Re: Checking my husbandry

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Posted by EJ on January 23, 2001 at 11:06:52:

In Reply to: Re: Checking my husbandry posted by Marissa on January 23, 2001 at 10:22:02:

Marrisa, I know YOU are well aware of my (consistant)disagreement on this issue but...
Now go back through the posts from the last month (even more) and tell me how many people have had problems with overheating/cooking their pets. Then, look for those that contain 'help, my tortoise is not eating, is slowing down, has developed a runny nose, is sneezing, has watery eyes...' These are usually associated with... what? ummmm, low temps maybe.
Ed
(just stressing one of those points that is VERY important to me)

: I am well aware that you are in consistent disagreement with me on this issue, EJ.

: I am speaking from MY own experience with MY sulcata who frequently chose the cooler end of my spacious indoor pen to hang out in with periodic romps to the basking spot to warm up. There was always the opportunity for warming up and cooling down and the tortoise was frequently active in both parts of the pen.

: : Sorry Marrisa, gotta disagree again. There is a very interesting article in the last quarter of Herpetologica. Granted it is on painteds but the topic is very relevent to what I'm trying to get across.(its kind of ironic actually, because it follows a discussion we had on the TT list almost to a T. Ya gotta wonder)
: : Ed

: : : First of all, you say UVB for the basking site...almost all but one heat bulb DO NOT give off UVB...that must be provided by fluorescent UVB lighting. What type of bulb do you have for the basking?

: : : Also sounds like your temp gradient is not low enough in the low end. I'd drop it to mid 70's in the cool end for daytime and mid 70's for nighttime all over the pen. You can either raise the heat lamp or lower the bulb wattage to achieve a cooler gradient...or get/build a bigger pen. If you don't have an ActiveUV heat and UVB combo bulb..then your heat bulb is not giving off necessary UVB rays. The ActiveUV bulbs are about $50 and not available in most pet shops.

: : : Take a look at my care sheet below...

: : : : I have a young sulcuta that I bought for my wife. I keep many herps, and knew what I was getting into. I love this guy, and want to make sure I am doing everything right, and that his behavior is normal. I keep him in a rubbermaid with a Lizard Litter substrate. I soak him once a day, at which time he usualy defecates. I feed him endive, greens, and alfalfa, with cuttle bone, which I don't think he touches. I have a large peice and many smaller ones. He has a hide, which he uses on occasion. In his basking site (UVb)it is 94, with a gradient down to 85. I cover him at night, and the temps drop to upper 70's. He sleeps alot, rotating around the perimeter of his enclosure, doing the "I look dead" (head and arms sprawled out)thing when he is under the light. He sleeps mostly, occasionally stirring for a stroll, and a bite to eat. He does not eat with the same furvor as when I first got him. I thought they were supposed to be eating machines? After first frost I am going to make him an outdoor enclosure, predator safe, and grow Turtle Cafe mix.
: : : : How am I doing? How is he doing? He just seems lethargic, but I am used to aquatics, who are non-stop.
: : : : Thanks,
: : : : Ryan

Follow Ups:

Re: Checking my husbandry Terry 01/23/01 (4)
- Sorry girls, no flame war today. n/p EJ 01/23/01 (3)
  - Re: Sorry girls, no flame war today. n/p Terry 01/23/01 (0)
  - You're Kidding Me, I thought you LOVED to argue? Marissa 01/23/01 (1)
    - Re: You're Kidding Me, I thought you LOVED to argue? EJ 01/23/01 (0)

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: Marrisa, I know YOU are well aware of my (consistant)disagreement on this issue but... : Now go back through the posts from the last month (even more) and tell me how many people have had problems with overheating/cooking their pets. Then, look for those that contain 'help, my tortoise is not eating, is slowing down, has developed a runny nose, is sneezing, has watery eyes...' These are usually associated with... what? ummmm, low temps maybe. : Ed : (just stressing one of those points that is VERY important to me) : : I am well aware that you are in consistent disagreement with me on this issue, EJ. : : I am speaking from MY own experience with MY sulcata who frequently chose the cooler end of my spacious indoor pen to hang out in with periodic romps to the basking spot to warm up. There was always the opportunity for warming up and cooling down and the tortoise was frequently active in both parts of the pen. : : : Sorry Marrisa, gotta disagree again. There is a very interesting article in the last quarter of Herpetologica. Granted it is on painteds but the topic is very relevent to what I'm trying to get across.(its kind of ironic actually, because it follows a discussion we had on the TT list almost to a T. Ya gotta wonder) : : : Ed : : : : First of all, you say UVB for the basking site...almost all but one heat bulb DO NOT give off UVB...that must be provided by fluorescent UVB lighting. What type of bulb do you have for the basking? : : : : Also sounds like your temp gradient is not low enough in the low end. I'd drop it to mid 70's in the cool end for daytime and mid 70's for nighttime all over the pen. You can either raise the heat lamp or lower the bulb wattage to achieve a cooler gradient...or get/build a bigger pen. If you don't have an ActiveUV heat and UVB combo bulb..then your heat bulb is not giving off necessary UVB rays. The ActiveUV bulbs are about $50 and not available in most pet shops. : : : : Take a look at my care sheet below... : : : : : I have a young sulcuta that I bought for my wife. I keep many herps, and knew what I was getting into. I love this guy, and want to make sure I am doing everything right, and that his behavior is normal. I keep him in a rubbermaid with a Lizard Litter substrate. I soak him once a day, at which time he usualy defecates. I feed him endive, greens, and alfalfa, with cuttle bone, which I don't think he touches. I have a large peice and many smaller ones. He has a hide, which he uses on occasion. In his basking site (UVb)it is 94, with a gradient down to 85. I cover him at night, and the temps drop to upper 70's. He sleeps alot, rotating around the perimeter of his enclosure, doing the "I look dead" (head and arms sprawled out)thing when he is under the light. He sleeps mostly, occasionally stirring for a stroll, and a bite to eat. He does not eat with the same furvor as when I first got him. I thought they were supposed to be eating machines? After first frost I am going to make him an outdoor enclosure, predator safe, and grow Turtle Cafe mix. : : : : : How am I doing? How is he doing? He just seems lethargic, but I am used to aquatics, who are non-stop. : : : : : Thanks, : : : : : Ryan

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