LeChef
New Member
I'm going to be getting a tortoise soon and have already built an outdoor enclosure for one but came to realize I'd love to raise a baby tortoise up to an adult and avoid any field collection.
I've been seeing many things on good and bad ways to raise up a baby tortoise on this forum and was just hoping a few more questions could get answered.
Researching it seems the best way to give them the best growth is in a closed chamber, this had me wondering if my idea for a closed chamber would be okay. I have a leftover 40 gallon I was going to get rid of since it cracked but I was thinking if I put it inside of a mini greenhouse cover that would work.
This specifically: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FC7DKG9/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
OR
Could I cover half of the tank with this sheet: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-24-in-x-36-in-Twin-wall-Plastic-Sheet-COR-2436/202090128
And the other side of the tank with aluminum foil surrounding the heat bulb and I'll have a humidity fogger go off for a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day. Or would misting the tank directly be better you think?
I'll be using these lights as one of the members suggested: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-24-in-x-36-in-Twin-wall-Plastic-Sheet-COR-2436/202090128
or should I use a dedicated reptile heat bulb?
Also will the russians need a humid box? I read that sulcatas and leopards need them to prevent pyramiding but unsure about the russians.
And substrate, I have leftover bioactive substrate with some coco coir, leaf litter, and play sand (can add orchid bark as well). No clean up crew but just left over substrate and since Russians are burrowers would this be an alright substrate for babies? I know people suggest organic topsoil but I can never find a perfect topsoil without anything in it unfortunately.
Also a few other questions. I live in San Diego California so it's usually sunny year round, now I read the member Toms post that you could just bring babies outside 3 days a week for an hour and they would have enough UV rays. I have a uv reptile light leftover so should I not leave that on and the outdoor time would be enough?
I've been seeing many things on good and bad ways to raise up a baby tortoise on this forum and was just hoping a few more questions could get answered.
Researching it seems the best way to give them the best growth is in a closed chamber, this had me wondering if my idea for a closed chamber would be okay. I have a leftover 40 gallon I was going to get rid of since it cracked but I was thinking if I put it inside of a mini greenhouse cover that would work.
This specifically: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FC7DKG9/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
OR
Could I cover half of the tank with this sheet: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-24-in-x-36-in-Twin-wall-Plastic-Sheet-COR-2436/202090128
And the other side of the tank with aluminum foil surrounding the heat bulb and I'll have a humidity fogger go off for a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day. Or would misting the tank directly be better you think?
I'll be using these lights as one of the members suggested: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-24-in-x-36-in-Twin-wall-Plastic-Sheet-COR-2436/202090128
or should I use a dedicated reptile heat bulb?
Also will the russians need a humid box? I read that sulcatas and leopards need them to prevent pyramiding but unsure about the russians.
And substrate, I have leftover bioactive substrate with some coco coir, leaf litter, and play sand (can add orchid bark as well). No clean up crew but just left over substrate and since Russians are burrowers would this be an alright substrate for babies? I know people suggest organic topsoil but I can never find a perfect topsoil without anything in it unfortunately.
Also a few other questions. I live in San Diego California so it's usually sunny year round, now I read the member Toms post that you could just bring babies outside 3 days a week for an hour and they would have enough UV rays. I have a uv reptile light leftover so should I not leave that on and the outdoor time would be enough?