Champoi bibiano
Member
Is it weird that my tort dont like water in his enclosure? He usually dumps em when i place em, so i stopped placing, he dont care, he seems cool tho. Urates look fine except when i forget to soak him for about 3-5 days
Which species? The only testudo I'm familiar with is the Horsefieldii, and none of mine like water either.
Is your tortoise's enclosure outside or inside?
The Phillipines are quite humid, as I am sure you know! A tortoise from a dry climate may not want or need that much water if it's outside in the humidity. We have a little bit of humidity where I live and my outdoor Horsefield/Russian tortoise did not use her bowl once over the course of a year; we finally took it out. She gets soaked once a week, twice a week when it's hot. She's okay with soaking but doesn't actually drink much from it other than when she comes out of hibernation. She does occasionally lick dew off a plant
I'm not experienced with keeping one inside and will leave that to the experts.
Sounds like you need a larger bowl that the tortoise can't get under and tip.
Just the one sulcata.
I have actually been thinking of getting one, and upsizing his enclosure as well, and thinking of using garden soil as bedding, supplemented by hay, so i can submerge the drinking bowl in soil so it can also act as a cooling tub. Any suggestions?
My sulcata drinks while I'm watching. He used to drain the dog's water bowl. I don't think I saw him drink when he was a baby. I think it is harder for smaller guys to get their necks bent to reach the bowl, so sinking it in the substrate might help.Sulcata is Geochleone. I have several numerous tortoises and box turtles, the only one who will drink while 'm watching are 5 box turtles. None of my other turtles and tortoises don't want me watching. Give them a nice sized water dish. I use the paint roller pans, he'll drink when he gets thirsty. In the mean time place a large water container and leave it and go. He'll drink when he gets thirsty, you also need to soak him daily whether he like it or not.
Testudo is the genus that includes greeks, russians and hermanni. Sulcatas are in the genus Centrochelys (Formerly Geochelone.) It helps us to offer better advice if we know the species we are talking about.
I would not use soil as a substrate. It is at the least messy, and if store bought potentially dangerous. Hay is also no good because it will mold and its too dry. I prefer fine grade orchid bark.
The tortoise in your avatar looks quite large. Large enough to live outside full time where it can just live on the dirt outside and not need any added "substrate". A heated night box would offer shelter on cold nights and during rainy times. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
These might also offer some tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
My sulcata drinks while I'm watching. He used to drain the dog's water bowl. I don't think I saw him drink when he was a baby. I think it is harder for smaller guys to get their necks bent to reach the bowl, so sinking it in the substrate might help.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Sulcata isn't in the "Testudo" family.
Sulcata is Geochleone. I have several numerous tortoises and box turtles, the only one who will drink while 'm watching are 5 box turtles. None of my other turtles and tortoises don't want me watching. Give them a nice sized water dish. I use the paint roller pans, he'll drink when he gets thirsty. In the mean time place a large water container and leave it and go. He'll drink when he gets thirsty, you also need to soak him daily whether he like it or not.
Testudo is the genus that includes greeks, russians and hermanni. Sulcatas are in the genus Centrochelys (Formerly Geochelone.) It helps us to offer better advice if we know the species we are talking about.
I would not use soil as a substrate. It is at the least messy, and if store bought potentially dangerous. Hay is also no good because it will mold and its too dry. I prefer fine grade orchid bark.
The tortoise in your avatar looks quite large. Large enough to live outside full time where it can just live on the dirt outside and not need any added "substrate". A heated night box would offer shelter on cold nights and during rainy times. Like this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
These might also offer some tips:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
These come in big sizes. you can get them off Craigslist as well or even Walmart. Sink it into the substrate and they can't get under them. If he's too big for these then try a bird bath top.