I am so sorry for your loss...
Found Sulcatas Dead
- Thread starter Handsome Van
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Sorry to hear this.
I am also thinking it is more likely an overheating issue than the bug spray. I use powerful bug spray in my backyard to take care of the crickets. I don't spray inside the tortoise enclosures, but I spray on the outside borders. I've never had a problem.
I am also thinking it is more likely an overheating issue than the bug spray. I use powerful bug spray in my backyard to take care of the crickets. I don't spray inside the tortoise enclosures, but I spray on the outside borders. I've never had a problem.
Sorry
I am so very sorry for loss. It's just heartbreaking!
My condolences, too.
It seems there is the sand possibility, and the spray possibility. Perhaps different kinds of spray, with different toxicity?
Could they find the shade, in a new habitat stressing them? Sometimes mammals, also, being relocated, "lose their marbles" , fool around and die of thirst near a waterhole. New habitat perhaps means close watch for some hours?
I once had two ladies cleaning my bathroom, they used a cleaning spray, I found out afterwards. About 50 % of the fish in the aquarium there died, the rest were never the same. Even if the sand temperature was the cause, look out for cleaning personel.
Regards from here.
It seems there is the sand possibility, and the spray possibility. Perhaps different kinds of spray, with different toxicity?
Could they find the shade, in a new habitat stressing them? Sometimes mammals, also, being relocated, "lose their marbles" , fool around and die of thirst near a waterhole. New habitat perhaps means close watch for some hours?
I once had two ladies cleaning my bathroom, they used a cleaning spray, I found out afterwards. About 50 % of the fish in the aquarium there died, the rest were never the same. Even if the sand temperature was the cause, look out for cleaning personel.
Regards from here.
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your babies. I have to agree with tom. I don't want to say it was the ant stuff. Also sand is so very bad for them in many ways. Accidents happen and that's how we learn from them. I hope you're broken heart heals fast.
RIP so sad :'(
so sad :'(
I am so sorry for your loss. You must be devastated.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2012
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I've taken what Tom has said and I'm new to having tortoises. I've had the 3 since August last year and they've been housed indoors. Although I've had them out in the same sand many times on 90+ degree days. The enclosure used to be a horse shoe pit. I'm convinced now that I was naive to believe that an African desert tortoise could acclimate to 90 degree weather on sand. I was trying to figure this out. I wanted to understand. All I could come up with was the poison. Then I read a post in this forum talking about someone who killed his Sulcatas by spraying his yard for ants. That was how I came to the conclusion or theory. Although I morn the loss of my 3...my two sons were devastated. My youngest was actually outside laying next to them and talking to them when I went out to check on them. He told me they were sleeping and wanted them to wake up. It broke my heart to tell him they had died as I picked one up and confirmed what had happened. My fiancé has two Sulcatas from the same hatch. I'm sure I will end up with a Leopard and Greek soon as these are what my sons have shown interest in. What should I do for shade and substrate? Wood chips or a mulch? There are no trees. I did place a small dog house in the corner...see attached photo. Any ideas on how I can make this enclosure better? Thank you all who have commented. Your words give us strength. I will one day find peace with what I've done. I assure you...it will not happen twice.
~ J
~ J
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Sorry to hear, after looking at your enclosure picture, I will have to agree with the others it more than likely been over heating. They need a lot of shade, trees, bushes lots of things you can add to provide shade. I am not saying this to be mean, but for the next time(if there is one). Im full sunlight they would onl have that dog house to escape the heat, and it may not have been enough IMHO. There are other ways to handle ants to get rid of them I personally use boric acid mixed with something sweet. I hope you stick around, as sad as it was we learn from our mistakes(I have made quite a few over the years).
So sad =[ Im sry for your loss. God bless
I cant imagine your heartache right now. I am truly sorry for your loss.
Sorry for the loss.. it must be hard losing all three of them.
