Listen to Heather, and try this...

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Posted by George(TX) on April 24, 2000 at 11:32:24:

In Reply to: help soon or my russians may die!!!! posted by HOOK on April 23, 2000 at 20:51:22:

Hello Hook.

I agree strongly with Heather. Here are a few more suggestions:

1. Until those torts are acting healthy and responding to all of the changes in husbandry that Heather recommended, a daily bath is good insurance. It needs to be clean water, about chin depth, and it must be luke warm. Not hot, and don't let it get cold. Use an electric heat pad under the bath if necessary. The bath should be not less than 20 minutes per day, and not more than 30. After they are healthy, I would continue the bath every two or three days. Again, it is good insurance. Important...luke warm water only.

2. Use rabbit pellets for substrate until they get real healthy. Change it if it gets dirty.

3. I have used an aquarium with success with one modification. Place a 3 inch strip of card board around the base of the substrate. This eliminates the reflections at their level that drive torts crazy, and also provides a little privacy from activities in the room. And you can still watch them easily when you want to. Yes, other enclosures are better, but this really makes an aquarium much better and usable. I doubt this is the main problem, but if you continue to use an aquarium, it will help very much.

Good luck, and let us know how they do.

George

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: Hello Hook. : I agree strongly with Heather. Here are a few more suggestions: : 1. Until those torts are acting healthy and responding to all of the changes in husbandry that Heather recommended, a daily bath is good insurance. It needs to be clean water, about chin depth, and it must be luke warm. Not hot, and don't let it get cold. Use an electric heat pad under the bath if necessary. The bath should be not less than 20 minutes per day, and not more than 30. After they are healthy, I would continue the bath every two or three days. Again, it is good insurance. Important...luke warm water only. : 2. Use rabbit pellets for substrate until they get real healthy. Change it if it gets dirty. : 3. I have used an aquarium with success with one modification. Place a 3 inch strip of card board around the base of the substrate. This eliminates the reflections at their level that drive torts crazy, and also provides a little privacy from activities in the room. And you can still watch them easily when you want to. Yes, other enclosures are better, but this really makes an aquarium much better and usable. I doubt this is the main problem, but if you continue to use an aquarium, it will help very much. : Good luck, and let us know how they do. : George

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