Loni
Member
New to tortoises and after much research and agonizing have purchased a baby yellowfoot that was incubated to be a male from an established breeder here in Canada. He (?) arrives Wednesday.
I have asked the breeder to provide information regarding his current set up and diet. Ambient and basking temperatures, substrate, humidity and diet so there will not be sudden changes. What I have so far is:
The nursery is an antique 24 x 48 x 19 cedar chest lined with heavy duty clear plastic sheeting. The top is removed and I have a reptile screen that fits at the basking end. The dome lights will sit on it. I have 150 w mercury vapor lamp in dome shade and a 50w ceramic emitter in a dome shade on a temperature and humidity controller. I have a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the balance of the top. It is on legs so it is 6 inches off the floor. The substrate I have is course coconut husk bedding and organic compost mix. I am setting up Saturday so I can have stable temp and humidity sorted out before he arrives. I have organic clover, dandelion and alfalfa seeds on order that should arrive any day. I will feed chemical free wild dandelion, plantain and white clover during the summer, I will plant mini flats the can be changed out through the winter. I have rose leaves and grape leaves available. I will put worms in the substrate so he can hunt. I found a source of Mazuri Tortoise diet and cactus pads. Organic fruit is never an issue here. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis so I make my own calcium from organic free range soy free eggs. I will have to get a source for calcium plus D3 for the winter.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
I have asked the breeder to provide information regarding his current set up and diet. Ambient and basking temperatures, substrate, humidity and diet so there will not be sudden changes. What I have so far is:
The nursery is an antique 24 x 48 x 19 cedar chest lined with heavy duty clear plastic sheeting. The top is removed and I have a reptile screen that fits at the basking end. The dome lights will sit on it. I have 150 w mercury vapor lamp in dome shade and a 50w ceramic emitter in a dome shade on a temperature and humidity controller. I have a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the balance of the top. It is on legs so it is 6 inches off the floor. The substrate I have is course coconut husk bedding and organic compost mix. I am setting up Saturday so I can have stable temp and humidity sorted out before he arrives. I have organic clover, dandelion and alfalfa seeds on order that should arrive any day. I will feed chemical free wild dandelion, plantain and white clover during the summer, I will plant mini flats the can be changed out through the winter. I have rose leaves and grape leaves available. I will put worms in the substrate so he can hunt. I found a source of Mazuri Tortoise diet and cactus pads. Organic fruit is never an issue here. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis so I make my own calcium from organic free range soy free eggs. I will have to get a source for calcium plus D3 for the winter.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!