Getting set-up for your baby tortoise | happytortoises

[@yummyofjune]

hi this video has given me so much thank you 😊 i got a leopard tortoise a few weeks ago paid not far off 300 pound just for the glass vid i have since got an open top for my little man, can't believe pet shops are allowed to sell these with the tortoise 😡 he is a lot happier now so thank you.

[@emmaparsons7883]

Such a helpful video, gave me all the information I needed! Thank you so much!! Keep uploading please☺️

[@happytortoises]

Emma Parsons aw, thank-you for your lovely comment! Glad u found it useful! 😁👍💚🐢😘

[@gilliansudano3463]

Super helpful - thank you for your caring

[@happytortoises]

Thanks v much - I'm pleased you found the video helpful 😊

[@jadonswan2706]

This is an amazing video,superinformstive and well put together. I've been trying to find information like this, especially regarding leopards for a long time now. Thank you!

[@happytortoises]

You're welcome, I'm pleased you found the videos helpful! Thanks for taking the time to post a comment 😊

[@helenh2805]

Massive thank you for doing this video, I was clueless where to start and this video was so thorough and helpful. I will be returning my vivarium now! 🐢💫

[@happytortoises]

Helen Hodge 😁👍great! thanks for your lovely comment! Glad you enjoyed the video! 😘💚🐢

[@ramenguy1388]

Thank you so much madam for advices from india😊😊

[@happytortoises]

You're very welcome! Thanks for your support 😊

[@jenniejoyy]

Tysm for this video I might bring one home tomorrow and I’m very excited 💝

[@happytortoises]

You're welcome! Did you bring one home?? 💚🐢

[@Sylvia441]

Very helpful, will be using your setup for my upcoming Greek. Interested in your feeding programs too. TY in advance.

[@happytortoises]

Thanks for your feedback and I'm glad you found my videos useful 🙏😊 I am hoping to move onto Greek tortoises care very soon 💚🐢

[@Patricia-pf6nc]

Thank You so much For the advice Please post more !🙂😊

[@merica4realz630]

Wonderful video demonstration!!!

[@lenipavoni2823]

Great video, very informative, looking forward to the next one 😊

[@happytortoises]

Leni Pavoni thanks! 😁👍🐢🐢

[@Lily-yu9se]

you should do one of these for a russian tortoise :))

[@happytortoises]

Hello, thanks for the feedback and video suggestion 😊💚🐢

[@CecilJChen]

Thanks for sharing such thorough and informative videos. I recently adopted a leopard tortoise and your videos have been really helpful. One of my big concerns has been maintaining humidity in my tortoise's tub and hide. What are the ideal levels of humidity and how could I consistently maintain humidity levels?

[@happytortoises]

Thank-you sooo much for your lovely feedback! 🙏 💚🐢 I'm so pleased that you're finding my videos helpful. Yes, maintaining the right humidity levels can be a challenge! I am planning on doing videos on this soon, but a couple of suggestions for you right now is: use dried leaves on top of the substrate & spray the leaves - this will help keep in the humidity; adding extra water bowls; regularly spraying the substrate; enclosed chambers etc... hope this helps! 😊

[@CecilJChen]

I look forward to watching those future videos and learning more from them. And thank you for your guidance - I have mixed in sphagnum moss to the coconut coir substrate and spray the surface every now and then. I also keep a damp clump in her hide, which I need to spray every day (I do this in the morning while she's having her soak). Try as I might, I can't seem to keep the humidity level throughout the day. I bring it up to just about 80% every morning, but by late afternoon, I often see it dropping to under 50%. I do prefer to keep the top off her enclosure to allow for air circulation - and also because I quite enjoy watching her do her thing :) I will look for some dried leaves to spread over the substrate. Any recommended plants/trees that are safe? I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out. By the way, your tortoises are lovely - and quite sociable. I wish my Leopard baby were as unreserved as yours seem. I do hope she'll get there someday though.

[@happytortoises]

I use beech leaves (I know some tortoise keepers use oak leaves but I've read that these can be poisonous so would avoid these just incase). Check out Tortoise Table Plant Database for other suggestions for trees/plants that are safe in your area. To help keep the humidity levels up overnight, you could put the top back on the enclosure (but without knowing what your setup looks like / heating etc it's difficult for me to guess what would work best for your setup - feel free to DM me via instagram if you want to send me this info)... then give the substrate an extra misting early afternoon. Yes, adding leaves will also help. Thanks for the compliments about my tortoises, yes most are quite sociable (especially around feeding time!) 😂🐢

[@amelielake3368]

Thankyou so much this helped lots !😊👍

[@darksunshinedarksunshine5421]

please make a video about how to connect the tubs together please :D i LOVE ur videos theres so imformative

[@happytortoises]

Yes, of course - this video is due to come out this Thursday! 😉 Thanks so much for your lovely feedback and video suggestions 😊😊💚🐢

[@dazodiak]

Great video. I’m thinking of buying a leopard tortoise but I would have the enclosure in the basement. My problem is that it gets very cold there in the winter months (around 0-10 c). Could I put him in a completely closed terrain? I would drill holes for air to circulate and add a heater.

