Re: Baby Sulcata

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Posted by Terry on January 22, 2001 at 16:26:54:

In Reply to: Baby Sulcata posted by Beau R on January 22, 2001 at 14:46:20:

Hi,
95 is too high in a 20 gallon tank.Sulcatas max out at extremely high temperatures.
They must have a heat gradient a warm and cooler side. This is difficult to create in a small fish tank.
In tanks air circulation is poor and the tank heats up quickly.
Try a large Rubbermaid type container instead of a fish tank.
In the warm side I would go for around 88- 90 degrees, under the basking lamp. But the other side MUST be cooler, around 75.
Overnight they need a cooling down peroid, 75 is fine for overnight.

Do you soak him/her?
If not start.
For a sulcata that size soak every other day. Soak it in lukewarm water ( not hot), the water must be shallow it should only reach the very bottom of his chin.Soak him in a container that allows him to stretch out, a tupperware or something similar.
He should be able to sit comfortably with his head out of the water.When tortoises pass stools they retract their heads, so make sure he can do that without puting his head underwater. Soak him for around 10-20 minutes, changing the water a couple of times as it cools.
Alfalfa might not be the best substrate. It gets dusty which irritates the eyes and nostrils. It can also get quickly infested with mites, which bite around the tortoises eyes.
Get the tortoise out of the tank and into a large Rubbermaid or something similar. Ajust the temperatures, making sure that one side is cooler, around 75 degrees and no higher than 88-90 under the heat lamp.
Soak the tortoise every other day, or even daily until he improves. As he gets bigger, you can soak him less.
Think about changing the substrate.
What have you been feeding?
Let us know.

Also check out sulcata station linked below, lots of good info there. Make sure you read the care sheets.

And of course if you're concerned, then a vet visit is a good idea.
Hope this helps.
Terry.

Sulcata Station.

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Re: Baby Sulcata Christy 01/22/01 (0)

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Comments:
: : Hi, : 95 is too high in a 20 gallon tank.Sulcatas max out at extremely high temperatures. : They must have a heat gradient a warm and cooler side. This is difficult to create in a small fish tank. : In tanks air circulation is poor and the tank heats up quickly. : Try a large Rubbermaid type container instead of a fish tank. : In the warm side I would go for around 88- 90 degrees, under the basking lamp. But the other side MUST be cooler, around 75. : Overnight they need a cooling down peroid, 75 is fine for overnight. : Do you soak him/her? : If not start. : For a sulcata that size soak every other day. Soak it in lukewarm water ( not hot), the water must be shallow it should only reach the very bottom of his chin.Soak him in a container that allows him to stretch out, a tupperware or something similar. : He should be able to sit comfortably with his head out of the water.When tortoises pass stools they retract their heads, so make sure he can do that without puting his head underwater. Soak him for around 10-20 minutes, changing the water a couple of times as it cools. : Alfalfa might not be the best substrate. It gets dusty which irritates the eyes and nostrils. It can also get quickly infested with mites, which bite around the tortoises eyes. : Get the tortoise out of the tank and into a large Rubbermaid or something similar. Ajust the temperatures, making sure that one side is cooler, around 75 degrees and no higher than 88-90 under the heat lamp. : Soak the tortoise every other day, or even daily until he improves. As he gets bigger, you can soak him less. : Think about changing the substrate. : What have you been feeding? : Let us know. : Also check out sulcata station linked below, lots of good info there. Make sure you read the care sheets. : And of course if you're concerned, then a vet visit is a good idea. : Hope this helps. : Terry.

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