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 #2081769


Zeek2493
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 New baby desert tortoise!

We are getting a baby desert tortoise (captive bred) next week. He/she is slightly smaller then a billiards ball. I will be researching a lot before we get him/her, but any advice from experienced tortoise owners would be appreciated. I own leopard geckos, several species of aquatic turtles, frogs, birds, and fish; but never a tortoise so this will be a new adventure for us. He will be spending the winter inside in a large plastic tub, and we will figure out his non-winter home when spring comes around. Me and my family are ready for the commitment. any advice would be appreciated. thanks again.
10/08/09  12:49pm

 #2081788


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Zeek2493   In reference to Message Id: 2081769


 New baby desert tortoise!

Heres a great site for edible weeds, plants and toxic ones too :) http://africantortoise.com/sulcata.htm
Can’t really give you much advice unless you have questions, except do lots of research. Just the basics, make sure you have a UVB and heat light, you can use a tort friendly substrate such as cypress mulch, bed a beast/play sand or organic soil/play sand 70/30 mix. Babies are fragile compared to adults to they need a little extra care. Oh don’t put too much in the enclosure while they are babies (such as logs or rocks), they can flip over quite a bit trying to climb stuff and can’t right themselves. They are great little torts. Here’s a couple care sites.
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Gagassiziicare.htm
http://www.centralah.com/tortoise.html
10/08/09  01:38pm

 #2082021


04alexmom
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2081788


 New baby desert tortoise!

Desert tortoise require a license, so be sure to look into that first.
10/08/09  10:14pm

 #2082033


Zeek2493
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   Message To: 04alexmom   In reference to Message Id: 2082021


 New baby desert tortoise!

Only wild tortoises require licenses. captive breds dont. you just cant release them back into the wild.
10/08/09  11:19pm

 #2082163


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Zeek2493   In reference to Message Id: 2082033


 New baby desert tortoise!

No thats not true you have to apply for a lic/permit to keep any desert tort - you have to ADOPT them which requires paperwork- unless your not getting an actual desert tort...



10/09/09  12:11pm


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