old pic...my set up when Ted was smaller...

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Posted by Niki and Ted on January 03, 2002 at 11:30:57:

In Reply to: baby sulcata....substrate posted by paul on January 03, 2002 at 10:18:28:

Here you can see I had a log (not the kind they
sell in the pet shop which they can climb up on,
fall off of and get hurt), a pile of Timothy hay
for hiding in, a wooden box for hiding in (got it
in the rabbit/ferret section of the pet shop -
no climbing possibility), a flower pot on its side
filled half-way with substrate - all as hides.
He liked the hay pile and log a lot. Never used
the flower pot.

As far as the sand - there are some here who swear
by it, I think it's junk - too expensive, doesn't
absorb fluids at all, abrasive, dusty and in no
way does it provide any Calcium benefits as it should
not be eaten and can and has caused impaction deaths
in tortoises.

I would not recommend planting cactus in the cage,
as the growing conditions for the plant would be
difficult to maintain inside a pet tank. I did
grow some grazing mix in shallow dishes and alternately
placed those into the cage a few years ago - you can
still see the pics of those on my site. That way
you can water and provide lighting for the plants
independently of the torotise cage.

Bathing is OK and recommended for small torts.
I don't do it now, but I used to bathe him 2-3
times a week, but in the winter only once and
VERY carefully not to get a draft on him. Make
sure your water is warm as it cools quickly in
a small container. I used a little plastic spoon
to "pour" water on his shell and my fingertip in
clean water for his head area. Don't rinse dirt
into his eye accidently (This cost me an emergency
vet visit, though he was fine, I was horrified!).

85-88 isn't enough of a gradient in temps.
it's too warm for the entire cage to be that temp
and too cool for a basking spot. You want a
70 - 100 degree variety. I kept my baby at
75 at night in his sleeping area. Now he's at
70 degrees at night - he's 12 pounds though.

If you scroll down some there's some links to
Sulcata care sheets that are great. Take care!

Teddy my Sulcata (My Tortoise) page...

Follow Ups:

VERY nice setup Niki!! I LOVE it!! :-) n/p Turtlegirl 01/03/02 (0)
substrate... Niki 01/03/02 (3)
- Re: substrate... jim 01/03/02 (0)
- Re: substrate... paul 01/03/02 (1)
  - Re: substrate... danya 01/07/02 (0)

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: Here you can see I had a log (not the kind they : sell in the pet shop which they can climb up on, : fall off of and get hurt), a pile of Timothy hay : for hiding in, a wooden box for hiding in (got it : in the rabbit/ferret section of the pet shop - : no climbing possibility), a flower pot on its side : filled half-way with substrate - all as hides. : He liked the hay pile and log a lot. Never used : the flower pot. : As far as the sand - there are some here who swear : by it, I think it's junk - too expensive, doesn't : absorb fluids at all, abrasive, dusty and in no : way does it provide any Calcium benefits as it should : not be eaten and can and has caused impaction deaths : in tortoises. : I would not recommend planting cactus in the cage, : as the growing conditions for the plant would be : difficult to maintain inside a pet tank. I did : grow some grazing mix in shallow dishes and alternately : placed those into the cage a few years ago - you can : still see the pics of those on my site. That way : you can water and provide lighting for the plants : independently of the torotise cage. : Bathing is OK and recommended for small torts. : I don't do it now, but I used to bathe him 2-3 : times a week, but in the winter only once and : VERY carefully not to get a draft on him. Make : sure your water is warm as it cools quickly in : a small container. I used a little plastic spoon : to "pour" water on his shell and my fingertip in : clean water for his head area. Don't rinse dirt : into his eye accidently (This cost me an emergency : vet visit, though he was fine, I was horrified!). : 85-88 isn't enough of a gradient in temps. : it's too warm for the entire cage to be that temp : and too cool for a basking spot. You want a : 70 - 100 degree variety. I kept my baby at : 75 at night in his sleeping area. Now he's at : 70 degrees at night - he's 12 pounds though. : If you scroll down some there's some links to : Sulcata care sheets that are great. Take care!

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