- Joined
- Jan 12, 2013
- Messages
- 34
Hi everyone. As you can see from my post count, I finally made the jump from lurker to participant... and if feels good.
I've spent the last three or four months browsing through the forum and trying to get my research in before diving in and bringing home a tort of my own.
I went to a local reptile show here in Maryland over the weekend to pick up some supplies, meet and greet some "local" vendors, and see what, if anything the had in the way of tortoises. Only two of the vendors had torts and only one with a Russian that appeared to have some real gouges/chunks out of his shell. It looked like old damage that has had plenty of time to heal, though and he seemed happy enough checking out his surroundings there. It was tempting to bring him/her home, but I want to have my habitat up and running before bringing one home with me.
That's all been a long way of saying that I'm in the process of getting things set up - I have two tubs (the smaller one pictured, and a 55-gallong Rubbermaid), a Powersun 100w MVB bulb and hood, coconut coir for the substrate, a terracotta dish for water, a half log hide, and a slate tile for feeding.
I'm going to pick up a lamp stand from a friend this week and have two probe thermometer/hydrometers that should be delivered this week as well. Hopefully by Thursday or Friday, I can set things up and start dialing in the temp and humidity.
So, my question to the group is: What am I missing (aside from greens, of course)? When the time comes, I want to make the transition for the my tort as stress free as possible.
Thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone as a participant around here.
I've spent the last three or four months browsing through the forum and trying to get my research in before diving in and bringing home a tort of my own.
I went to a local reptile show here in Maryland over the weekend to pick up some supplies, meet and greet some "local" vendors, and see what, if anything the had in the way of tortoises. Only two of the vendors had torts and only one with a Russian that appeared to have some real gouges/chunks out of his shell. It looked like old damage that has had plenty of time to heal, though and he seemed happy enough checking out his surroundings there. It was tempting to bring him/her home, but I want to have my habitat up and running before bringing one home with me.
That's all been a long way of saying that I'm in the process of getting things set up - I have two tubs (the smaller one pictured, and a 55-gallong Rubbermaid), a Powersun 100w MVB bulb and hood, coconut coir for the substrate, a terracotta dish for water, a half log hide, and a slate tile for feeding.
I'm going to pick up a lamp stand from a friend this week and have two probe thermometer/hydrometers that should be delivered this week as well. Hopefully by Thursday or Friday, I can set things up and start dialing in the temp and humidity.
So, my question to the group is: What am I missing (aside from greens, of course)? When the time comes, I want to make the transition for the my tort as stress free as possible.
Thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone as a participant around here.