Re: Can sulcata torts survive a 3 day usps journey?? help!

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Posted by Terry on December 20, 2000 at 15:07:13:

In Reply to: Can sulcata torts survive a 3 day usps journey?? help! posted by Christy on December 20, 2000 at 11:19:56:

Any responsible dealer/breeder would not have shipped/mailed out live tortoises at this time of year.
Not only is it too cold, but with all the Christmas mail anything could happen to cause delays.

Is there any way you can track them and get them hurried up?
If not then expect some very cold/sickly or even dead tortoises to arrive.

They will be dehydrated and cold if they're still alive.
You'll need to get them warmed up, slowly but surely.
I hope you have the enclosure set up already, just incase they make it alive.
Make sure there is a heat gradient, 75 in the cool area, no lower.
80 in the warmer area going up to 85-6 and around 88 under the heat lamp.
You'll also need to soak them, but make sure they are awake before putting them in the water.
Also make sure the water is baby bath warm, not too hot. And very important make sure it's shallow.

This is important because if they're weak, they must be able to keep their heads and mouth/nostrils comfortably out of the water.
When they arrive, put them in the cooler end of the enclosure 75-80 degrees for a while and see how they do, if they can move around then they can choose to move into the warmer areas.
Set up thermometers to monitor the temperatures.

I've got my fingers crossed for you, but if you live in a cold state it doesn't sound very promising, unless they are packed up very well.And even that might not be enough.
Best of luck, keeping my fingers crossed.
Terry.

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: Any responsible dealer/breeder would not have shipped/mailed out live tortoises at this time of year. : Not only is it too cold, but with all the Christmas mail anything could happen to cause delays. : Is there any way you can track them and get them hurried up? : If not then expect some very cold/sickly or even dead tortoises to arrive. : They will be dehydrated and cold if they're still alive. : You'll need to get them warmed up, slowly but surely. : I hope you have the enclosure set up already, just incase they make it alive. : Make sure there is a heat gradient, 75 in the cool area, no lower. : 80 in the warmer area going up to 85-6 and around 88 under the heat lamp. : You'll also need to soak them, but make sure they are awake before putting them in the water. : Also make sure the water is baby bath warm, not too hot. And very important make sure it's shallow. : This is important because if they're weak, they must be able to keep their heads and mouth/nostrils comfortably out of the water. : When they arrive, put them in the cooler end of the enclosure 75-80 degrees for a while and see how they do, if they can move around then they can choose to move into the warmer areas. : Set up thermometers to monitor the temperatures. : I've got my fingers crossed for you, but if you live in a cold state it doesn't sound very promising, unless they are packed up very well.And even that might not be enough. : Best of luck, keeping my fingers crossed. : Terry.

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