Wild caught Burmese Mt Browns

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Posted by Matt Hybel on February 07, 2002 at 09:26:00:

In Reply to: Ok, anyone have wild caught Burmese Mt Browns or Blacks? posted by Barry on February 07, 2002 at 01:20:23:

I have recently acquired 2 browns. The first is a 12" male that was at Fred's Pets for 1 year and is robust, heavy as a rock, acclimated and immediately marches out of his water tray to eat everything and anything, my fingers if I am not paying attention.

The second was sold to me from a dealer in Florida as a Female, slightly smaller than the male. She is shy and burrows like yours. I have had her about 2 months and had worried that she had worms or otherwise would not make it.

Here is what I have done and what I am hoping for:

1. The dealer said he got her in October had she has eaten for him.
2. I never saw worms in her stool and Fred (Fred's Pets) told me parasitic worms would be visible to the naked eye.
3. I am keeping her warm (75-85) in damp cypress mulch with a water tray twice her length and twice her width.
4. She has eaten food I have given on two occasions: cantelope once and some dandelion and romaine the second.
5. Her eyes have always been clear, she appears alert and, while on the light side (weight), seems to be in good health.
6. I had purchased a large green houseplant (do not recall the name) when I got the male and he ate from it liberally (not what I had originally intended).
7. I moved the plant to the female's enclosure when I first housed her and she seems to nibble at it at times. I see small pieces of the leaves floating in her water from time to time so I believe she is eating what may be to her "wild" food.
8. I have a Vietnamese leaf turtle in another enclosure that burrows into the cypress for 1-2 months at a time, yet is healthy, has good weight and shows new shell growth, eating only infrequently.
9. I am going to give the burmese time to acclimate and, with the first warm weather in Spring, will put her outdoors, weather permitting, in sunlight to try to draw her out more.
10. Meanwhile, I have taken to putting her in her water tray each morning, as I have seen her drinking water, and continue to offer fresh captive foods as I give other tortoises. My belief for both humans and turtles is that we can live longer without food than we can without water. As long as she drinks water and eats even a little (since she is not as active as the male) I am hopeful that she will adapt to captivity and gain weight as time goes by.

Good luck to you, and wish me luck.

Matt

Follow Ups:

Re: Wild caught Burmese Mt Browns Katrina 02/09/02 (0)
Thanks Matt for the info!!! Barry 02/07/02 (0)

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: I have recently acquired 2 browns. The first is a 12" male that was at Fred's Pets for 1 year and is robust, heavy as a rock, acclimated and immediately marches out of his water tray to eat everything and anything, my fingers if I am not paying attention. : The second was sold to me from a dealer in Florida as a Female, slightly smaller than the male. She is shy and burrows like yours. I have had her about 2 months and had worried that she had worms or otherwise would not make it. : Here is what I have done and what I am hoping for: : 1. The dealer said he got her in October had she has eaten for him. : 2. I never saw worms in her stool and Fred (Fred's Pets) told me parasitic worms would be visible to the naked eye. : 3. I am keeping her warm (75-85) in damp cypress mulch with a water tray twice her length and twice her width. : 4. She has eaten food I have given on two occasions: cantelope once and some dandelion and romaine the second. : 5. Her eyes have always been clear, she appears alert and, while on the light side (weight), seems to be in good health. : 6. I had purchased a large green houseplant (do not recall the name) when I got the male and he ate from it liberally (not what I had originally intended). : 7. I moved the plant to the female's enclosure when I first housed her and she seems to nibble at it at times. I see small pieces of the leaves floating in her water from time to time so I believe she is eating what may be to her "wild" food. : 8. I have a Vietnamese leaf turtle in another enclosure that burrows into the cypress for 1-2 months at a time, yet is healthy, has good weight and shows new shell growth, eating only infrequently. : 9. I am going to give the burmese time to acclimate and, with the first warm weather in Spring, will put her outdoors, weather permitting, in sunlight to try to draw her out more. : 10. Meanwhile, I have taken to putting her in her water tray each morning, as I have seen her drinking water, and continue to offer fresh captive foods as I give other tortoises. My belief for both humans and turtles is that we can live longer without food than we can without water. As long as she drinks water and eats even a little (since she is not as active as the male) I am hopeful that she will adapt to captivity and gain weight as time goes by. : Good luck to you, and wish me luck. : Matt

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