Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our new babies should be here in the moring and we would like to have some suggestions about what we should have ready and waiting for them when they arrive.We plan to keep them outside during the day when the weather is good and inside at night. We would like some suggestion about keeping them inside and some about keeping them outside. We have a big yard so they have a lot of room to walk around.

I suppose you're talking about sulcatas (spur thighs). Check
the link below. As far as outside, having a big yard doesn't
matter unless it's fenced securely and most likely that area
will be smaller as fencing for tiny tortoises (that can
walk through a chain link fence) is usually expensive on a large
scale. Especially because small tortoises will need protection
from predators - roaming cats and dogs, racoons, large birds.
Many people that have youngsters have some kind of secure top
on their outdoor environment and some are even portable so they
can move them around for fresh grazing. Key is to have plenty
of shade and use caution with things like ants when they're
little guys.
Indoors you have to consider where you live, if you're using
A/C because it's summer most places, then that might be too
chilly coming from outside. I never let mine as a baby sleep
under 78 degrees, he had a ceramic heater just off center of
his sleeping area on a thermostat so he had some heat and no
light at night. There was cooler areas to go to (baby cage
was 8 ft. long) but he never went there so I suppose he
appreciated the slight night warmth. Days temps were 105
as a baby (my big guy is 125 in the winter under lights)
in the basking area, as long as you have room temp (70)
in half the cage though too. If yours is outside in the day
make sure you have shade. If you're keeping them inside for
a few days or longer at any time you'll need full UV lighting.
With two sulcatas (pray they aren't both males or male/female)
make sure that there's plenty of room for each to get basking
lights/hides/food or one will bully the other (you won't see
this happening) and you'll have a runt. Actually the best
thing would be for them to grow up seperate, they don't need
or want company.
Plant bushes (hibiscus is good) for them to hide in outside,
but still provide a house - preferably raised in case of rain.

Lots of info can be found on the web, look at archives here too.
Take care, niki
Sulcata Station

Thanks for all the info. we really do appreciate your kindness. We saw the pics of your inclosure. That is really nice. We live in a small city but we roughly 2 1/2 acres of land. we hope we can provide plenty of room for them. Once again though thanks that really help us out alot.

Just coddle them the first year. After they're 10 pounds
(which could be a long time, or soon, you can't tell) they're
more hardy.