Hello. I purchased a sulcata hatchling, 3 inches, about a month and a half ago. I have read numerous things in regards to the care for these tortoises. Some information is conflicting though and has me confused. I will tell you what I have been doing to care for this tortoise and if someone can please tell me if I am doing the right thing or what I should change it would be appreciated.
I have my hatchling in a 2 x 4 foot wooden box, 18" high. I have 2 150 watt UVA lamps and an 18" UVB strip light (I am in the process of buying the 48" combo light), and at night i have a 75 watt night bulb. The temperature on the one side is 90 - 95 degrees while the other side is around 75. At night it goes down to about 70 degrees. The substrate I am using is a mixture of topsoil and play sand. The substrate is around 3" deep. I have a hide box on the cool side of the tank that has bermuuda grass hay in it. I also made busshels of bermuda grass hay throughout the enlosure along with cutting up tiny pieces of it and scatering it throughout. I also have a live pear cactus. A small shallow water dish is provided at all times. I have bought bermuda, orchard, and timothy hay and he refuses to eat any of this. I read somewhere that the hatchlings will not eat this at such a young age. Is this true? I am currently feeding him escarole, dandalion greens, raddicio, and a small amount of squash and some occasional cactus. I am feeding him this because I read so but I have read so many conflicting things. I sprinkle a calcium D3 supplement 3 times a week on his food. I also soak him 3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time in luke warm water. I am at work all day so when I get home I take him out to roam in the yard for about an hour and then let him roam another hour inside. I turn his lights on around 7:30 am and when I get home around 5 pm he is sleeping. I wake him up to take him outside. I am nervous he is sleeping too much but I am not home to see his activity during the day. His food is always gone by the time I get home. What is the correct amount to feed a tortoise this size? He is burrowing and eating but seems to be sleeping more than he should. I know that I have rambled on but I love this tortoise very much and want him to live a healthy life. Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong?
