Worried about strange behaviour of baby sulcata

Tom

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@Tom @wellington if we get a close top vivarium, is a strip uv light ok and if so, what type do I need?

I am attaching a photo of one I found and want to get tomorrow...View attachment 377488
This one looks lovely, but you'll be replacing it with something much larger soon. Here is a cheaper way to accomplish the same thing. Its not pretty, but if money is an issue this way works and you can do it fast. You can replace it with something bigger an nicer at your leisure.

If money isn't an issue and you just want the best and easiest way to go, contact MarkW84 here on the forum for a "Smart Enclosure". Everything is included and ready to go. Its the best tortoise life support system made. You can do a search here and see posts and pics from people who have them. Going with Mark's enclosures is actually cheaper than buying some other enclosure and then buying and installing all the heating and lighting yourself.

When you go to the vet, here are some common things to look out for:
Many vets want to give the tortoise a "vitamin injection". This does nothing but tax an already strained little body and is frequently fatal. Further, it is usually vitamin A and tortoises don't get vitamin A deficiency because everything they eat is packed with it. Turtles sometimes get vitamin A deficiency because they don't want to eat their greens. This is a sure sign the vet doesn't know much about tortoises.

Other vet problems might include antibiotics that aren't needed, or injectable Baytril which burns them and should not be used. One vet injected Ivermectin which is toxic to tortoises. Also, due to the renal portal system in tortoises, no injections should be given in the back legs. Be careful about all of these things.
 

wellington

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Yes the strip uvb is what you want. The enclosure will work.
I believe the 10.0 T5 HO tube fluorescent is the one you want.
@Tom.can confirm.
 

sully_baby

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Yes the strip uvb is what you want. The enclosure will work.
I believe the 10.0 T5 HO tube fluorescent is the one you want.
@Tom.can confirm.
@Tom @wellington

Thank you so much.

@Tom - the enclosures look amazing, we want to get something like that (I am in the UK) but our Sully obviously needs the change sooner rather than later...so we will pick up his new enclosure tomorrow evening.

Here is what we will get: https://www.gumtree.com/p/pet-equipment-accessories/vivarium-90x45x45-cm-full-setup-/1483851352

It is the best one we found that we can pick up tomorrow and has lights set up...it can of course be better but do you both agree this should be a lot better than now?

Really anxious and eager to hear your thoughts!!
 

Tom

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@Tom @wellington

Thank you so much.

@Tom - the enclosures look amazing, we want to get something like that (I am in the UK) but our Sully obviously needs the change sooner rather than later...so we will pick up his new enclosure tomorrow evening.

Here is what we will get: https://www.gumtree.com/p/pet-equipment-accessories/vivarium-90x45x45-cm-full-setup-/1483851352

It is the best one we found that we can pick up tomorrow and has lights set up...it can of course be better but do you both agree this should be a lot better than now?

Really anxious and eager to hear your thoughts!!
That one looks fine. If it is made of wood, the moisture will get to it after a while, but it will work great in the short term.
 

sully_baby

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That one looks fine. If it is made of wood, the moisture will get to it after a while, but it will work great in the short term.
Thank you @Tom, I want to keep it like this even if it is for 6 months and get him well and growing...in the mean time, getting the best enclosure possible is the plan...I really hope Sully will recover and won't take him to the vet...at least not tomorrow. Focusing on changing the enclosure tomorrow and will send pics with it when it is all set up. :)
 

sully_baby

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Yes the strip uvb is what you want. The enclosure will work.
I believe the 10.0 T5 HO tube fluorescent is the one you want.
@Tom.can confirm.
@wellington is this the tube you are referring to? https://www.reptilecentre.com/products/zoo-med-t5ho-reptisun-100-uvb

For night time, we were looking at getting a heat mat...?

And for the heat bulb, the enclosure comes with a ceramic bulb...do you recommend us replacing it with something specific?


Edit: this is one we can get tomorrow - https://www.petsathome.com/product/arcadia-euro-range-desert-10-percent-uv-tube/P3964
 
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wellington

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@wellington is this the tube you are referring to? https://www.reptilecentre.com/products/zoo-med-t5ho-reptisun-100-uvb

For night time, we were looking at getting a heat mat...?

