Re: Update on baby Sulcatta and a few concerns

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

Posted by Niki on January 17, 2002 at 07:06:51:

In Reply to: Update on baby Sulcatta and a few concerns posted by Curt and Kelly on January 16, 2002 at 17:52:49:

First of all let me say that I can tell you really
care about your pet so just take everything in a
possitive way cause we do too OK!...

If it's not cooler than 84 in the tank somewhere it's
WAY too hot in there. Poor thing, needs somewhere
about 70 degrees to retreat to.
Gettting a tiny bit bigger tank will just be another
waste of money, it's like buying a car that seats
2, then a car that seats 3, etc...when you need
a bus for 25! LOL!
Don't feed oranges, no fruit.

Glass stress is common with many reptiles in an
all glass set-up. Immediately take some paper,
construction paper, even newspaper if you don't
have any, and tape it to the OUTSIDE of three sides
of the glass (I did this with my geckos, then got
them an official background paper but they're totally
different than tortoises so it's not such a big
deal). This will make the aquarium/terrarium seem
more "solid" and reduces glass stress some, though
I think the temps are making it act like that a lot
too.
My concern with your new set-up (as well as the
old one) is the height - seems very low/shallow,
you don't want the bulb sitting in a hood that
close because with the substrate height and the
height of the tortoises' shell, it's practically
right under the light bulbs that way.

You can give calcium daily, and I would seriously
consider some other form of "substrate", many
sulcatas love to dig, and there'll be the day
she gets that towel/duct tape thing to start coming
up and you don't want that to happen. Another reason
they dig is to hide in the substrate a bit, which
they can't do in a towel well, does she have
a hide retreat? Be careful not to overstress a
new reptile with too much "love" until they are
established, which she isn't yet.

So, change your heating set up to allow for a real
cool area and tape some paper on the outsides of
the glass tank for now, also consider safety with
your substrate idea. I'm sure you'll get a ton
more advise here really quick. Good luck and welcome.
niki and teddy

Teddy my Sulcata

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: First of all let me say that I can tell you really : care about your pet so just take everything in a : possitive way cause we do too OK!... : If it's not cooler than 84 in the tank somewhere it's : WAY too hot in there. Poor thing, needs somewhere : about 70 degrees to retreat to. : Gettting a tiny bit bigger tank will just be another : waste of money, it's like buying a car that seats : 2, then a car that seats 3, etc...when you need : a bus for 25! LOL! : Don't feed oranges, no fruit. : Glass stress is common with many reptiles in an : all glass set-up. Immediately take some paper, : construction paper, even newspaper if you don't : have any, and tape it to the OUTSIDE of three sides : of the glass (I did this with my geckos, then got : them an official background paper but they're totally : different than tortoises so it's not such a big : deal). This will make the aquarium/terrarium seem : more "solid" and reduces glass stress some, though : I think the temps are making it act like that a lot : too. : My concern with your new set-up (as well as the : old one) is the height - seems very low/shallow, : you don't want the bulb sitting in a hood that : close because with the substrate height and the : height of the tortoises' shell, it's practically : right under the light bulbs that way. : You can give calcium daily, and I would seriously : consider some other form of "substrate", many : sulcatas love to dig, and there'll be the day : she gets that towel/duct tape thing to start coming : up and you don't want that to happen. Another reason : they dig is to hide in the substrate a bit, which : they can't do in a towel well, does she have : a hide retreat? Be careful not to overstress a : new reptile with too much "love" until they are : established, which she isn't yet. : So, change your heating set up to allow for a real : cool area and tape some paper on the outsides of : the glass tank for now, also consider safety with : your substrate idea. I'm sure you'll get a ton : more advise here really quick. Good luck and welcome. : niki and teddy

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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