Hey guys,

I'm thinking about getting a Star Tortoise for myself and was wondering about a few things after some research. Hope you guys can help me out here!!

1) Is it possible to use JBL Microcalcium and JBL Terravit(Since I use them for my Leopard Geckos) as supplements for my future Star Tortoise?

2) How long can a Star Tortoise last without food?(Just in case if I go for a vacation or outstation projects)

3) How often do you need to bask them?

4) Will it be alright if it is kept in a room that has temperature drop at night to around 20 degrees or so?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks a lot samperth, can you roughly let me know how well can they thrive without food/water. Assuming if I classify them in Hatchlings, Juveniles, Sub-adults, Adults...

Another question is that is it actually alright if I use normal low voltage light bulbs for heating purposes?

Thanks again!!

Thanks for your reply and yes, I was referring to Tungsten Filaments.

The next question would be the problem of having light in the enclosure during night time. I'm planning to use a bulb to heat up the enclosure since there will be a temp drop at night, was thinking about compensating. Will the light disturb my future ST? Please advice.

Hey guys, gonna get my first Armored Reptile by this Saturday. Wondering what type of materials do you guys use as the floor bedding and anyone would like to share their setup for land tortoises?

PS : Oh yes not to forget, thanks to all those who have been very helpful, I'm much more confident to take the tortoise in now.

Hi uzairi,

Are you referring to the breeder celect cat litter pellets?

Thanks samperth once again, ure really helpful!!

Also, you mentioned that offering calcium powder in hatchlings meal every day is actually overdosing, what is the correct way then? Can you provide some sort of guidelines or something like that? The ST that I'm getting is about 2.5 inches and I'm already all paranoid on how am I going to make sure it survives well.

Thanks for the reply again Uzairi. I'm planning on going on a staple diet of Mustard Greens(Sawi) and probably some other veggies/fruits like once a week or so(no idea here, please do advice!!). With that planning in mind, how should the calcium in take be?

Oh yes, has anyone actually tried using sand? Are they dangerous? I think they look pretty darn cool but I'm not sure how harmful can it be to tortoises.

EDIT : One more thing guys, if I were to emulate UV basking, will a 5.0 UVB bulb or a 10.0 UVB bulb be better? Also, what are the differences between lower voltage UVB bulb and higher voltage UVB bulb? Which would be better then? Higher or Lower?

This post has been edited by Kar: Jun 12 2009, 05:11 AM

Thanks again for the reply guys!!

Camille, are you suggesting that I should go for a 10.0 UVB? And for the night heat, will a 50w infrared be enough and how often do infrared dies off? I'm still contemplating on whether to use a 60w tungsten or an infra. And has anyone actually used repti glo 10.0 before? Do they fit on normal commercial lamp holders or it is restricted to exoterras only? Also, is the socket head the same with infras?

A silly question here. How do you guys normally bask your tortoises/turtles? Are they suppose to bask on indirect sunlight or direct sunlight? My home has got like bad spots for direct sunlight, most are indirect.

Hey guys, I just got back from Purchasing a medium sized clamp lamp and a Osram 100w Tungsten Bulb. It's a little too hot and too bright as well. I'm thinking of switching to a Osram 60w Colored bulb(RED) to act as a infrared bulb. Warm but dimmer. Don't know if anyone has tried it before.

Anyway guys, I'm using a 1.5 ft x 1ft x 1ft glass aquarium for a 2.5 inch ST at the moment and I'm wondering is my tank size alright and is my clamp lamp way too big for a tank that size?

Hey guys, opted a 40watt Osram Tungsten to counter my temperature during nightfall problem. I suppose this time it's more appropriate as from what I'm feeling, its got a good warm and comfy feel unlike the 100watt's burning sensation. I hope this would be the last bulb I purchase!!

On a side note, is it actually necessary to provide a hide? My ST currently prefers to sleep at one corner of the enclosure instead of going in to the hide to sleep. And funny thing is the little thing actually tries its very best to avoid getting near the dark area of the hide. Is that normal or have I done something wrong?

And oh yes, what time do tortoises usually sleep and how many hours do they usually sleep? My ST seems to wake up during intervals of minutes at the moment. It's also constantly trying to get out of my tank! LOL it's as though as it doesn't know that it's a glass and it can't really escape.

