Re: Baby African Spur Thigh Care

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Posted by Deanna Jarrell on March 29, 1999 at 17:12:30:

In Reply to: Baby African Spur Thigh Care posted by Ayala on December 24, 1998 at 15:40:44:

We have a 7-year old African Spur Thigh. He's quite large now and weighs about 45 pounds.
We've had him since he was small enough to fit in a palm. I spoke to a herpetologist when he was little.
We were told many important things:

1. They are vegetarians. Do not give them meat, even in pellets. It can give them digestive problems.
2. They can eat fruits, but very sparingly, since their digestive system is very efficient. The bumpy shell should never get pointy.
3. They need water every day when they are young. As they get older, they store more water.
4. They eat their own feces when young. This is normal because it helps them develop the bacteria and enzimes needed for digestion.
5. Minimum temperature is 55 degrees. They can be too warm. 12hours a day is probably too much warmth. If you match their day with yours,
they will be more active. In the hottest part of the year, tortoises sleep most of the day. Your cool side of the tank could be cooler.
Tortoise burrows are about 65-75 degrees.
6. Natural sun is best. When it gets warm, take your friend outside, but do not leave alone when they are small, and never in a tank outside,
as they can overheat and die.
7. No cabbage. Broccoli is good, but not cauliflower. Tomatoes are good too and are a good source of water.
8. They like to have the tops of their head rubbed. The heat of your body is good. If your tortoise wets when you handle him/her, you need
to get your friend accustomed to you.
9. Try some variety in food. When your tortoise gets older, he/she may reject food if it is given every day. Herbs are
generally reject food. I think it may be a defense mechanism against poisonous foods. Herbs and poisonous foods have a strong taste. You may
want to reduce the amount of parsley, or find a substitute.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. It would be good to find out if
there is a herpetologist in your town. A regular vet is not necessarily qualified.

Enjoy your friend while he's small! They double in size every year for the first ten years!

Deanna

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: We have a 7-year old African Spur Thigh. He's quite large now and weighs about 45 pounds. : We've had him since he was small enough to fit in a palm. I spoke to a herpetologist when he was little. : We were told many important things: : 1. They are vegetarians. Do not give them meat, even in pellets. It can give them digestive problems. : 2. They can eat fruits, but very sparingly, since their digestive system is very efficient. The bumpy shell should never get pointy. : 3. They need water every day when they are young. As they get older, they store more water. : 4. They eat their own feces when young. This is normal because it helps them develop the bacteria and enzimes needed for digestion. : 5. Minimum temperature is 55 degrees. They can be too warm. 12hours a day is probably too much warmth. If you match their day with yours, : they will be more active. In the hottest part of the year, tortoises sleep most of the day. Your cool side of the tank could be cooler. : Tortoise burrows are about 65-75 degrees. : 6. Natural sun is best. When it gets warm, take your friend outside, but do not leave alone when they are small, and never in a tank outside, : as they can overheat and die. : 7. No cabbage. Broccoli is good, but not cauliflower. Tomatoes are good too and are a good source of water. : 8. They like to have the tops of their head rubbed. The heat of your body is good. If your tortoise wets when you handle him/her, you need : to get your friend accustomed to you. : 9. Try some variety in food. When your tortoise gets older, he/she may reject food if it is given every day. Herbs are : generally reject food. I think it may be a defense mechanism against poisonous foods. Herbs and poisonous foods have a strong taste. You may : want to reduce the amount of parsley, or find a substitute. : I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. It would be good to find out if : there is a herpetologist in your town. A regular vet is not necessarily qualified. : Enjoy your friend while he's small! They double in size every year for the first ten years! : Deanna

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