Hello to all of you breeders, long-time keepers/moderators, tort rescuers with extensive experience in getting tortoises treated, and all of the top-flight medical professionals on this forum who would like to ring in both with opinions and medical information.
I have been reading extensively since the death of my beloved, bonded to me baby redfoot of 3 years old, that I raised from a rescued hatchling.
I recently read a very brief comment by a long-term keeper that "tortoises don't have great immune systems even on their healthiest of days in captivity." I have not been able to find that thread again, and I have no idea what he meant by that, but he does have extensive experience so I wanted to come to my personal favorite source for these types of discussions to see:
1) Do you agree, and if so why do captive torts not have very good immune systems, and
2) What can I do on a regular basis to keep my two remaining rescued redfoot babies' immune systems as robust as possible?
Since my first baby died, I've been using Benebac for Reptiles 3x per week, being sure I spot check temps and humidity every day religiously, giving them a variety of living conditions to choose from in their tables, and making sure their diets and exercise are consistent and appropriate according to the common threads I find in care sheets from here and a variety of herp medicine people I've been talking to.
Thanks for ringing in- of course all voices are always welcome!
With gratitude for this amazing community,
Karen
I have been reading extensively since the death of my beloved, bonded to me baby redfoot of 3 years old, that I raised from a rescued hatchling.
I recently read a very brief comment by a long-term keeper that "tortoises don't have great immune systems even on their healthiest of days in captivity." I have not been able to find that thread again, and I have no idea what he meant by that, but he does have extensive experience so I wanted to come to my personal favorite source for these types of discussions to see:
1) Do you agree, and if so why do captive torts not have very good immune systems, and
2) What can I do on a regular basis to keep my two remaining rescued redfoot babies' immune systems as robust as possible?
Since my first baby died, I've been using Benebac for Reptiles 3x per week, being sure I spot check temps and humidity every day religiously, giving them a variety of living conditions to choose from in their tables, and making sure their diets and exercise are consistent and appropriate according to the common threads I find in care sheets from here and a variety of herp medicine people I've been talking to.
Thanks for ringing in- of course all voices are always welcome!
With gratitude for this amazing community,
Karen