M
Maggie Cummings
Guest
I got so excited when I read this I actually got goose bumps. I think Vicki is on to something that just might revolutionize the way Leopard and Sulcata hatchlings are kept in the future. Vicki is a friend who breeds leopards in Alabama (I think) and she just posted this on the AT list and I think it is great. I want feed back ...
I have found that captive Leopards pyramid easily and I am determined to
> figure out why.
>
> My first hatchlings were starting to get bumpy within a couple of months.
> I'm careful with their enclosures, keeping high humidity and several
> micro-climates and feed only a natural and nutritious diet, so this was
> driving me crazy.
>
> I've been talking with a very knowledgeable friend who pointed out the
> keratin layer on the carapace is very much like human finger nails, and may
> respond to pressure or any outer stimulus just like human nails do.
>
> I started thinking about baby Leos in the wild. They would never be out in
> the open where they could be spotted and picked off by predators. Most
> likely, they would always be under something; grass clumps, bushes, and
> other vegetation, outcroppings, other animals burrows, etc. Something would
> always be around and over them, so there would always be outside stimulus to
> the carapace.
>
> Thinking along those lines I have installed a new low hide house for the
> hatchlings and keep it full of moss. This means the hatchlings will have
> moss snug around them when they use the hide house. So far they seem to love
> it.
>
> I also installed several plastic and silk plants that look like grass. It
> hangs over into the pen so the hatchlings have to push through it and it is
> always brushing against their shells as they move around the pen. The pen
> used to be very open, but now the only open area is under the basking lamp.
>
> Call me crazy, but I am seeing an improvement in the condition of the
> shells. The bumpiness of the shells of the older babies has not gotten any
> worse. The youngest baby has kept a near smooth carapace. None of the shells
> have continued to pyramid since adding those things to the pen.
>
> I don't know how much longer these babies will be with me since they are
> for sale, but I am going to keep a photo record of their shells for as long
> as I have them for comparison and start the new hatchlings I get this year
> off in the improved pen to see if it stops any pyramiding from starting.
> Vicki
> http://tortoiseyard.com
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hi Maggie,
People may laugh at my "experiment" but damn if I think it's making a difference.
I neglected to add that proper diet, not over feeding, high humidity, and keeping the tortoise well hydrated are also things that are needed. I got off on a tangent and forgot to add all that. Will you please bring that up on your group so the info is out there?
I don't mind, go ahead and post. I would like to know if anyone has any other ideas about pyramiding. I am determined to figure out the right combination of things needing to be in place to help with this problem.
I have found that captive Leopards pyramid easily and I am determined to
> figure out why.
>
> My first hatchlings were starting to get bumpy within a couple of months.
> I'm careful with their enclosures, keeping high humidity and several
> micro-climates and feed only a natural and nutritious diet, so this was
> driving me crazy.
>
> I've been talking with a very knowledgeable friend who pointed out the
> keratin layer on the carapace is very much like human finger nails, and may
> respond to pressure or any outer stimulus just like human nails do.
>
> I started thinking about baby Leos in the wild. They would never be out in
> the open where they could be spotted and picked off by predators. Most
> likely, they would always be under something; grass clumps, bushes, and
> other vegetation, outcroppings, other animals burrows, etc. Something would
> always be around and over them, so there would always be outside stimulus to
> the carapace.
>
> Thinking along those lines I have installed a new low hide house for the
> hatchlings and keep it full of moss. This means the hatchlings will have
> moss snug around them when they use the hide house. So far they seem to love
> it.
>
> I also installed several plastic and silk plants that look like grass. It
> hangs over into the pen so the hatchlings have to push through it and it is
> always brushing against their shells as they move around the pen. The pen
> used to be very open, but now the only open area is under the basking lamp.
>
> Call me crazy, but I am seeing an improvement in the condition of the
> shells. The bumpiness of the shells of the older babies has not gotten any
> worse. The youngest baby has kept a near smooth carapace. None of the shells
> have continued to pyramid since adding those things to the pen.
>
> I don't know how much longer these babies will be with me since they are
> for sale, but I am going to keep a photo record of their shells for as long
> as I have them for comparison and start the new hatchlings I get this year
> off in the improved pen to see if it stops any pyramiding from starting.
> Vicki
> http://tortoiseyard.com
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hi Maggie,
People may laugh at my "experiment" but damn if I think it's making a difference.
I neglected to add that proper diet, not over feeding, high humidity, and keeping the tortoise well hydrated are also things that are needed. I got off on a tangent and forgot to add all that. Will you please bring that up on your group so the info is out there?
I don't mind, go ahead and post. I would like to know if anyone has any other ideas about pyramiding. I am determined to figure out the right combination of things needing to be in place to help with this problem.