I use aspen for my russians and my sulcata when they are inside.. I also put some orchard or timothy at one end because mine like to hide under the hay instead of the hide logs. I found my sulcata did much better when I switched him to aspen (per Danny
). As far as the nose keep an eye on it, my three toed has one large nostril in the shape of a heart do to a sinus infection that was not treated before I received him. But it was great that you could get him in so fast!!
For right now I'm going to use the Orchard grass. I already have it so I might as well use it up.
I'll tell you, I get more and more confused on how to care for her each day that passes!!
Coldliz Wrote:I'll tell you, I get more and more confused on how to care for her each day that passes!!
Dude! I hear you!!! It seems like the more we learn, the harder it is to care for these critters!!!! Isn't it supposed to get easy with knowledge?!? LOL! I guess it's with "time and experience" that it starts to get easier. I hope so, anyway!
I think I have 2 red ears
I do use Aspen on all my tortoises that don't need high humidity. I've never had a problem with them passing any aspen they have eaten. I do feed on paper plates to lessen the chance of them eating to much.
It never molds and is easy to spot clean. It's also fun to dig in.
I'm glad Sparkles is going to be fine.
We are trying not to confuse you Liz
Danny
I hope so too Kelly!!!!!
Oh no Danny you have been very helpful!! It was the vet that actually confused me. Breeder said to use the coconut. Vet says Alfalfa, others say no to Alfalfa. Oi!!!!
In your opinion Danny would the Orchard grass be ok for now?
Oh and I guess since I'm calling you all by your first names I should tell you mine, its Melissa.
Hi, Melissa and all this time I was calling you Liz.
I am glad Sparkles is going to be ok. My heart sinks every time I think there is something wrong with one of my little ones. So it does my heart good to know yours will be ok. And I think confusion comes with the territory. There are always so many different ways to care for animals and often more then one way works fine. It's just finding what works for you and Sparkles, and in time you will.
Thank you for your kind words Robyn.
Another question, I know that Sulcata's are a "dry" species but mine is still a hatchling. I always have a water dish available for her and she gets regular soakings. So, do I need to have humidity for her substrate or is it ok for it to be dry? Should I offer a humid hide for her? She has two hides right now, one on the cooler end and one on the hotter end.
The fire question is a good concern. If the heat lamp close enough to cause fire, it is much to close for any animal. I'm not real familiar with african dryland torts but assuming 90 degrees as basking temp, any substrat should not be a fire hazard. I brood poultry at about 110 degrees with a 250 watt heat lamp about 18 to 24 inchs off aspen and never had scorching. Just watch your temps and secure your lamp.
Good infor Itort. Malissa I have a little sully that is about 4 inches and I do provide her with a slightly humid area. I had read that in the wild Sullys will dig down were it is humid so I figured I'd try and give her an area that is humid. So I placed Plants in one side of her enclosure and I water them regularly and mist them which raised the humidity. I find her on that side at least a couple time a day taking a nap or digging in the dirt. At night she tend to sleep under the heat lamp on the dry side but I decrease my house temps at night. Just my personal limited experience with this type of tort.
I'm going to try the sponge trick in one of the hides.
Now my big concern is to get her to gain weight.
I found that when my little Sulcata Squirt was sick she also lost weight. I have been giving her antibiotics and I raised her temps just a bit – about 5 degrees. She has now put on weight and is gaining, “Yeah”. I did have to tempt her with her favorite food raspberries but only one or two to get her going. Now she eats like a champ. She’s even waiting for me in the morning to be fed. I also soak her daily for now while she is recovering in warm water with Viti-sol (avian vitamins) for an extra boost. So I am sure if you raise her temp just a little, give her the humid hide that way she will be able to select it if she wants more humidity, and even, maybe, tempt her with a favorite morsel or two she should start to put on weight, once she begins to feels better.
Robyn - off topic a bit....Love hearing about Squirt! Do you have a pic of her enclosure so that I can try to set up something similar so that she feels a bit more cozy when the time comes?
I was suprised when the vet said she lost weight. She's been eating.
Robyn, are you not keeping Squirt?
Coldliz Wrote:I was suprised when the vet said she lost weight. She's been eating.
Robyn, are you not keeping Squirt?
Usually even if they are eating their intake or output is off when they aren't feeling well.
No ,Squirt is a foster and is slated to go to Dee in NJ. I have become very attached to her she is so sweet it will be hard to let her go.
Dee I will get a few shots and post them hopefully tonight, but by the weekend at least.
awww, I didn't know she was a foster. I don't think I could do that!! I get too attached.
Her nose is already healing. I put the triple antibiotic on her nose once a day. The weird thing is, I think she knows I'm trying to help her. When I'm ready to put the ointment on her, I put it on a q-tip, and slowly touch it to her nose. She actually stretches her neck out to me like it feels good to her. I thought she would pull back. I'm offering food to her several times a day. She's been eating a little at each time. I've got the temps up and I have been soaking her daily.