- Joined
- Aug 6, 2013
- Messages
- 21
Now that I am settling in with my new phayrei I thought I would share some pictures. She is about 8 to 9 inches SCL. As a temporary home I am keeping her in a 5 foot diameter Rubbermaid watering trough with about 6 inches of bark and soil that I keep moist. I have the drain hole open so water doesn't build up. There is a hide in there for her as well (which she uses most of the day).
The tub is under the shade of a large pin oak and a Chinese pistache, but does get some direct sun for short periods in the morning and late afternoon/evening. I am planning a more permanent and secure enclosure in the yard, but am still working out the details. I am hoping to set something up like Yvonne has. I bring her inside to my reptile room when I go to bed as her current enclosure isn't secure and I have lost aquatic turtles to raccoons in the past.
There is a cat litter pan buried to the brim that I keep filled with water for her to drink/soak, and I trimmed up a rubber shower mat and put it in the bottom to ensure she has enough traction to be able to get out easily. I give her a good soak every morning before putting her in the outside enclosure. She has a good appetite and I give her a pile of greens (escarole, kale, dandelion greens, etc.) along with a little shredded sweet potato or squash and a small handful of soaked mazuri tortoise diet. I also sprinkle with a little Miner-all outdoor formula for calcium.
Here she is climbing out of her tub after a soak.
I keep calling her "she" as I showed these picture to Vic and he said it looks like a girl. I also just love the spurs.
I've been fascinated with this species for many years, but she is the first I have had any direct contact with. She is pretty shy at this point. I haven't been able to get her to take any food from my hand, though she does seem to look up at me when I am nearby.
The tub is under the shade of a large pin oak and a Chinese pistache, but does get some direct sun for short periods in the morning and late afternoon/evening. I am planning a more permanent and secure enclosure in the yard, but am still working out the details. I am hoping to set something up like Yvonne has. I bring her inside to my reptile room when I go to bed as her current enclosure isn't secure and I have lost aquatic turtles to raccoons in the past.
There is a cat litter pan buried to the brim that I keep filled with water for her to drink/soak, and I trimmed up a rubber shower mat and put it in the bottom to ensure she has enough traction to be able to get out easily. I give her a good soak every morning before putting her in the outside enclosure. She has a good appetite and I give her a pile of greens (escarole, kale, dandelion greens, etc.) along with a little shredded sweet potato or squash and a small handful of soaked mazuri tortoise diet. I also sprinkle with a little Miner-all outdoor formula for calcium.
Here she is climbing out of her tub after a soak.
I keep calling her "she" as I showed these picture to Vic and he said it looks like a girl. I also just love the spurs.
I've been fascinated with this species for many years, but she is the first I have had any direct contact with. She is pretty shy at this point. I haven't been able to get her to take any food from my hand, though she does seem to look up at me when I am nearby.
