COLD DARK ROOM

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Hello again everyone. Recovery from this chest infection is dreadfully slow. Fortunately my shower-bashed head didn't develop concussion. Last night, I got the best night's sleep I have had in well over a fortnight. Still not great, but going in the right direction. My course of antibiotics finishes on Thursday, but I see myself returning to my doctor as my chest is still rattling - just not as badly as it was.

Hopefully, I will start to feel bothered about doing things soon.

In the meantime I hope everyone else is well and that @Lyn W is recovering
Omg. We're all sickos. Thank God we have critters to keep us motivated.
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
This cat has been so naughty lately!!
He’s been trying to get the beta fish!!
We’ve had the tank for 2 yrs!!

His feet are in the water!! There’s a lid with a small opening below the light!

View attachment 264368
View attachment 264369
I feel your pain. :) When we were renovating the 20 gallon long mud turtle tank this weekend, the cats sort of determined our choice of filter, at least for now. The internal filter didn't require cutting holes or something more creative to feed hoses through.
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
Lol. Talk to Anne, I think she has the same problem. But hers is a dragon.[emoji33]
I don't know if it's controversial or debatable, or whatever, but for both tanks in rooms where the cats have access, I use a Zoo Med PowerSun 100W along with a 60W CHE suspended above each tank, with the black metal screen lid between the lights and the reptiles (bearded dragon in the 40B, mud turtle hatchlings in the 20 long). Granted, I have to factor in that "interference" from the metal screen lid, which keeps part of the UVB from getting through.
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
Along that line (or grid, if we're talking about screens?), I have yet to find a metal screen lid for a 29G/20L that doesn't feel kind of flimsy to me.

For the Aqueon 40B tank (currently housing the bearded dragon), we purchased an Imagitarium brand metal screen lid from Petco. It was the only one I could find that was hinged lengthwise, so you open the entire front half of the lid for access. The 40B tank is in front of what used to be the fireplace, so there's still a mantle above the tank. That lid is sturdy as can be. It's been weight tested by 30+ pounds of cats on top of it at the same time. In my household, that translates into 2, maybe 3, cats. The lid also survived (shrugged off) a large-ish framed piece of artwork falling on top of the screen, corner first, thanks to my lightweight cat being on the mantle where she KNOWS she's not supposed to be.
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Yip, that is pretty much it. I would have very little (as I rarely go out of the CDR - only on some occasions) if I was not part of the CDR. :D:D
Yea...I know I do like it. I pretty much check out new members to see what the older members have to say so I can learn more. Or just try to offer some encouragement until a more experienced person answers them.
 

Ray--Opo

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Oct 14, 2017
Messages
7,017
Location (City and/or State)
Palm Bay Fl
Ray: I don't know if you've ever posted about your physical stuff and I just missed it, but from what little clues you've posted I'm assuming you don't have an arm and a leg? So is that video of your new prosthetic arm? I've always wondered how they can get the pressure right. For instance how does the closing mechanism on the arm know not to squeeze the raw egg too much and break the shell. Is it controlled by your nerves and muscles? Excuse my questions, but inquiring minds want to know. I don't mean any offense.
@Pastel Tortie @EllieMay @CarolM
Here is a pic of my old arm looking inside. See the 2 rectangle pads with 3 dark spots. Those are the sensors. One is positioned one my forearm muscles. One at the top right. When I flex that upper muscle by thinking of flexing my wrist up (which I don't have) the sensor activates the hand to open. When I flex my non=wrist down.The lower muscle located on the inner left of the forearm the other sensor activates the hand to close. There are 2 light touch buttons on the arm. By selecting each of those buttons with my other hand. In different sequences I get 10 different finger positions. The wrist turns 360 manually with my other hand. The wrist flexes up or down where you can lock in the position or let it free range. You plug it in like a cellphone. I have had the old one on for 8hrs and didn't run the battery low. It is suction fit with a pressure relief check valve towards the front. So when I put my forearm in. It forces the air out the valve. Push a button on the valve lets air in to release the suction.Ask any questions you want. For who doesn't know. In November of 2015 my wife and I were snowbirds. We left Michigan back to Florida. In Georgia the left rear axle shaft broke on my pickup truck. We rolled down I=75 going 70 and ended up in the median. No other vehicles involved. My wife had moderate head injuries and fractures in her neck and some bumps and bruises. I was helicoptered to another hospital in Macon Georgia and was there for 3 months in a coma. Broken ribs, fractured vertebrae in neck, fractured scapula, dislocated right clavicle ( still dislocated) damage to my right arm. Amputated right hand past the wrist and amputated right leg above the knee from medical complications.

20190212_140659.jpg
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
Not that any of you need much encouragement to go larger on tank size, when available, but it is especially worth keeping in mind if you have cats. If you have cats, go straight for the larger tank (40B, anyway) and the more sturdy screen lid.

In my mind, the screen lids for 29G/20L tanks should be made out of the same stronger, heavier-duty screen that the lids for larger tanks are made of. True, the animal(s) inside the tank should factor into lid strength, but a 20L and a 40B are subjected to the same outside-the-tank stressors... At least in my household. ;)
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
Yea...I know I do like it. I pretty much check out new members to see what the older members have to say so I can learn more. Or just try to offer some encouragement until a more experienced person answers them.
When I read posts by new members, I think about whether I know someone specific that might be able to help "mentor" the new person. If there's a good close geographic connection, I try to help them find each other, I guess. :)
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
When I read posts by new members, I think about whether I know someone specific that might be able to help "mentor" the new person. If there's a good close geographic connection, I try to help them find each other, I guess. :)
Yea. When I first signed up for TFO, it really meant a lot to me when Yvonne answered. And really everyone that answered. It's a great place to learn. But(sorry Tidgys dad) the CDR is so warm it's hard to leave.
 
Top