Handsome Van said:
Please do not be too hard on yourself. This is all just speculation and guessing on our part, and even if we are correct, even the very best of us make mistakes. Myself included. Live and learn my friend. Try to share whatever you learn with others.
For your enclosure, I would ditch the sand and rocks entirely and just use the same dirt and grass as the yard next to your pen. Then plant a whole bunch of plants and bushes that are suited to your climate all around the perimeter and inside the pen too. If you use "tortoise edible" plant, all the better. You could also use a regular beach umbrella to provide some shade too. I use this over my hatchling enclosures. You can get pasture seed mixes and tortoise grazing mixes to plant in there and have a really excellent enclosure.
A note about what you read on sulcatas on the internet and books. They are NOT a desert species. They are a savannah grassland species. Further, all the books want to focus on simulating the above ground conditions that exist for 8 or 9 months of the year, and seem to ignore the other 3-4 months of the year when its rainy, hot, marshy and humid. During the dry season they are underground and don't experience the above ground conditions. Yes it gets very hot in Africa where sulcatas come from, but the sulcatas are deep underground avoiding the dry desiccating heat. What the books should say is to simulate BURROW conditions for 8 or 9 months of the year and then simulate the African rainy season for 3-4 months.
Anyhow, hope all of this helps, and believe me, you will feel better in time. Let us know if there is a way we can help you.
I am sorry for your loss. Its not easy losing any pet. I agree with the others, you can't blame yourself.. I live in central Florida and my guy is 6. I made a bamboo covering one area of his enclosure then grew a grape vine over it.. Willie loves sitting in there. I also put a beach umbrella ( lowered to about 3 ft) in his enclosure to help with shade because in the early to mid afternoon he has no shade from trees or house.. Just remember we learn from our mistakes no matter how hard they maybe...
Hi J:
Your pen is really nice. It just needs a few tweeks. I'd dig out ALL the sand and rocks. This will take the topography down lower, making the sides higher. Right now it looks like your walls are too short, so that will help a lot. You don't need to add any substrate. Just leave the virgin soil. Rough it up with a rake and sprinkle some grass seeds in there. Buy some potted plants, the type that will live in your climate. I'd put one on the roof of the dog house. A dog house sitting in the sun is an oven. Sink the potted plants, pot and all, down into the ground all around the enclosure, but not close to the walls, as they will use plants as a ladder to escape. This gives extra hiding places plus offers shade around the pen. You could also put a couple poles on each outside corner, then tack shade cloth to the top of the privacy fence and across the habitat to the poles.
I really like your habitat. Its a good size. Just needs more shade.
Your pen is really nice. It just needs a few tweeks. I'd dig out ALL the sand and rocks. This will take the topography down lower, making the sides higher. Right now it looks like your walls are too short, so that will help a lot. You don't need to add any substrate. Just leave the virgin soil. Rough it up with a rake and sprinkle some grass seeds in there. Buy some potted plants, the type that will live in your climate. I'd put one on the roof of the dog house. A dog house sitting in the sun is an oven. Sink the potted plants, pot and all, down into the ground all around the enclosure, but not close to the walls, as they will use plants as a ladder to escape. This gives extra hiding places plus offers shade around the pen. You could also put a couple poles on each outside corner, then tack shade cloth to the top of the privacy fence and across the habitat to the poles.
I really like your habitat. Its a good size. Just needs more shade.
Well I'm so glad you came back and taking the advice. More experienced people will give you the help needed to set up your enclosure.
Take your time and research the enclosure section because you do have a great start on it. You will need plants, shade , water source and most likely predator safe top.
I'm truly sorry for your loss. You and the kids will have a great time building a safe enclosure together.
Take your time and research the enclosure section because you do have a great start on it. You will need plants, shade , water source and most likely predator safe top.
I'm truly sorry for your loss. You and the kids will have a great time building a safe enclosure together.
Wow! That's scarey i can't believe it! I am honestly soo sorry to read such a thing!
Such devastating news, I am very sorry to hear that
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