New additions

[smy_749]

Got two new torts from a breeder in boston while I was there.

Heres one of the two

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551107_168157806708984_1058643773_n.jpg

[sweatshirt]

Cute little tort :p

Congrats on the new additions.

[Charis]

Very cute! Congrats!

[mmarchl23]

The d'awww is strong with this one...

Nice addition!

[Mikoh4792]

lol that's awesome. Never seen one like that. What's the care like for them?

[smy_749]

Forest torts so forest care? The guy I spoke with helped author a book on them and seemed fairly knowledgable so I'm going with what he said since he based it on experience and not caresheets. I am NOT providing UVB at the moment, I'm not convinced that a tort living under forest cover needs it, and the guy I spoke with said he seems the bowling ball smooth shells on the species provided with more adequate humidity and the ability to dig burrows so I'm going with that for now. They eat the same greens as most other veggie eating species and I have a basking spot of 95. Keeping mine in a cement mixing tub with plexi glass over top and 3 or 4 inches of mulch. Thats enough for them to completely bury themselves in it which they do every night so far to sleep. They both hand feed and aren't shy at all, and honestly I'm really having a blast with them haha

[franks]

Congrats! Wow love the colors! Can you post a few more pics? Im not sure if ive ever seen these guys.

[smy_749]

Will have to get some good pics in the morning, I don't like to pull them out after lights out, because they bury themselves and don't enjoy being uncovered haha

Just a few crappy ones from when I brought them home, they are diff clutches and diff parents.

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1239567_168862933305138_2123440814_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551107_168862883305143_1440785395_n.jpg

[smy_749]

Managed to get some better pictures.

This setup cost me like....30 dollars total. 2 Pieces of acrylic, I melted a hole for the heat which is using a herpstat ND. Cyprus mulch, humid hide (don't really need it but its there) a few pieces of bark and a concrete slab. Right now its a 60 watt incandescent which does the job and lights up the enclosure, but I'm going to switch to CHE 24 hours and just put low wattage tube for daytime viewing.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/60610_169149489943149_1303959344_n.jpg

Size comparison

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1234192_169149486609816_2061320467_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1240221_169149423276489_537153386_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/996812_169149413276490_108728860_n.jpg

[rocknhorse76]

Wow, those are some cool looking little torts!!

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[Teal]

How cute are they!

[h3h]

Very nice, congratulations! A friend of mine is really in to turtles/tortoises so I see 'em a lot. That's not to say I know anything about them though. Good pick up!

- h3

[smy_749]

Thanks guys. They are rather enjoyable being my first torts and all, I'm pretty pleased with their personalities ahah

[Charis]

I'd actually looked into this species a bit, along with about six others, thinking of getting one.

[smy_749]

Late risers having breakfast
https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/541382_170784743112957_2044563714_n.jpg

[marvelfreak]

Very nice.

[swolek]

They're really pretty! I've considered getting the species in the future :).

[Lickeypie]

Are you going to get uvb? And where did you buy the acrylic?

[smy_749]

No I'm not going to get UVB. The people I talked to and my own logic have advised me not to. I'm not convinced that a species which spends all of its time under the shade of dense forest cover and in burrows needs UVB. From what I've been told by breeders and keepers is that they experience pyramiding and issues with torts when they aren't given a humid place to retreat too, not when they aren't provided with UVB. I have a humid hide with peatmoss which they made little burrows in on either side and spend the nights in them. Don't know if this same principle applies with species like sulcata (don't think it does) but with the forest dwelling species I don't see how they can require it when they don't get any in the wild.

Acrylic is from home depot, however this is the thinner (not like the monitor enclosure) 24 x 18 inch I think and it bows like hell. I flip the sheets to the other side every day though.

[Lickeypie]

I don't know how i feel about that. I personally would spend the extra cash to get the uvb. Wouldn't a low-level uvb be better than none?