New tortoise owner says Hello Everyone!

Redcap · 08-09-2006, 04:32 PM

I've been reading here for a couple of weeks now and have got lots of useful information - thanks everyone! A friend who has lots of tortoises gave me 5 eggs to put in my incubator (I breed chickens as a full-time hobby!) and 3 of the five eggs hatched 2 weeks and 3 days ago. So now I have little PeeWee, Roly and Ziggy - they are spur thighs. They weigh between 8 & 12 grams now & appear to be doing well. I'm very anxious to do the best for them. OH has made a good table for them (2' x 2'6") which we have indoors in a very light porch. I have UV light and dull emitter ceramic heat bulb suspended above and try to keep the floor area under the heat bulb between 25 & 30 degrees - does this sound right?

I have paper (like kitchen roll) on the bottom but am wondering - could I use Hemcore or Aubiose on the floor - or are they too small still? ( Maybe I should put these questions in other parts of the forum??)

I have a big (overgrown) garden with loads of weeds (have checked lists of suitable food) and they are eating a selectiion of fresh green weeds every day - but should I be giving them anything else? I am sprinkling a little Reptavite on their food.

Any tips or info. for best care for babies would be much appreciated.

I have got some pics of them and will try & show you soon - but not too confident about stuff like that!!

Thanks & best wishes, Jill

**Eire_Ade** · 08-09-2006, 04:48 PM

Hello and welcome Jill,

Wow home incubated babies, you are extremely lucky.

Hemp is fine for babies as a substrate and the sand / soil mix.

Reptivite is a vitamin and should only be given twice weekly, you definately need limestone flour which is calcium and is to be put on their food daily. This can be got from shelled warrior shop.

I would be inclined to replace the ceramic heater with a spot lamp bulb as they like to bask in the light too. The ceramic heater is great if you need to keep them warm without light eg at night if they are injured etc... hopefully you will never need the ceramic for that.

They don't need heat at night so long as the temps in their enclosure doesn't drop below 10 degrees c.

To post pics click the green add image to post thing under the bit you type in yourself when replying to or creating a new post yourself.

Hope this helps a little.

Ade

08-09-2006, 05:09 PM

Welcome to the forum.... its great here !

Henry-flash · 08-09-2006, 05:16 PM

Welcome to the forum

Ade has already given great advice all I will is congratulations on hatching the eggs

Redcap · 08-09-2006, 05:25 PM

Thanks for the welcome, and for the advice, Ade. I will get the limestone flour.
I have put a picture of them taken this morning, in the gallery - with 20p to give an indication of the size!
Jill

moormax · 08-09-2006, 06:13 PM

Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place

Pitcorthie · 08-09-2006, 06:34 PM

Hi and welcome your babies are lovely!

Sharon

08-09-2006, 06:37 PM

hi jill

a big warm welcome

congratulations on hatchlings

Becks · 08-09-2006, 08:08 PM

hello and welcome
luv becks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

tonyjh · 08-09-2006, 08:18 PM

hi and welcome
tony

08-09-2006, 04:32 PM	#1
Redcap Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 8	New tortoise owner says Hello Everyone! I've been reading here for a couple of weeks now and have got lots of useful information - thanks everyone! A friend who has lots of tortoises gave me 5 eggs to put in my incubator (I breed chickens as a full-time hobby!) and 3 of the five eggs hatched 2 weeks and 3 days ago. So now I have little PeeWee, Roly and Ziggy - they are spur thighs. They weigh between 8 & 12 grams now & appear to be doing well. I'm very anxious to do the best for them. OH has made a good table for them (2' x 2'6") which we have indoors in a very light porch. I have UV light and dull emitter ceramic heat bulb suspended above and try to keep the floor area under the heat bulb between 25 & 30 degrees - does this sound right? I have paper (like kitchen roll) on the bottom but am wondering - could I use Hemcore or Aubiose on the floor - or are they too small still? ( Maybe I should put these questions in other parts of the forum??) I have a big (overgrown) garden with loads of weeds (have checked lists of suitable food) and they are eating a selectiion of fresh green weeds every day - but should I be giving them anything else? I am sprinkling a little Reptavite on their food. Any tips or info. for best care for babies would be much appreciated. I have got some pics of them and will try & show you soon - but not too confident about stuff like that!! Thanks & best wishes, Jill

08-09-2006, 04:48 PM	#2
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hello and welcome Jill, Wow home incubated babies, you are extremely lucky. Hemp is fine for babies as a substrate and the sand / soil mix. Reptivite is a vitamin and should only be given twice weekly, you definately need limestone flour which is calcium and is to be put on their food daily. This can be got from shelled warrior shop. I would be inclined to replace the ceramic heater with a spot lamp bulb as they like to bask in the light too. The ceramic heater is great if you need to keep them warm without light eg at night if they are injured etc... hopefully you will never need the ceramic for that. They don't need heat at night so long as the temps in their enclosure doesn't drop below 10 degrees c. To post pics click the green add image to post thing under the bit you type in yourself when replying to or creating a new post yourself. Hope this helps a little. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

08-09-2006, 05:16 PM	#4
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	Welcome to the forum Ade has already given great advice all I will is congratulations on hatching the eggs __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

08-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#9
Becks Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset UK Posts: 4,035	hello and welcome luv becks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx __________________ horsfields ,redfoots ,southern and northan morrocans, map turtle . http://www.redfoottortoiseplace.piczo.com

08-09-2006, 05:09 PM	#3
Glitter Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome to the forum.... its great here !

08-09-2006, 05:25 PM	#5
Redcap Junior Member Egg Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 8	Thanks for the welcome, and for the advice, Ade. I will get the limestone flour. I have put a picture of them taken this morning, in the gallery - with 20p to give an indication of the size! Jill

08-09-2006, 06:13 PM	#6
moormax Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North West Posts: 137	Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place

08-09-2006, 06:34 PM	#7
Pitcorthie Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dunfermline, Scotland Posts: 251	Hi and welcome your babies are lovely! Sharon

08-09-2006, 06:37 PM	#8
aprillinda Guest Posts: n/a	hi jill a big warm welcome congratulations on hatchlings

08-09-2006, 08:18 PM	#10
tonyjh Junior Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 42	hi and welcome tony

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