Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to buy or make (preferrably buy)a great enclosure for my 8 month old Sulcatta Tortoise. What she has now is very large and is an indoor enclosure. We are not planning on making an outdoor enclosure for her untill she is too big for an indoor one. Does anyone know where I can buy a great terrarium/enclosure for her? I would like it to be very long and very wide of course. Or does anyone perhaps know of a person that creates custom enclosures that i could contact? I live in Chandler, Arizona...

My second question is; I would like to use a substrate that will be great for burrowing. I will never use any type of sand. So if anyone has any good substrate ideas, other than sand, then can you please let me know.

Third question; I need to know the EXACT name of a hay or grass that I can feed her. Not the veggies...for I know all about that. But I would like to know a specific name of a hay/grass that I can actually BUY somewhere and feed it to my little Sami Everything I read in regards to hay/grasses, it nevers specifies the name, except for dandelion?!?! hmmm

And lastly; Can anyone recommend a great brand of multi-vitamin for my Sami? Whether I can order it online, or walk into a reptile store and buy it. Either way....

Thanks to all who reply!!!
Alexis

Hi Alexis,

I cannot help with your enclosure because I live in MN, but I do love mine - i built my own L shaped enclosure. Each leg is 7' long x 3'long. Since torts typically walk the perimeter, an L shape provides a long walk and I can reach all areas.

Anyway, I have had the same problem you have finding specific products. Since I live in MN, I cannot get fresh weeds/grasses most of the year - and I do not know ANY other leopard tort keepers near me. I use:

http://www.petfooddirect.com/Product/3813/Oxbow-Western-Timothy-Hay
http://www.petfooddirect.com/Product/3811/Oxbow-Orchard-Grass-Hay

I buy the 25lb bale - SOOOO much cheaper. Any of their hay as long as it is low in protein (not alfalfa). Alfalfa is 16% protein, Timothy and Orchard are half that.

I also had the hardest time finding hay that was chopped up small enough so that it was easy for smaller torts to eat. Cannot find it - period. after 5 years I bought a wood chipper and run the hay through that once (I know, sounds crazy, but I was tired of chopping every morning for years). The hay in the full bale seems even less cut up than the small bags. Little torts simply cannot eat uncut raw hay - at least not enough of it. I think that Oxbow makes great products.

I soak the hay with a few mazuri.

Good luck,

Ben
1.1 Leopards