>> - Is there a good book to buy?
You really need to say what kind of tortoise it is because there are some good specific species books but anything by Andy Highfield or Philippe De vosjoli is a good starting place. If you know what species, I can provide some better titles.
>> - Is there a way to sex it?
Again, it depends on species but the male usually has a longer tale and a concaved plastron but there are many exceptions.
>> - Feeding? What? I am looking for 5/6 things to rotate as a core diet.
Romain, escerole, endive, green leaf, red leaf, collard greens are good store bought based died. Go for the dark bitter leaves that you would normally throw away. Dandelion greens, plantain and Thistle are good weeds that are commonly found around any field.
And, of course, Mazuri tortoise diet (can be found on line or at any Petco) can be fed once or twice a week.
>> - Good treats?
I always recommend any kind of berries as a treat. Try and stay away from the moist fruits like melons.
>> - How often should I give it a bath?
Soak it once or twice a week
>> - Temperatures?
75 to 90 as a range is a good starting point. It might have to be adjusted up depending on the species.
>> - It has a white fluid come out of it every now and then in the stool- Normal? What is it?
That is urates. the more solid it is the more dehydrated the animal is and it should be soaked more often. Certain foods like spinach and chard will dramatically increase this and as such should be restricted or avoided, again, depending on the species.
>> - Bedding?
Hay or grass is a good general substrate. Sand or dirt/sand also works(but it depends...)
>> - UVA & UVB light requirements?
Not necessary but it is suspected to be beneficial. I like the Mercury vapor lamps (and they are all basically the same)
>> - What if it has to go several days without food? I go in on Saturdays, but my school is closed on Sundays and every now and then you have a three day weekend. How long can it go? Can I leave a dry food in the tank?
With the hay substrate a healthy tortoise can go weeks without food. Water is the important thing. Make sure it has pleanty of clean water. This can last for a day or two and a healthy tortoise can go a few days after that
>>
Give us the size of the tortoise an a good description although I'd be willing to bet you have a Geochelone sulcata in which case it is not going to last very long in a class setting without a good deal of space but don't let that discourage you. Just be aware of it.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