[@ahmedkholvadia5805]

Why don't you have like 1mil sub

[@happytortoises]

😍😍 Aww that would be amazing! (then I could live my dream and open a tortoise sanctuary/rescue centre!) 😊💚🐢

[@kianhitchings9996]

so for light i just need a uv bulb if i think my house is hot enough? Thanks also becuase its sooo confusing with all these people saying you need ir lamps but i realise theyre not talking specifically about leapord tortoises which need the heat all year round, plus it will be sharing temparautre with me in my room in the summer when we wont need the heating on and in the colder months we will have heating on.

[@torriewhitney9341]

Can you tell me where you get your things from? Am new at this and have bought so much stuff before I bring my baby home but I'm so confused about everything, please help

[@garethsmith8435]

Is a gun thermometer ok to check the temperature of the basking area??

[@gaus425]

Could you advise on treating swelled eyes of tortise?

[@adhrv]

Hello, how do you keep the enclosure 22° at night after turning off the basking bulb? Love your videos so helpful and full of information

[@nanoreefer1622]

You can't unless you heat the room your tortoise is in. This is where a vivarium is better are its easier to control temperatures. Iv kept tortoise is vivs for years with no issues.

[@gigawattgraphics821]

Hi, is there another option for the UV B strip light? Could we use the same style of bulb holder youre using for the basking bulb or must it be a strip light?

[@happytortoises]

I'd recommend using a basking bulb WITH UVA/UVB in it (avoid the coil bulbs though as it's been reported that some of these can cause eye problems). So, no you don't need to have the UVB strip light if your basking bulb already has UVB in it.

[@jonathancho1362]

May I ask why with play put sand but not just topsoil? Thanks! Nice vid

[@StickyFeets]

Have these recommendations changed now that you use an enclosed top for your hatchlings? Just saw one of your more recent videos that feature it. I house my leo hatchling in a closed chamber and have been searching KZbin for other people that use that type of setup too

[@happytortoises]

Hello Sticky Feets! I still stand by the recommendations in this setup video. However, you are right in that you have seen a closed chamber in one of my recent videos. This is a brand new setup that I'm using to test as another option for maintaining humidity and temperatures (as part of my humidity videos). As you already have a closed chamber then you may well be familiar with the 80/80 rule (higher humidity (80%) & higher temps (80F)) that some people use closed chambers for - this is something that I personally DO NOT FOLLOW in my closed chamber setup as I don't feel comfortable with the risks that I've read about in this higher humidity environment (just my opinion, but feel free to do your own research and draw your own conclusions of course!). I am working on my humidity videos at the moment and in here I will be showing how I built and use my closed chamber for anyone also wanting to do this if they are struggling with maintaining the right humidity levels. I hope this helps & sorry I didn't explain myself properly in the video that showed this closed chamber! 😊🐢

[@StickyFeets]

happytortoises thanks for the reply! Yeah I'm going the 80/80 route hoping to smooth out my hatchling who already started pyramiding at 3.5 months old. Still too early to tell how much he has smoothed out but his new growth lines are coming along nicely. I'll guess I'll have to wait till your next video to see how you setup your hatchlings.

[@12ovo66]

Hi,I want to get a sulcata will this setup work?

[@happytortoises]

Hello! Yes, this setup is fine for most hatchlings/young tortoises... but you'll need to be ready to increase the size of the enclosure when they've outgrown it! Sulcatas grow very large (very quickly!) and will need lots of space to exercise. When they're bigger this setup is no longer suitable & they will need a heated area (e.g. a heated shed) to keep them warm on cold nights or in the winter.

[@torriewhitney9341]

Do you have any sulcata tortoises?

[@gimpynewman8893]

is play pit sand just sand? I live in the states not sure which one to order. Thank you :)

[@ZoeBellCake]

Why playpit sand over builder sand? I guess I'm not sure what the difference is there.

[@prabha4889]

IM HAVING SM PRB WITH LIGHTS SO CAN U TELL ME THE COMPANY'S NAME OR SOMETHING PL!!! N the watt too pl!!

[@hemantgaur2788]

Nice

[@happytortoises]

Thanks v much 😊💚🐢

[@darrensoane1082]

Hello it’s Darren from yesterdays daughter I’m not sure if smash is just resting or is I’ll because it’s head is just laying there like smash’s is sleeping would you think what a worry?

[@happytortoises]

Hello Darren, when tortoises sleep they either have their head pulled into their shell or with their head and neck stretched out onto the soil 😊 Please email or text me if you have any other questions as I may not spot your message on here!

