Re: Rescued Sulcate

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Posted by Terry on January 09, 2001 at 10:25:27:

In Reply to: Rescued Sulcate posted by D. Michelson on January 08, 2001 at 22:27:37:

Hi,
I agree that the temperatures might be a bit warm.
88-90 under the basking light, with a cooler side of around 75 degrees sounds better.
Also a cooling down period overnight of an overall temperature of 75.

Put the tortoise on a strict routine, lights on at the same time everyday, let the tortoise warm up then feed it at the same time daily.

Bananas are one of the worst foods for this species, so I'd discontinue offering them.
Fruits of any kind are not recommended for sulcatas who are grazing herbivores. Fruits are too high in sugar, they require a low protein high fiber diet.

Offer a variety of leafy greens. I've found that Romaine and endive are favorites of all my tortoises, sulcatas and russians.

So tryt a Romaine , Endive base to which you can add other recommended leafy greens.
Escarole, chicory, red and green leaf lettuce, dandelions, collards greens etc.

DON'T feed ice burg lettuce, spinach or chard/bok choy.

Just be persistent and stick to the routine.
It may be adicted to the canned food, but once he's hungry he'll start eating.

Put the food out at the same time everyday and put it in the same place. Leave it in the enclosure for an hour or so, then remove it and try again the next day.

Make sure drinking water is always available, a small plastic plant pot saucer or flat/shallow tupperware lid works well.

Soak the tortoise once a week at that size.
Soak in lukewarm shallow water that only reaches the bottom of it's chin. Or where the plastron ( bottom shell) meets the carapqce (top shell).The tortoise should be able to rest comfortably with it's head out of the water.
Soak for around 10 minutes in a container that allows the tortoise to fully streatch out and turn around.

Try the following sites for more info:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/fussy.html

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/care.html

http://www.turtlecafe.net/index.htm

Also visit Sulcata Station linked below, and read through the sulcata posts at this forum to get more info/links/ideas.

Hope this helps.
Terry.

Sulcata Station.

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: Hi, : I agree that the temperatures might be a bit warm. : 88-90 under the basking light, with a cooler side of around 75 degrees sounds better. : Also a cooling down period overnight of an overall temperature of 75. : Put the tortoise on a strict routine, lights on at the same time everyday, let the tortoise warm up then feed it at the same time daily. : Bananas are one of the worst foods for this species, so I'd discontinue offering them. : Fruits of any kind are not recommended for sulcatas who are grazing herbivores. Fruits are too high in sugar, they require a low protein high fiber diet. : Offer a variety of leafy greens. I've found that Romaine and endive are favorites of all my tortoises, sulcatas and russians. : So tryt a Romaine , Endive base to which you can add other recommended leafy greens. : Escarole, chicory, red and green leaf lettuce, dandelions, collards greens etc. : DON'T feed ice burg lettuce, spinach or chard/bok choy. : Just be persistent and stick to the routine. : It may be adicted to the canned food, but once he's hungry he'll start eating. : Put the food out at the same time everyday and put it in the same place. Leave it in the enclosure for an hour or so, then remove it and try again the next day. : Make sure drinking water is always available, a small plastic plant pot saucer or flat/shallow tupperware lid works well. : Soak the tortoise once a week at that size. : Soak in lukewarm shallow water that only reaches the bottom of it's chin. Or where the plastron ( bottom shell) meets the carapqce (top shell).The tortoise should be able to rest comfortably with it's head out of the water. : Soak for around 10 minutes in a container that allows the tortoise to fully streatch out and turn around. : Try the following sites for more info: : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/fussy.html : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/care.html : http://www.turtlecafe.net/index.htm : Also visit Sulcata Station linked below, and read through the sulcata posts at this forum to get more info/links/ideas. : Hope this helps. : Terry.

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