- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,173
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
It may seem outta the range of possible, but I have seen poor husbandry kill a tortoises in one day. Invariably from too much heat and no way to get out of it. In a month by no water or soaks, and about the same time with no heat source at all.
I had taken many (100's) husbandry call questions when I worked at the Philadelphia Zoo. The interest to get is not matched by the interest to do well.
If ever someone had a reasonable narrative about an animal not doing well, and it's because the animal ended up not being a do'er even after the husbandry vetting they go through with me. I'd help that person out. That is so much the rare exception though. That's why I don't receive and ship neonates from collaborative breeders within a few days. I hold for 8 weeks and see how the tortoise is doing - is there active growth, do the stools (poop) look okay, does the tortoise respond to my presence? That's all critical to the whole of " I guarantee that I am putting a healthy vibrant tortoise in the box to be shipped to you."
On a few occasions shipping has been delayed, yet the tortoise still performs well for the recipient. That too is why I make sure I am putting a vibrant animal in the box.
I had taken many (100's) husbandry call questions when I worked at the Philadelphia Zoo. The interest to get is not matched by the interest to do well.
If ever someone had a reasonable narrative about an animal not doing well, and it's because the animal ended up not being a do'er even after the husbandry vetting they go through with me. I'd help that person out. That is so much the rare exception though. That's why I don't receive and ship neonates from collaborative breeders within a few days. I hold for 8 weeks and see how the tortoise is doing - is there active growth, do the stools (poop) look okay, does the tortoise respond to my presence? That's all critical to the whole of " I guarantee that I am putting a healthy vibrant tortoise in the box to be shipped to you."
On a few occasions shipping has been delayed, yet the tortoise still performs well for the recipient. That too is why I make sure I am putting a vibrant animal in the box.