[@darrensoane1082]

@@happytortoises thank you very much

[@marcniforos3367]

Is it safe for my baby torters to not have a heat ?

[@pippoodle]

hi I can't find the trays online at Homebase have you got the barcode number or something please thanks x

[@jaydenlee8287]

Hi , um can a 6x2 foot enclosure be enough for a adult Russian tortoise

[@happytortoises]

Hello, I'd recommend a minimum of 10x the length of the tortoise squared (so if your tortoise is 8" long, then I'd recommend a 80"x80" enclosure)😊💚🐢

[@sgtadam200049]

Could i put chicken wire over the top to prevent escaping

[@happytortoises]

Yes you could 😊 (but it's better to build up the sides of the enclosure so they are high enough to prevent them escaping) 🐢

[@jaydenlee8287]

Can I give my leopard tortoise walks so I don’t need to build a huge enclosure

[@happytortoises]

I wouldn't recommend giving your leopard tortoise walks - he/she will be much happier if it could be left to wander around it's own enclosure so it can graze, bask & do normal tortoise things! 😊💚🐢

[@taylorgover2971]

i still watched this even though ive got a horsfields

[@happytortoises]

Great! Glad you found the video interesting - you can still use some of the ideas for your horsfields if you haven't already! 😉

[@anasatta6477]

I have a desert tortoise is it ok if i kept it in the sun

[@happytortoises]

All tortoises enjoy some sun and will benefit from the UVB... however it's important to offer some shade too so they can thermoregulate and control their temperature. 😊💚🐢

[@Tbobization]

Do i need to worry about humidifier in tortoise table?

[@happytortoises]

It depends where you live/what the humidity is in the tortoise table...etc. For leopards I recommend humidity between 50-60%RH. If you struggle keeping humidity within these ranges then you could try a humidifier (although there are other options that may be cheaper and just as effective...). I have some humidity videos that go into lots of detail if you want more info on this. 😉🐢

[@Yanna_theMortician]

happytortoises What’s is RH

[@Eclecticgirl17]

ohhh god!! When I got my tortoise from the vet they didnt told me they would get so big!! what do I do now. I love my tort but I dont have enough space for it to grow.

[@happytortoises]

That's very disappointing that your vet didn't tell you how much space they need when they sold it to you 😞 Do you have a garden/outdoor space that you could put a heated shed/greenhouse in, for your tortoise to live in when they have outgrown their existing tortoise table? I will be doing more videos soon on caring for adult leopard tortoises, so hopefully these videos will help you with planning and designing their indoor/outdoor space 😉💚🐢

[@Eclecticgirl17]

I'm living in an apartment. I don't have space 😞. Do you have suggestions on what I can do?

[@happytortoises]

It's incredibly frustrating when breeders are after a quick sale and don't consider the long-term welfare of the tortoise 😞 I know it's difficult to put our feelings aside but we need to think "what's best for the tortoise".. they need space, sunshine, light, heat and a good diet to be healthy (amongst other things!). My initial thought was you need to return your tortoise to the seller as they mis-sold it to you, or give to a friend or family member that has the space (but also make sure they have the time, money and interest care for it!) & that way you can still see your tortoise. However, there are other options like convert an unused bedroom/room into a tortoise room then carry them outside (to put in a secure and tortoise-proof enclosure) on sunny days. You may find in a few years time when your tortoise has outgrown it's current enclosure (I'm guessing a "few years" as I don't know the size of your tortoise or the size of your tortoise table!) that you may be ready to move out of your apartment and into a home with a garden - but obviously don't assume this will happen and you're right to consider their welfare right now. I hope this has given you some ideas and I'd love to know what you decide to do 😁💚🐢

[@Sylvia441]

Add a new room just for them...lol

[@courteneyhoward3845]

Can you add a link to all the different equipment you used in this video please x

[@happytortoises]

Of course, I will do that soon for you - thanks for the suggestion 😊💚🐢

[@justinsaad5802]

What did she say at 10:17

[@gsorestes9933]

reptile uvb tube

[@sdqsdq6274]

no way, hatchlings can handle 22 degrees ?

[@happytortoises]

Yes 22oC is OK for hatchlings for overnight temperature (providing the humidity isn't too high). During the day the temps need to be higher and offer temp gradients in the tortoise table to allow them to thermoregulate...😊💚🐢

[@meezafathima123]

My tortoise is not eating veggies...it’s only eating it’s food

[@happytortoises]

Some tortoises are fussy eaters, you can try chopping up the 'new' foods into small pieces and mixing in with their favourites to encourage them to try different foods. If you have a leopard tortoise, then I have a video on 'Feeing your baby leopard tortoise' to give you ideas on other weeds/flowers that are good for tortoises.

[@meezafathima123]

@@happytortoises thankyou🌻

[@keithbridges2144]

A bit boring.

[@Yanna_theMortician]

Keith Bridges like your life