New Tortoise Owner Seeking Advice! - Page 3

Flynn · 19-04-2011, 09:56 PM

So, what do you all reckon I should do? Currently I have:

Aspen shaving
Heat mat
Food bowl
Cage of course

I plan to buy::
UV Lamp
Perhaps another lamp to go with the heat mat
Maybe thermometers

Should I go with soil instead?
Do I need to keep the shavings damp? I wasn't aware it was needed

Is he ok at the moment with the current stuff he's got, for the next few days until I can get the other stuff?

For the past few hours (since I've taken him back inside) he's just burrowed above the heat mat and hasn't moved at all really. Is this a problem or is he just sleeping?

Thanks so much everyone!

EJ · 19-04-2011, 09:56 PM

Because it has retained moisture to begin with??????

It will probably dry out... eventually... I guess you could spray it if that was important.

The point is that wood shavings are as good a substrate as any.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anita Sayles

Why?
Because wood absorbs moisture... how would it do that on an indoor table?

Thanks

Anita Sayles · 19-04-2011, 09:59 PM

Ok... I use hardwood chips anyway and it's fine, I'm quite happy with it.

ibizathetort · 19-04-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJ

I pay 13 USD for 1 one cubic yard.

It's cleaner... easier to clean... the tortoises like to burrow into it... I think it's more natural...

Im confused, i thought tortoises burrowed into soil in the wild?

EJ · 19-04-2011, 10:00 PM

Huh??????????

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anita Sayles

Ok... I use hardwood chips anyway and it's fine, I'm quite happy with it.

EJ · 19-04-2011, 10:02 PM

Depends... if there is a good cover of leaf litter... I'm pretty sure they usually stop at the soil unless they are a burrowing type tortoise.

Soil is usually not exposed in the wild... when it is it is usually erroded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibizathetort

Im confused, i thought tortoises burrowed into soil in the wild?

NATURALIS · 19-04-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flynn

Hello everyone, I'm new here.

Yesterday I got a tortoise (I think it's Horsfield - the pet shop said it comes from Iran and Pakistan deserts - and it looks like a Horsfield). It's quite young I think, I need to ask the pet shop its exact age. His name is either Dmitri or Rorschach.

Right, basically the only cage I could get was an old rabbit cage of ours which looks like this:

It's quite spacious, but we plan to either buy/get a tortoise table or convert the greenhouse into an indoor and outdoor enclosure for him.

The petshop advised we get a UV lamp for winter and night time, but we haven't got one just yet (it's really sunny at the moment, I've been taking him outside). They also said to use a heatmat - BUT THEN I read online they're really bad. What should I use instead? Will my tortoise survive a few more days till I get the better equipment?!

First it wasn't eating or excreting, but then it started to perk up after being outside (and doing its business, of course!)

The substrate they advised was

but apparently play sand and soil is better?

I tried giving it water but it just trampled in it and hasn't drank any of it yet? Is this a problem?

I feel really awful now that I looked up heatmats are bad, so I am going to get a UV lamp and Heat Bulb for a basking area as soon as possible. What do you all think I should do?

(Please don't treat me badly either, not that I think you will, he's in great condition and we've been feeding him. It's just the heating, cage and UV I'm worried about).

Thanks.
Flynn.

i would not recomend using a heatmat with hatchlings , topsoil would also be far better for substrate to create humidity

**Alan1** · 19-04-2011, 10:04 PM

The wood chips for sale in pet shops should contain no moisture, they should be from kiln dried wood. if they contained moisture the bags they come in would be damp on the inside from the warmth of the shop and be susceptible to mould

edit.. it would be okay to spray them when not enclosed

Helen M · 19-04-2011, 10:06 PM

I would advise using topsoil as it's what I find suitable and works for my tortoises.. But what's the point when certain people always use these new owner threads to essentially act like everyone but themselves are wrong, which is ironic really.. Especially when he claims to have no ego at all

Helen xx

**Alan1** · 19-04-2011, 10:12 PM

What actually is Aspen by the way, is it made from plants or is it a man made thing?

19-04-2011, 09:59 PM	#23
Anita Sayles Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Plymouth, Devon UK Posts: 1,163	Ok... I use hardwood chips anyway and it's fine, I'm quite happy with it. __________________ ... Be young, be foolish, but be happy... Life is too short to worry about unimportant things. Reach for the sky, touch your star, and then you find your dream... TheTams - 1965

19-04-2011, 10:04 PM	#28
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	The wood chips for sale in pet shops should contain no moisture, they should be from kiln dried wood. if they contained moisture the bags they come in would be damp on the inside from the warmth of the shop and be susceptible to mould edit.. it would be okay to spray them when not enclosed Last edited by Alan1; 19-04-2011 at 10:15 PM.

19-04-2011, 09:56 PM	#21
Flynn Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 61	So, what do you all reckon I should do? Currently I have: Aspen shaving Heat mat Food bowl Cage of course I plan to buy:: UV Lamp Perhaps another lamp to go with the heat mat Maybe thermometers Should I go with soil instead? Do I need to keep the shavings damp? I wasn't aware it was needed Is he ok at the moment with the current stuff he's got, for the next few days until I can get the other stuff? For the past few hours (since I've taken him back inside) he's just burrowed above the heat mat and hasn't moved at all really. Is this a problem or is he just sleeping? Thanks so much everyone!

19-04-2011, 10:06 PM	#29
Helen M Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,362	I would advise using topsoil as it's what I find suitable and works for my tortoises.. But what's the point when certain people always use these new owner threads to essentially act like everyone but themselves are wrong, which is ironic really.. Especially when he claims to have no ego at all Helen xx

19-04-2011, 10:12 PM	#30
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	What actually is Aspen by the way, is it made from plants or is it a man made thing?

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