Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Sulcata hatchling in a 40 gallon tank. I set this tank up a couple of weeks ago and have a "lawn" growing in it for my tortoise. Today, I noticed a bunch of little gnats or flies or something in there. I assume that if it is humid enough for the flies, it is TOO humid for the sulcata, and that humidity must be coming from watering the "lawn." SO ... plan B ... tear out the lawn, and use what? I really like the look of calcium substrate, and my tortoise loves to dig in it, but I've read that it should NOT be used. Is it safe, or isn't it??

Second question: when I bought this baby a month or two ago, it was perfectly round in shape. As it grows though, it's becoming a little bit longer ... more like an oval ... is this normal??

As I said in the other post, use a soil/sand mixture, or plain soil. It's not the most attractive, but it works. As for the nats, they are attracted to something rotting in the soil of the grass, perhaps the roots themselves. If you intend to grow plants in a sulcata enclosure, it is best not to do so in a glass terrarium. Use a tortoise table, and sink a series of pots through the floor. Pots maintain better drainage than a shallow layer of soil on a glass bottomed tank. You can also use a prodigious amount of soil in the tank itself and sink the pots in place. This setup is heavy, however, and difficult to clean, especially when the animal grows larger and more destructive. Speaking of growth, yes, these animals do elongate as they grow larger. They also grow robust spines and shell structures designed for war making. They are awesome animals when at full size. Plan for a long future with an enormous beast.

T.G.