return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research  
Click here for LLL Reptile & Supply
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: False Coral Snake . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Bearded Dragon . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Apr 02, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Calusa Herp Society Meeting - Apr 04, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Apr 06, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Hamburg Reptile Show - Apr. 13, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Apr 14, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Apr 16, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Apr 21, 2024 . . . . . . . . . . 

New addition to the family


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Andrew on May 22, 2000 at 12:27:55:

I've just taken a young Leopard Tort (5 inches) from a buddy of mine (who thought it was a Sulcata) who used some questionable husbandry techniques for the little guy. When I picked him up last night, my buddy gave me a ziploc bag of iceburg and bibb lettuce, saying that this was what he fed him. I've tried to feed him kale and mustard greens as a basic salad but all he does is nip at it rather than eat it. He also seems interested in dining on the bedding in his 3' by 2' tub, which is a mix of alfalfa pellets and Lizard Litter (kenaf). He also likes to dig away at the walls of the tub too (he was in a Critter Cage before). Overall, he appears pretty healthy but pretty stressed, I think. I have several questions:

1) How do I get him eating the good food stuff rather than his bedding? Is there better stuff to use for bedding?

2) I've read quite a bit about Torts over the last few days, but there's nothing about acclimation. Is the digging away at the walls of the tub typical? He also gently bobs his head when I'm around. Is this simple stress or something I should be really concerned about?

3) Given the unexpected acquisition of my guy, I've only put a very setup together of a shallow water bowl and a big half log, which he seems to use. Any other things anyone can recommend to add to his little tub?

4) My place is kept at around 72 degrees. I have a lamp keeping the warm end at about 85-86 degrees (a little hotter directly under the lamp). Is it okay to just shut off the basking lamp at night or should I invest in a little heat lamp for night usage?

Thanks for any help you can provide.


Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]