Whayla
Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
- Messages
- 78
When I first bought my young female RF tortoise about a year ago, I struggled the battle of shell rot for a good 2-3 months. The situation was remedied and she has been happy and healthy for some time now. Today, while investigating her plastron before her usual soak, I noticed that there was some too familiar signs that she once again is dealing with this nasty fungal/bacterial illness. Tortuga has not had a decline in appetite, nor in her behavior. This time, the shell rot was caught very soon and I have already taken steps for her recovery.
I felt so terrible the first time I found out (not knowing if I adopted her with shell rot, or caused it within the first few weeks), and now I feel like I am a terrible tortoise parent for letting history repeat itself.
Now for my questions, what the heck am I doing wrong?! In the bottom half of her enclosure it is strictly cypress mulch with some sphagnum moss in her cave hide as burrowing/hiding material. The moss stays dry, and only is misted every once in awhile. This is because (when doing research and asking questions when the first shell rot scare came around) I was originally told that the moss when wet can be too acidic for my tortoise and could cause shell rot, so I hardly moisten the moss. Just keep it in there because Tortuga likes to hide behind it to block out the light. There is a soaking area for her and some flat rocks for a dry area. This area also has a day light that is on a timer for day/night, along with a ceramic heater that stays on 24/7 keeping the temps stable at around 82-86.
The top half of the enclosure has one MVB above a huge flat rock for basking, which is also on a timer for day/night. Temps are 93-105 on the rock so she can choose where she feels most comfortable to bask. Here there is also a small watering dish so she can drink if she gets thirsty basking + it adds humidity. The other side of the enclosure is around 82-84 and has no light. The coldest temp I am reading in the middle of the day is 80F. I will have to check for night time temps a few hours after the lights have gone "down". The substrate on this top half is coco coir/cypress mulch.
I mist both the bottom and top halves of the enclosure one to two times a day, but only on one side. So both the bottom and top halves have wet/dry sides. Well, more like misted/dry sides. The enclosure definitely dries out with the MVB and ceramic heater, so I really need some advice on how to prevent this cycle from happening to my poor girl once again.
I've heard mixed things about cypress mulch causing tiny scrapes and cuts that can harbor bacteria/fungus.... I've also heard that some people keep their coco coir too moist which can cause shell rot (trust me, this is not the issue at hand here, I have learned from previous experience). What other substrates should I try, if anyone thinks a change in substrate would do the trick? I have heard that wood middlings (I cannot think of the name for the life of me) are a bit better than cypress chips because they are less abrasive? Btw, if anyone knows what I am talking about and would care to share the actual name, that would be much appreciated. Topsoil has been mentioned a lot when talking about tortoise substrate, and I am curious about the experiences and luck that people have had with it?
Really any input or suggestions/responses are truly helpful and appreciated. Thank you to all the experts out there when a newer tortoise parent is in need.
I felt so terrible the first time I found out (not knowing if I adopted her with shell rot, or caused it within the first few weeks), and now I feel like I am a terrible tortoise parent for letting history repeat itself.
Now for my questions, what the heck am I doing wrong?! In the bottom half of her enclosure it is strictly cypress mulch with some sphagnum moss in her cave hide as burrowing/hiding material. The moss stays dry, and only is misted every once in awhile. This is because (when doing research and asking questions when the first shell rot scare came around) I was originally told that the moss when wet can be too acidic for my tortoise and could cause shell rot, so I hardly moisten the moss. Just keep it in there because Tortuga likes to hide behind it to block out the light. There is a soaking area for her and some flat rocks for a dry area. This area also has a day light that is on a timer for day/night, along with a ceramic heater that stays on 24/7 keeping the temps stable at around 82-86.
The top half of the enclosure has one MVB above a huge flat rock for basking, which is also on a timer for day/night. Temps are 93-105 on the rock so she can choose where she feels most comfortable to bask. Here there is also a small watering dish so she can drink if she gets thirsty basking + it adds humidity. The other side of the enclosure is around 82-84 and has no light. The coldest temp I am reading in the middle of the day is 80F. I will have to check for night time temps a few hours after the lights have gone "down". The substrate on this top half is coco coir/cypress mulch.
I mist both the bottom and top halves of the enclosure one to two times a day, but only on one side. So both the bottom and top halves have wet/dry sides. Well, more like misted/dry sides. The enclosure definitely dries out with the MVB and ceramic heater, so I really need some advice on how to prevent this cycle from happening to my poor girl once again.
I've heard mixed things about cypress mulch causing tiny scrapes and cuts that can harbor bacteria/fungus.... I've also heard that some people keep their coco coir too moist which can cause shell rot (trust me, this is not the issue at hand here, I have learned from previous experience). What other substrates should I try, if anyone thinks a change in substrate would do the trick? I have heard that wood middlings (I cannot think of the name for the life of me) are a bit better than cypress chips because they are less abrasive? Btw, if anyone knows what I am talking about and would care to share the actual name, that would be much appreciated. Topsoil has been mentioned a lot when talking about tortoise substrate, and I am curious about the experiences and luck that people have had with it?
Really any input or suggestions/responses are truly helpful and appreciated. Thank you to all the experts out there when a newer tortoise parent is in need.