Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This year I am moving away from home and attending vet school at ohio state university. I've had a lot of experience with herps and currently have a 25 lb and a 10 lb sulcata at home with my folks that are also into herps. I would like to get a little tort to take with me that would comfortably live in a 20 long for 6-9 months while im in school. As for long term housing my folks will be able to handle it/them if my place gets too small because they are too big. that is until i get out of school. Research has led me to pancakes or indian stars (spiders seem great too but seem a lot more pricy--if they are in the 400-500 range let me know). I'd prefer a star, but ive heard that they can be sensative to humidty, but if i only offer a shallow dish with a screen top with they still be too humid? Could i fix that situation by only offering water once or twice a day for an hour or so? Pancakes seem great too, but they lack the typical tortoise look, so id prefer a star--also when is the usual time of year to find hatchling stars offered? I've only seen older ones recently. Thanks
Justin

I have kept both species and it's my opinion that either speceis would work well for your situation. I would suggest getting cb hatchlings and if you are looking for a Star, I have a breeder/friend I can refer you to. He should be getting some hatchlings soon. I have one of his and I'm really enjoying it. As far as the water/humidity issue, I'm from the camp that does not keep water in the habitat with tortoise in both of these dry-loving species. Instead, I soak the tortoise every other day and have found that stars drink but pancakes do not. Both species deficate and urinate when soaked in water which is a worthwhile reason to soak in itself. I found my pancakes got their hydration from their food and my hatchling star will drink on a regular basis when I soak it. In my opinion that only drinking dish that I have seen that works without presenting a drowning risk, is a 2-liter bottle cap recessed into the substrate. The drinking hole is smaller that the hatchling and if you really want to have water in the habitat, I think that would be a good way to do it. My star hatchling is in a 10 gallon tank with one light and a strictly organic soil substrate. He has done great and has been kept this way since the start. Both species like it nice and dry! With pancakes, I had a lot more fun construcitng their habitat. I used thin flagstone to create the niches and hide spots they love. Once a month I would take the flagstone out and scrub it down to get any urine or feces off.

All that to say, I would get a star and soak it every day at first and then as it gets older, soak it every other day. E-mail me at adrianse@sbcglobal.net for that refferal if you want it.

Tortuga

I also have a breeder that I could recommend. I looked at the Indian Star and it was beautiful-but I decided to go with the Leopard Tortoise. As of June 1 she still had 1 Indian Star left. I also saw the mom and she was beautiful. Let me know if you want the number-but if not~Good Luck with your venture