I went out and bought a T-Rex Active uv heat 100w flood bulb. One of the pet stores I go to had them on clearance for $11.25!! I turned it on, its been on for about half an hour and she went into her hide right after I turned it on. I did notice that temps dropped a few degrees though after I changed the bulb. I was using a 100 watt spot not a flood. How long should I leave the bulb on for everyday? A few hours or all day? plus the approx minimum distance suggested for the lamp is 12" mine about 15"...will this make a big difference? I have the rabbit cage setup and the only way to get it 12" is to have the lamp inside the enclosure.
I can't get her outside yet because its cold and snowing here. I did call the vet, the vet tech said she'd have the vet call me back but he hasn't as of yet.
The period of time for her weight loss is over a couple of months. The first time she was weighed she was 79 grams the about a month ago (when she had the nose problem) she weighed 71 grams.
I appreciate all of your help Robyn and others.
Oh, I just measured her...when you do that you measure the bottom (plastron) right? She measured 2 1/2"
Coldliz Wrote:I went out and bought a T-Rex Active uv heat 100w flood bulb. How long should I leave the bulb on for everyday? A few hours or all day? plus the approx minimum distance suggested for the lamp is 12" mine about 15"...will this make a big difference? I have the rabbit cage setup and the only way to get it 12" is to have the lamp inside the enclosure.
The period of time for her weight loss is over a couple of months. The first time she was weighed she was 79 grams the about a month ago (when she had the nose problem) she weighed 71 grams.
Oh, I just measured her...when you do that you measure the bottom (plastron) right? She measured 2 1/2"
Good work Melissa, I know this can be nerve racking.
Is your new bulb the spiral kind or like a regular floodlamp?
I have a T-Rex 100 watt UVB flood lamp. I have it posted about 14 inches above the torts. they shyed away from it at first now they love sitting under it. Just make sure you maintain her basking temps right under the light. I leave my light on for 10 to 12 hours a day. I also have heat lamps so their ambiant air temps stay constant I use a Rehostat. Love them they just turn your heat lamps on and off to keep them at a certain temp which you set. Does not work for the new UVB +heat lamps.
Here is a good site for uvb output and differeance between heat and light.
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercuryvapourlamps.htm
http://www.reptileuvinfo.com/html/mega-r...report.htm
http://www.anapsid.org/liteheat.html
That seems like a lot of wt in a short time but then your scale is new and is not the same as the vets so the weight difference may not be the same. Not all scales are equal.
Re: Nematode Parasites- Internal worms and parasites.
http://www.ukchelonia.info/testudo/articles/divers1.htm
The above is referenced to Testudo but I figure it would be similar for any Chelonian
My vet did a culture straight from the stomach.
Yes the straight plastron lenght. Measuring your tort
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/measuring.htm
Aloe plants I give them to my torts but only as a treat as they tend to cause loose stools if given too much or too often.
I'm gald you contacted the vet hopefully he will return your call soon.
Hey Everyone,
Its sounds like your doing everything right to me. I think that some Sulcatas just grow faster than others. That being said, they should still show a nice steady growth. I also have a young Sulcata that doesnt want to grow. he is about 2.5 years old and weighs 6.2 oz or 176 grams. The interesting thing is the breeder that i got him from still has a few left from that clutch. He says they are all roughly 170-185 grams. I think its in their genes! I know that sounds weird, but of all the reearch Ive done, this is a very common problem that no one has an answer for. Ive been told by other keepers that theirs didnt really show alot of growth until the 3rd or 4th year. Now as far as your little one, he shouldnt be losing weight. I mean its going to fluctuate up a gram down a gram, but i believe you said he had lost an ounce? Thats kind of alot for such a little guy. That hollow sounding shell you mentioned....Is it soft?? if it is, a trip to the vet would be a good idea.
It is nerve racking!! The bulb is regular 110w flood lamp, exactly the same as yours. I'm going to have to get a bigger dome for it though, I didn't realize it was such a big bulb. So you suggest leaving it on 10-12 hours a day then? I think the temp is going to be ok...it says 92 right now and thats right under the lamp.
The vet didn't call me back. We've had some bad weather today and a lot of places are closing early due to that, I'm not even sure if he was in today. Hopefully tomorrow. You're probably right about the scales being different, I didn't even consider that when I bought it. As soon as I get to talk to the vet I will ask him about the quarter thing...that was an excellent idea by the way. Hopefully what I think she lost isn't true.
I'm hoping this new lamp will help her. The added uv can't hurt that's for sure.
