Re: my new tortoises

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Posted by Nathan on February 14, 1999 at 10:55:16:

In Reply to: Re: my new tortoises posted by Marissa on February 13, 1999 at 22:37:23:

Unfortunately my substrate, other than in the plastic
bin that is recessed into the table, has to be laid
on the table, since there are cracks and small holes
that would let sand or pellets flow down and out.
The astroturf has been scrubbed with soap and HOT
water and a stiff brush about twenty some times, and
was used for other turtles, then sterilized to use
with these guys. They can't actually bite through
the pieces at this point, but they will eventually
be able to. I'll probably go get a big piece of
carpetting for it. The other option is to just let
them on the plywood floor that is under the turf,
but I don't know about that... It has traction, but
wiping it clean alot (it's watersealed) would
likely be a pain. Do ya'll recommend a water dish?
I have a shallow plastic one I could recess so there
is no lip, and they are very much able to get in
and out of it no problem. It would just be big enough
(it's round) for one to sit in at a time in about
an inch of water. I soaked them last night, and
this morning, each time one of them drank heavily.
Last night one left a small poop, today the other
left a GIANT poop. I was utterly amazed. Even my
two+ pound giant RES female doesn't make poops that
big, and I'm amazed by hers. *grin* I had to take
it to show alesia ((she was amused)) cause I was so
proud.
Anyway, they dove into some chickory today and had
fun. Now I can start trying new and different foods
and mixing it up a bit. They are SOOO active.
Oh, for about two hours each morning, the sun
comes through the window and over about half of the
table in a swoop (it can't ever shine on more than
a few inches square at a time) but when this swoop
passed over a thermometer (I've been nuts checking
temps in every part of their table) it got up to
100 degrees. Now, it's an aquarium thermometer inside
a glass tube with the suction cup on it. Does the
light heat up the thermometer more cause it is in
the glass? I could crack it and take it out and see,
but it doesn'tfeel that hot to my hand.....
anyway, they can get over to the cool side anyway, and
it's just the one small spot, who knows, maybe they'll
like it now and then....
I'm just not sure about the glass tubed thermometer
and the "greenhouse" effect it might have....

SOOOO, sometime this week I'll get myself a piece of
non plant colored carpet for their home, they do
have some smooth flat rocks, a part of it is a
piece of plywood... they seem to kinda like walking
on it.

Well, yes, pics soon, I got pictures of them eating
this morning, and got pics of Alesias new iguana
eating out of her hand ALREADY! so it'll all go up
when I can get it developed. ((I want digital))
I'll also see about maybe doing some plans up for
the turtle table I built (two story, 4'x2', plexi
front walls, recessed tubs...)

Thanks for the info.

*grin*

: Well, congrats Nathan. Why don't you join up to the TortoiseAid International mail list to keep up on current info? Go to www.onelist.com and find list, animals, turtles, and page down to TORTAID..click to join. Hope to see you on there..many G.Paradalis owners on there as well. Your temps sound good...cool zone could be a bit lower...maybe 73F? NOt a big deal though...nigh temps sound good...everything sounds good in fact. Substrate should be something other than the astroturf, it's usually treated. Try, ummm...well if you can't use pellets, try using 1/2 sterile potting soil (organic, no perlite or chemicals) and 1/2 playground sand (not silica sand...make SURE). That's a great substrate for them to burrow in...I use Aspen Particles...you need to experiment a bit. Let us know how it goes...any pics? If so, shoot them over to me privately, I'm also interested in seeing your table if you have pics...-Marissa :)

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: Unfortunately my substrate, other than in the plastic : bin that is recessed into the table, has to be laid : on the table, since there are cracks and small holes : that would let sand or pellets flow down and out. : The astroturf has been scrubbed with soap and HOT : water and a stiff brush about twenty some times, and : was used for other turtles, then sterilized to use : with these guys. They can't actually bite through : the pieces at this point, but they will eventually : be able to. I'll probably go get a big piece of : carpetting for it. The other option is to just let : them on the plywood floor that is under the turf, : but I don't know about that... It has traction, but : wiping it clean alot (it's watersealed) would : likely be a pain. Do ya'll recommend a water dish? : I have a shallow plastic one I could recess so there : is no lip, and they are very much able to get in : and out of it no problem. It would just be big enough : (it's round) for one to sit in at a time in about : an inch of water. I soaked them last night, and : this morning, each time one of them drank heavily. : Last night one left a small poop, today the other : left a GIANT poop. I was utterly amazed. Even my : two+ pound giant RES female doesn't make poops that : big, and I'm amazed by hers. *grin* I had to take : it to show alesia ((she was amused)) cause I was so : proud. : Anyway, they dove into some chickory today and had : fun. Now I can start trying new and different foods : and mixing it up a bit. They are SOOO active. : Oh, for about two hours each morning, the sun : comes through the window and over about half of the : table in a swoop (it can't ever shine on more than : a few inches square at a time) but when this swoop : passed over a thermometer (I've been nuts checking : temps in every part of their table) it got up to : 100 degrees. Now, it's an aquarium thermometer inside : a glass tube with the suction cup on it. Does the : light heat up the thermometer more cause it is in : the glass? I could crack it and take it out and see, : but it doesn'tfeel that hot to my hand..... : anyway, they can get over to the cool side anyway, and : it's just the one small spot, who knows, maybe they'll : like it now and then.... : I'm just not sure about the glass tubed thermometer : and the "greenhouse" effect it might have.... : SOOOO, sometime this week I'll get myself a piece of : non plant colored carpet for their home, they do : have some smooth flat rocks, a part of it is a : piece of plywood... they seem to kinda like walking : on it. : Well, yes, pics soon, I got pictures of them eating : this morning, and got pics of Alesias new iguana : eating out of her hand ALREADY! so it'll all go up : when I can get it developed. ((I want digital)) : I'll also see about maybe doing some plans up for : the turtle table I built (two story, 4'x2', plexi : front walls, recessed tubs...) : Thanks for the info. : *grin* : : : Well, congrats Nathan. Why don't you join up to the TortoiseAid International mail list to keep up on current info? Go to www.onelist.com and find list, animals, turtles, and page down to TORTAID..click to join. Hope to see you on there..many G.Paradalis owners on there as well. Your temps sound good...cool zone could be a bit lower...maybe 73F? NOt a big deal though...nigh temps sound good...everything sounds good in fact. Substrate should be something other than the astroturf, it's usually treated. Try, ummm...well if you can't use pellets, try using 1/2 sterile potting soil (organic, no perlite or chemicals) and 1/2 playground sand (not silica sand...make SURE). That's a great substrate for them to burrow in...I use Aspen Particles...you need to experiment a bit. Let us know how it goes...any pics? If so, shoot them over to me privately, I'm also interested in seeing your table if you have pics...-Marissa :)

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