Hi all,
What do you do when your vet's advice conflicts with the advice of experienced keepers here? Specifically, I am housing 4 baby leopard tortoises that have been here 1 week (all were shipped). Two belong to a friend and are only here temporarily. One was exhibiting what I thought might be respiratory infection symptoms so I took it to the vet today.
Housing:
3.5 x 3.5 plastic container with organic soil substrate, topped with sphagnum moss and cypress mulch. Temps are consistently 80-85 in the enclosure with basking spot 100. Humidity is 80%. I am able to keep things stable by using an indoor greenhouse. Pics and description here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-65692.html
Three of the youngsters came from one breeder and are doing very well. Active and eating and gaining well. The other is eating, but soon after arrival began blowing bubbles occasionally. Yesterday, after soaking (which I am doing for all twice daily) he extended his neck and appeared to be choking or gasping. I called a vet from the list on this forum and took him in this morn.
He prescribed antibiotics, injected ev third day. But also advised me to change the set-up. He definitely was not a proponent of raising babies in a closed environment with high humidity.
I am inclined to keep their environment the same....warm and moist. Only 1 is exhibiting any symptoms, and that one came from a different source. It is hard to stay the course in some respects because the vet and the breeders consistently recommend open tables, 1 humid hide and only 1 to 2 wkly soaks.
I was worried about this before I went this morn. It is hard to sort thru all the conflicting advice. Would appreciate any suggestions!
Here's a pic:
What do you do when your vet's advice conflicts with the advice of experienced keepers here? Specifically, I am housing 4 baby leopard tortoises that have been here 1 week (all were shipped). Two belong to a friend and are only here temporarily. One was exhibiting what I thought might be respiratory infection symptoms so I took it to the vet today.
Housing:
3.5 x 3.5 plastic container with organic soil substrate, topped with sphagnum moss and cypress mulch. Temps are consistently 80-85 in the enclosure with basking spot 100. Humidity is 80%. I am able to keep things stable by using an indoor greenhouse. Pics and description here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-65692.html
Three of the youngsters came from one breeder and are doing very well. Active and eating and gaining well. The other is eating, but soon after arrival began blowing bubbles occasionally. Yesterday, after soaking (which I am doing for all twice daily) he extended his neck and appeared to be choking or gasping. I called a vet from the list on this forum and took him in this morn.
He prescribed antibiotics, injected ev third day. But also advised me to change the set-up. He definitely was not a proponent of raising babies in a closed environment with high humidity.
I am inclined to keep their environment the same....warm and moist. Only 1 is exhibiting any symptoms, and that one came from a different source. It is hard to stay the course in some respects because the vet and the breeders consistently recommend open tables, 1 humid hide and only 1 to 2 wkly soaks.
I was worried about this before I went this morn. It is hard to sort thru all the conflicting advice. Would appreciate any suggestions!
Here's a pic:
