ALDABRA TORTOISE BREEDER

[ALDABRAMAN]

You know Greg I have been thinking about this a lot. I have gotten in a few larger sulcata relinquishment this year as well in the past. Even sulcatas when large I suppose can play a large role in lack of yard and underdeveloped muscles and cant really walk all that good. I know I remember talking to you about an aldabra that could only walk 4 feet or so then needing to take a break. I'm wondering if maybe a mud hole would be a great way to therapeutically expedite muscle development and get a non healthy tortoise back to good walking and grazing status quicker. Kinda a hydro therapy for dogs but a mud therapy for tortoises. hmmm I just might have to do an experiment with some here at our program.

* Sure couldn't hurt! This particular tortoise really loves the water/mud pit, she does have a very sore front leg. She is getting stronger and using her leg much more. She has been separated for about two weeks now.

 

[tortadise]

Which one is this one? June?

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Which one is this one?

* Grace! We are unsure what the original cause of the injury was, however she is fully recovered and doing well.

* Therapeutic for sure, she would drag herself out of the barn and into the mud/water hole every morning!

 

[tortadise]

Good thing to here she back in business. Dont want to have anything wrong at aldabraland

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I know I remember talking to you about an aldabra that could only walk 4 feet or so then needing to take a break.

* That was Alfa, he could hardly walk ten feet before he plopped down when we first brought him to our place from the zoo. The zoo habitat was very small and round, they really never walked any distance and exercise was basically impossible. He is now walking great and for long distances without any issues. He also stands tall and straight like he should. He sorta had a displaced stance with his back legs. I am not sure a mud/water hole would help him based on his circumstances. No real injury, just lack of muscle use! He just needed space to roam and walk about all day, eating!

* This was the day before we picked him up, HIS LAST DAY!

 

[tortadise]

Just a great reminder you just posted that the large torts always need room. LOTS OF ROOM. Especially the big boys like alpha, and cowboy.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Just a great reminder you just posted that the large torts always need room. LOTS OF ROOM.

* For sure!

* This was his first day at our program after a good bath!

Good thing to here she back in business. Dont want to have anything wrong at aldabraland

* Amen!

 

[tortadise]

Yep, hes a happy tort. Definitely at the correct place to fulfill the remainder of your years, then get passed down to me

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Yep, hes a happy tort.

 

[Yellow Turtle]

* Just a dirt bottom with plain old pure dirt and water. We dig it out and fill it up during the day with fresh water.

* our young ones do not care for the water either, they do like mud holes when they are outside and create the hole by them selvs.

If you use soil bottom, won't the water gone in like a few minutes? That's the case here when I do that, water is sucked by the soil.

* Yes, it does go down in time. We normally do not keep the full unless we have a specific need like a healing tortoise.

* Just a dirt bottom with plain old pure dirt and water. We dig it out and fill it up during the day with fresh water.

* our young ones do not care for the water either, they do like mud holes when they are outside and create the hole by them selvs.

Also my juvenile doesn't care about the mud hole, he just likes to hide when I put him outside

* Yes, our are the same. They do not really care for the mud/water holes and really relish the outside freedom!

Noted, then creating more bushes or places to hide are more beneficial for the juveniles.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

* Just a dirt bottom with plain old pure dirt and water. We dig it out and fill it up during the day with fresh water.

* our young ones do not care for the water either, they do like mud holes when they are outside and create the hole by them selvs.

If you use soil bottom, won't the water gone in like a few minutes? That's the case here when I do that, water is sucked by the soil.

* Yes, it does go down in time. We normally do not keep the full unless we have a specific need like a healing tortoise.

* Just a dirt bottom with plain old pure dirt and water. We dig it out and fill it up during the day with fresh water.

* our young ones do not care for the water either, they do like mud holes when they are outside and create the hole by them selvs.

Also my juvenile doesn't care about the mud hole, he just likes to hide when I put him outside

* Yes, our are the same. They do not really care for the mud/water holes and really relish the outside freedom!

Noted, then creating more bushes or places to hide are more beneficial for the juveniles.

* One of the most important things is good shade options!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

 

[tortadise]

mmmmm mazuri time.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

How much Mazuri do you feed them? And how often?

 

[Yellow Turtle]

Well if Greg follows instruction on mazuri feeding bag, the company is going to have increased sales for sure...

Feeding 2-4% of tortoise weight for adult aldabra is huge income for the company

This company really should thank this forum, they get huge advertisement here

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

This company really should thank this forum, they get huge advertisement here

No kidding! 75% of their sales are from us!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

mmmmm mazuri time.

* Snack time!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

How much Mazuri do you feed them? And how often?

* We feed the adults several times a week during egg laying season, supplemental! About ten pounds each feeding!

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

* We feed the adults several times a week during egg laying season, supplemental! About ten pounds each feeding!

Cool

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Well if Greg follows instruction on mazuri feeding bag, the company is going to have increased sales for sure...

Feeding 2-4% of tortoise weight for adult aldabra is huge income for the company