One Month Update With Olive

[OliveAlaska]

I would like to start with, progress is slow but we have made some! I built an enclosure 3' x 6' and it's really basic right now. It's winter so I have no access to stones or wood, so she only has what I've been able to buy or find in our yard (like a paver that was under snow). I would like to add an elevated level at some point to increase her square footage but that will have to wait until summer.



I found Forest Floor on Amazon, 2 bags for $45 which was better than the 1 bag for $40 at the local Petco. With three bags in her enclosure she has about 3 inches of substrate.

My idea was to add the other two bags I have coming in the mail, but she only seems to burrow in her plastic hide and nowhere else. Is this the best substrate for her? Would she prefer coco coir?

All that's left is installing permanent light fixtures. I'm still using the ones she brought with her, but I have a ReptiZoo T5 combo kit, and will be getting some ambient lighting and probably a CHE or two.

She doesn't like leeks and tolerates collard greens and chard. She still favors romaine, mustard greens, and arugula when it is mixed in with the other two. I just ordered ZooMed's Tortoise food topper, so I'm excited to be expanding her food options.

She is soaking in her enclosure in the photo because her water tends to get cold fast when on the kitchen counter. Again - Alaska, cold, etc. We heat our home with Toyo heaters and have zero air circulation, so I'm doing the best I can.

Also, I am decorating her space! I love the sign - it says, "This property is protected by a highly trained tortoise; not responsible for injury or possible death." And the Tortoises Of The World poster has a Russian!



She still poos and pees regularly, and loves attention. I have been bringing her out and cuddling her on the couch, wrapped in a towel to keep her warm with a plastic bag beneath her. A couple days ago she had voided while eating so I put her on the rug in the living room. She's like a robot vacuum! Walks and walks until something gets in her way and then changes direction. She seemed to really enjoy the freedom.



Thanks again for the community!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Aw it’s lovely seeing a positive update! Sounds like you’ve made some great changes and still have some good future ones planned, I can’t remember if I’ve linked this one to you before, but you might like looking through it for the second level idea, there’s some good visual examples in there

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Substrate wise, she’s probably quite happy with the forest floor but I imagine she would enjoy digging through coir too! A lot of people actually make a nice damp coir layer underneath, then put the forest floor on top, perhaps she’ll like that and enjoy having the different textures

@Alex and the Redfoot I can’t recall now, but is the reptizoo t5 kit a reliable brand? I only ever recommend the zoo med and Arcadia you see, I can’t remember if this one is considered a cheap off brand, which would make it unreliable, so just wanted to double check with Alex for you

Also I thought I’d mention before someone else doesdo be careful letting her roam the carpet, it’s sometimes hard to pick up on their stress cues but the floor of a home isn’t natural for them and often they’re trying to look for somewhere to hide. There’s also the low temps and overall safety to consider, I do understand wanting to give her some exercise though as she doesn’t have her extension yet

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

ReptiZoo isn't super cheap off brand. However, their T5 kits aren't good (in terms of reliability and UV output, also quality fluctuates from batch to batch).

Confusing branding (ReptiZoo vs ZooMed) is somewhat annoying too.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

ReptiZoo isn't super cheap off brand. However, their T5 kits aren't good (in terms of reliability and UV output, also quality fluctuates from batch to batch).

Confusing branding (ReptiZoo vs ZooMed) is somewhat annoying too.

Yeah I hate the fact the names are so similar

 

[OliveAlaska]

@Littleredfootbigredheart Isn't there a way to monitor the efficiency of the UVB light? A device we can purchase? I want to say I saw them but scrolled past because they are incredibly expensive.

We will keep an eye out for the better brands. We are really good up here waiting for sales to buy things, since shipping is outrageous, which is why Amazon is so widely used.

Also, I see what you're saying about Olive wanting to hide. She seemed obsessed with going under the couch. We will revisit her freedom at a later date...

I did see that thread of enclosure ideas! I would full on feng shui her enclosure if I could, with all the fancy things. I would also love live plants but we have an unusually high-humidity house so often have fly issues. Sometimes just flowers in a vase is a problem. But I also don't see how fake plants could be a good thing, and I've seen plenty of them in enclosures.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

@Littleredfootbigredheart Isn't there a way to monitor the efficiency of the UVB light? A device we can purchase? I want to say I saw them but scrolled past because they are incredibly expensive.

We will keep an eye out for the better brands. We are really good up here waiting for sales to buy things, since shipping is outrageous, which is why Amazon is so widely used.

Also, I see what you're saying about Olive wanting to hide. She seemed obsessed with going under the couch. We will revisit her freedom at a later date...

I did see that thread of enclosure ideas! I would full on feng shui her enclosure if I could, with all the fancy things. I would also love live plants but we have an unusually high-humidity house so often have fly issues. Sometimes just flowers in a vase is a problem. But I also don't see how fake plants could be a good thing, and I've seen plenty of them in enclosures.

There is, you could buy a solar meter 6.5, but again I will warn they’re expensive tootechnically over time they do pay for themselves as they stop you replacing an expensive uv bulb too soon, so they are a good investment but a lot up front when you’ve purchased so many other things recently