And for the heat bulb, the enclosure comes with a ceramic bulb...do you recommend us replacing it with something specific?


Edit: this is one we can get tomorrow - https://www.petsathome.com/product/arcadia-euro-range-desert-10-percent-uv-tube/P3964
As long as they are the bulb I mentioned either will work. The Arcadia is a better one
Heat mats should not be used for babies, at least not on the floor. They can be mounted on the ceiling or side but not floor. A ceramic heat emitter or two of them is usually used for babies 100 watts for night time, they do not produce light and can be used for any needed added day time heat needed.
 

sully_baby

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Hello and welcome! I know you’ve had a lot of information thrown at you already so I hate adding more😬but you might find this useful too when going over a starter set up, different approaches work for different folks after all, I think that viv you’ve posted about will work temporarily but won’t last long judging by the size, hopefully the thread below gives you an idea on one that will hopefully last until they’re ready for outside🙂

Hi, thank you so much!! I missed your comment and just seen it...yes, this is temporarily so we hopefully see good growth soon after we change it...I don't want her to suffer so an asap solution had to be found. Will definitely read this properly!!! Thank you
 

Littleredfootbigredheart

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Hi, thank you so much!! I missed your comment and just seen it...yes, this is temporarily so we hopefully see good growth soon after we change it...I don't want her to suffer so an asap solution had to be found. Will definitely read this properly!!! Thank you
No problem at all, wishing you all the best! Keep us updated🥰🐢💚
 

dd33

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Also, I have done some health tests with samples and swabs I sent to a lab and we wanted those interpreted. We did those because we were worried about the growth..or lack of...would it be worth attaching those here? :( thank you...
Hi, I’m curious about the health tests and swabs you sent in for testing. Can you tell us more? What did you test for and what lab did you send them to? Did you send them in on your own or did your vet do it?
 

sully_baby

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As long as they are the bulb I mentioned either will work. The Arcadia is a better one
Heat mats should not be used for babies, at least not on the floor. They can be mounted on the ceiling or side but not floor. A ceramic heat emitter or two of them is usually used for babies 100 watts for night time, they do not produce light and can be used for any needed added day time heat needed.
We got this enclosure now (see attached) and we will need to get more substrate tomorrow and the light/heat as they were not available today...

We found this for light: https://www.petsathome.com/product/arcadia-euro-range-desert-10-percent-uv-tube/P3964 and we are looking for this for heat (ceramic): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7491YYL?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Would these be ok? The distance from the floor to where the heat emitter is is 11inches...:)

Thank you!
 

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sully_baby

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Hi, I’m curious about the health tests and swabs you sent in for testing. Can you tell us more? What did you test for and what lab did you send them to? Did you send them in on your own or did your vet do it?
Hey, thank you for asking...of course.


We used this service:

We had to send 3 poo samples from 3 different days, and 2 mouth swabs, we received the kit at home and send it so the lab receives it same/next day.

Here are the results...
 

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wellington

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We got this enclosure now (see attached) and we will need to get more substrate tomorrow and the light/heat as they were not available today...

We found this for light: https://www.petsathome.com/product/arcadia-euro-range-desert-10-percent-uv-tube/P3964 and we are looking for this for heat (ceramic): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7491YYL?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Would these be ok? The distance from the floor to where the heat emitter is is 11inches...:)

Thank you!
Unfortunately the fluorescent isn't the HO (high output) one. You need the HO ones. If you can get her outside 3-4 times a week for about an hour for natural sun, you don't need uvb inside. This would give you time to find the right one.
 

sully_baby

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Unfortunately the fluorescent isn't the HO (high output) one. You need the HO ones. If you can get her outside 3-4 times a week for about an hour for natural sun, you don't need uvb inside. This would give you time to find the right one.
Unfortunately we live in the UK and there is no sun most of the time...kept looking and found this. Is this one good? Seems to be HO and right specs...



Or maybe this because it is a t5? Not sure since it is for terarium.. https://www.reptilecentre.com/produ...BqExkMCLZ1C2naHxha-b9h1hFEd6eKyMaAoMbEALw_wcB

Thank you!
 
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wellington

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