I rofl-ed at the Boogey Tort lol.

And YES it has learned to embrace the dark side. Funny little thing actually even knows how to use the toilet as well lol. It only poops in the water dish that I've provided it. It'll soak itself and poop there!!

Also, I wonder if anyone know the frequency of ST hatchlings eating. Mine ate like really little, I usually would cut up about 1 branch of Green Mustard(Sawi) or 3 Hibiscus leaves but it usually can't even finish a branch of Green Mustard or for Hibiscus leaves, most of the time, just 1.

My ST is surely a super shy one as well, it'll even hide if it notices the presence of shadow lol.


EDIT : After keeping it for a few days, I've realised that I really can't bask my ST under sunlight and the only possible option that seems alright now is using a UVB bulb. Of course not the linear ones but more like the compact ones. I'm not really sure how good are they and I would like to ask if anyone has got some experience in using it, please do share some experience. I'm looking in to the 10.0 Compact Repti Glo or the 5.0 Compact Repti Glo.

My questions are,

1) Are Compact bulbs prone to contributing eye problems for Tortoises? If so, issit more recommended to use 5.0s instead of 10.0s?
2) Will 5.0s be sufficient seeing that I do supplement my ST with D3 twice a week.
3) Do I need create a hotspot to direct the tortoise to bask under the UVB bulb or will they naturally bask under the UVB bulb if placed on top?
4) 13w or 26w? What difference do they make? Previously I read that it probably affects the height which also means that it may affect the distance in which the UV wave can travel, is that true? And if I use a higher voltage bulb for smaller tanks/lower distance, will it harm my tortoise?

Thanks again, peoples!

This post has been edited by Kar: Jun 16 2009, 05:54 PM

Thanks again Camillenoir, you are one helluva informative bugger!!

I have three more questions to solve the puzzle once and for all!!

1) Will placing my UVB bulb higher/lower affect the well being of my tortoise? Also, how long should I actually turn on my UVB bulb per day?

2) How long should I actually turn on my UVB bulb per day?

3) Back to my previous question No.3, I'm actually referring to creating a hot spot via another source of light. As I've read, most people would include a hot spot for basking+a UVB bulb. My question is actually referring to whether do we need to create a hot spot or it is unnecessary if your overall temperature of the enclosure that you are keeping it in is warm/hot enough?

Thanks in advance!!

Nah, a timer isn't needed. I'm positive that I'll be the one turning off the UVB lights lol. Well due to the reason that I don't have another clamp lamp for night heating purpose, I need to use back the same clamp lamp and change the bulb EVERYDAY!! :'(

I was just worried that I might need to have a basking spot with UVB, if that is the case, I might need to buy another lamp which is another hole burnt in my wallet lol.

I'll run out and get a 5.0 26w Repti Glo later lol.

Hey guys,

Finally got a 5.0 UVB compact last two days and trust me, the difference is extremely significant!

I'm wondering about a couple of things and of course I do hope you guys can help a little here and there,

1) How do you check if your tortoise is well fed? In this case, Star Tortoises.

2) How do you know if your tortoise is lethargic? What are the signs of lethargic in tortoises? Coming from a person who has never kept a tortoise before and the only reptile that I've kept before and present is a Leopard Gecko, I'm sure confused at looking at whether are they doing fine being lazy, hiding in its cave sleeping during the day or they ARE in fact lethargic.

3) In general, how to spot a healthy tortoise?

4) My Star at the moment is about 2 inches in size, will a 1.5'x1'x1' enclosure be enough for it?

5) I notice that my Star bobs its head in and out as though as it smelled something whenever I put food inside or sometimes when I disturbed it. Is this normal?

6) For this whole week since I got it on Sunday, it has been pooping in the water dish(The only place it poops in) for 3 times and urinate about 4 times, the urinate is paste-like but had a tiny rock-like chip like about 1cm during the fourth time. Is that normal?

7) How do normal feces look like? And urine?

8) How long do I need to soak my Star every time I soak it?

Thanks peoples!!

This post has been edited by Kar: Jun 19 2009, 09:36 PM