You have a new baby Marginated tortoise and you want everything to go perfect. The four  most important things to remember when raising a Marginated baby with a smooth shell is:

1. Housing:  Warm and Humid conditions with a places to hide (more info)
2. Diet:  Primarily Leafy Green Plants (more info)
3. Lighting:  Sunlight when possible if indoors a good Reptile Bulb (more info)
4. Temperature:  75-85 degrees Fahrenheit primarily
   
   1. ​A basking spot can be offered that stays in the 90s
      
   2. warm humid hide should be in the high 70s low 80s
      

Below you will see three areas describing this more.

Other important baby  tips:

• Soak often for the first 1 year.  At least 4 days a week in shallow warm water that covers the bottom of the shell.  Soaking daily is fine also.  Besides drinking your tortoise will use this time to urinate (toothpaste looking gue) and poop.
• Try not to Handle them too much as they are naturally scared of large predators for the first year.
• Buy a temp gun.  ($20) This will let you see the temp of specific spots in your enclosure.
• Put your lights on a timer and automate everything you can.

---

Housing

Diet

Temperature and Lighting