Re: African Sulcata - hybernate?

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Laura R. on November 01, 2000 at 18:51:58:

In Reply to: Re: African Sulcata - hybernate? posted by The other Terry. on November 01, 2000 at 18:10:56:

I put some detail in the post above.

Inside I have him in a 20 gal tank with a "reptile" substrate - I can't really say what exactly it is. It is not sand, not bark... it is commercially made and says it is animal safe. I have the tank sectioned off - 1/3 of it is closed off with cardboard, with an opening (opening has cloth hanging down to black out) and it is capped with cardboard. In that corner I have an undertank heater.

I generally do not keep him in there too much. It kills me to see him try to scrape his way out - I want him to have as much room as possible. If the weather is good I put him outside in the morning and put him back in at night. I leave at 5am where it is way too cold so I made a little enclosure with blankets to keep him warm until it warms up outside - I tested this... he keeps his little head facing forward and creeps out when the sun comes up. When it gets dark I bring him in and let him roam around inside, then when I go to bed, he goes to bed.

I have been growing him green leafs and the European lettuce. I also have tons of Hibiscus plants for him. The plants are babies but they are slowly producing. He must be eating, he leaves little presents behind (he is so small - I am amazed on the size of them!!). And when I soak him he urinates, in the urine there is white - which tells me he is getting calcium. I have a cuttle bone in his tank.

It seems like he has been slower than normal since the weather changed... it might be because he hasn't been able to go outside as much. I thought he might be trying to hibernate.

I am going to be making him an outdoor enclosure... an open one - one where he can roam the whole yard. There are no animals to fear of and I have completely blocked any possible gap in our house enclosures. I just don't want him to be rained out and drown or be too cold.

Thank you everyone for any advice or suggestions you can offer. He is my little baby... I spoil him. :-)

Laura

Follow Ups:

Re: African Sulcata - hybernate? Terry 11/01/00 (2)
- Re: African Sulcata - hybernate? Laura R. 11/02/00 (0)
- My opinion exactly, Terry.........n/p B B 11/01/00 (0)
Re: African Sulcata - hybernate? Georgia 11/01/00 (4)
- Re: African Sulcata - hybernate? Laura R. 11/02/00 (3)
  - couldn't she just put a heat bulb in its outdoor enclosure? Terri 11/02/00 (2)
    - Re: couldn't she just put a heat bulb in its outdoor enclosure? Terry 11/02/00 (1)
      - Re: couldn't she just put a heat bulb in its outdoor enclosure? Laura R. 11/03/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I put some detail in the post above. : Inside I have him in a 20 gal tank with a "reptile" substrate - I can't really say what exactly it is. It is not sand, not bark... it is commercially made and says it is animal safe. I have the tank sectioned off - 1/3 of it is closed off with cardboard, with an opening (opening has cloth hanging down to black out) and it is capped with cardboard. In that corner I have an undertank heater. : I generally do not keep him in there too much. It kills me to see him try to scrape his way out - I want him to have as much room as possible. If the weather is good I put him outside in the morning and put him back in at night. I leave at 5am where it is way too cold so I made a little enclosure with blankets to keep him warm until it warms up outside - I tested this... he keeps his little head facing forward and creeps out when the sun comes up. When it gets dark I bring him in and let him roam around inside, then when I go to bed, he goes to bed. : I have been growing him green leafs and the European lettuce. I also have tons of Hibiscus plants for him. The plants are babies but they are slowly producing. He must be eating, he leaves little presents behind (he is so small - I am amazed on the size of them!!). And when I soak him he urinates, in the urine there is white - which tells me he is getting calcium. I have a cuttle bone in his tank. : It seems like he has been slower than normal since the weather changed... it might be because he hasn't been able to go outside as much. I thought he might be trying to hibernate. : I am going to be making him an outdoor enclosure... an open one - one where he can roam the whole yard. There are no animals to fear of and I have completely blocked any possible gap in our house enclosures. I just don't want him to be rained out and drown or be too cold. : Thank you everyone for any advice or suggestions you can offer. He is my little baby... I spoil him. :-) : Laura

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]