I'm going to cut back her soakings to 2-3 times a week. I was doing extra soakings due to changing her substrate from the coconut fiber to the hay. I was concerned about her dehydrating.
I really appreciate all of your help and suggestions. Thank You
Sulcata Lover Wrote:Hey Everyone,
Its sounds like your doing everything right to me. I think that some Sulcatas just grow faster than others. That being said, they should still show a nice steady growth. I also have a young Sulcata that doesnt want to grow. he is about 2.5 years old and weighs 6.2 oz or 176 grams. The interesting thing is the breeder that i got him from still has a few left from that clutch. He says they are all roughly 170-185 grams. I think its in their genes! I know that sounds weird, but of all the reearch Ive done, this is a very common problem that no one has an answer for. Ive been told by other keepers that theirs didnt really show alot of growth until the 3rd or 4th year. Now as far as your little one, he shouldnt be losing weight. I mean its going to fluctuate up a gram down a gram, but i believe you said he had lost an ounce? Thats kind of alot for such a little guy. That hollow sounding shell you mentioned....Is it soft?? if it is, a trip to the vet would be a good idea.
The shell is hard, it's just if I lightly tap on it with my finger nail it sounds hollow. I'm going to try to get to the vet as soon as I can but the weather is bad and I'm in the process of moving..ugh!
It's interesting that these little guys seem to have this problem. I'm going to keep a close eye on her the next few days and see if the new lamp seems to help her at all. It says you should see immediate increase in appetite and activity. So far she has just slept, but she is right under it soaking the uv rays so thats good.
Yep, I had to Get bigger domes also. They are much bigger lights than I imaganed. The temp sounds fine. I leave mine on 10-12 hours a day. I have them set on timers, start at 6am end at 6 pm. I have it on one side of her enclosure and a spot so she can get away (hide area) if she wants, but what she usually does is use her makeshift hide (a corner of her enclosure on the cold side she dug out and covers herself with the hay on top almost like a cave.
I didn't see an imediate increase in appitite but it was gradual. I'm not sure if it was the light or she just began to feel better.
I think cutting back on her soakings may help. If you are afraid of dehidration add a few minutes to her soaks. Squirt soaks for 20-30 min. 2 to 3 time a week and I have water in her enclosure which she almost never uses now.
As far as your scale if you don't get a call back, or they aren't willing to weigh the quarter. Just keep using the same scale once a week, same day around the same time and see if she starts to pick up weight.
Good Luck Melissa, Sounds like everything your doing is what has been best for her. And she nor yourself could ask for more. Your a good tort mom remember that. Keep us posted.
Thanks so much Robyn. I will keep you updated.
another question..I have seen people mention using a cuttlebone in enclosures, would it be ok to give a young tort like mine?
Sure or you can even put the powdered calcium in a small cap in her enclosure she will use it as she needs it. My Yearling DT use the cuttlebone occasionally. Comet has not.
Well I haven't seen any increase in her activity as of yet. Interesting thing though, when I fed her today she was in her hide, she came right out went right to the food, she only took two or three bites though and then she stopped. She's been sleeping all day, under the light.
Sounds like she might be enjoying the heat and the uvBs. Just keep an eye on those temps. I would give her some time to see how she does.
When I got squirt and put the uvB+Heat flood bulb in she spent most of her time under it. That went on for about a month. Now she uses it sportatily during the day. Squirt didn't eat much yesterday AM. She is slowly making her way to the uvB as I type this. She will sit under it for an hour or two then eat a little. By the time I get home around 4 most of the food will be gone.
I have noticed that since I changed her enclosure from the tank to the rabbit cage, she is always on the hot end. When she's walking around she will walk around the cool end but she never stays down there. I check on her throughout the day and she changes positions under the light often but she is always on that end.
As a just in case, I gave her a little pumpkin with her greens today. I thought it might stimulate her appetite because its something colorful and new. She did the same thing as yesterday, goes right to the food with gusto but only takes a few bites. She really acts like she wants to it. Its frustrating.
Melissa where are you placing the food in relationship to the light?
Just came in to get updated on everyone. I wish I could offer more, but on the cuttlebone my guy seams to really like it. I also had just scrapped a little powder over his greens to make sure he was getting it. He has gained a lot of weight in a fairly short period of time. Which is good as he was underweight before. I put his food in various locations in his enclosure, he seams to like it if he comes across it. The mighty hunter. I hope all is well.
Robyn, I put her food in the middle of her enclosure on a flat rock I have placed there. Close to the light but not directly under it.