As of now, I am planning to use EcoEarth (coconut coir) for the substrate and mist it down well daily to keep the humidity up. I will have a shallow dish filled with water for her to drink or soak in at her leisure and I will soak her every other day (can you soak them every day?). For food, I plan to feed her small amounts of Mazuri Tortoise Diet (after gradually switching her from the food she is currently on), different types of lettuces (romaine, Kale ect.), dandelion flowers and greens (and anything else I can grow organically), some "safe" veggies, and supplementing with calcium powder. I will provide my tort with a basking area (with light) and a UVB bulb for her absorption of calcium. In her enclosure, I will also provide her with a "cool area" complete with a hide. I was also considering having a bucket of clean earth for her to dig in. Along with that, I will take her outside daily, when it is warm enough and not winter. I do not plan on hibernating her as I live in the south U.S. so it should stay fairly warm indoors in the winter. Her enclosure will also be installed with a thermometer and humidity gauge.
I am prepared to care for her for the rest of my life and ensure she will be taken care of by somebody when I am gone (though that'll be awhile for I'm in my 20's). I have found a herp vet near me so I am covered on that end. I think I am covered. Is there anything that I forgot to include?
Questions:
-As I am planning to use a plastic enclosure (with decorations of course), will the light bulbs be too hot and melt the plastic?
-Do I have to use a certain type of plastic for the enclosure?
-At night is it better to use a heating pad (since the enclosure will be plastic with an open top) or a red nocturnal bulb?
-What wattage of bulbs do I use?
-Is calcium powder necessary?
-How much calcium powder do I use?
-Is soaking tortoises everyday bad?
Thank you!
I am a new member of the site and a newbie to tortoises in general. I have researched endlessly and have wanted to make a tortoise a part of my home for quite a while now! My interest is in Russian torts, although all are so beautiful! I plan to get my first Russian fairly soon and wanted some advice. Even doing so much research, I feel like I don't know everything. Here is my plan for my future tortoise:
I plan to get a female ( I realize they do get a bit bigger than the males). I plan to keep her in a 50 or more gallon plastic tote or cement mixing container. As of now, I am planning to use EcoEarth (coconut coir) for the substrate and mist it down well daily to keep the humidity up. I will have a shallow dish filled with water for her to drink or soak in at her leisure and I will soak her every other day (can you soak them every day?). For food, I plan to feed her small amounts of Mazuri Tortoise Diet (after gradually switching her from the food she is currently on), different types of lettuces (romaine, Kale ect.), dandelion flowers and greens (and anything else I can grow organically), some "safe" veggies, and supplementing with calcium powder. I will provide my tort with a basking area (with light) and a UVB bulb for her absorption of calcium. In her enclosure, I will also provide her with a "cool area" complete with a hide. I was also considering having a bucket of clean earth for her to dig in. Along with that, I will take her outside daily, when it is warm enough and not winter. I do not plan on hibernating her as I live in the south U.S. so it should stay fairly warm indoors in the winter. Her enclosure will also be installed with a thermometer and humidity gauge.
I am prepared to care for her for the rest of my life and ensure she will be taken care of by somebody when I am gone (though that'll be awhile for I'm in my 20's). I have found a herp vet near me so I am covered on that end. I think I am covered. Is there anything that I forgot to include?
Questions:
-As I am planning to use a plastic enclosure (with decorations of course), will the light bulbs be too hot and melt the plastic?
-Do I have to use a certain type of plastic for the enclosure?
-At night is it better to use a heating pad (since the enclosure will be plastic with an open top) or a red nocturnal bulb?
-What wattage of bulbs do I use?
-Is calcium powder necessary?
-How much calcium powder do I use?
-Is soaking tortoises everyday bad?
Thank you!