Hi guys,
First post...and I wish it was under better circumstances. This post is going to be as detailed as possible.
I got Tebow 9 days ago from Turtle Shack. It's amazing how deeply and quickly I've become attached to the little guy (I've always had a fascination with turtles).
But I'm honestly worried about him. Here's why...
Since I've gotten him, he's been very lethargic. But here's the kicker...he's lethargic when he's inside, but when he goes outside, he livens up ALOT.
I originally had a dual deep dome light fixture by Zoo Med. It had a basking lamp and a 5% UVB coil bulb in it hanging about 12" from the substrate.
I've since changed it to a 10% UVB coil bulb in a separate fixture. The new bulb sits about 8 inches from the substrate, and it's pointed in the same spot that the basking bulb is placed in.
His table was hand made by me out of wood. It's all wood purchased from Home Depot. The substrate is 50% coconut coir and 50% top soil. It's 4 ft in length and 2 ft in width. It's also 10" deep.
I have a hide box, a water hole, and various "approved" plants in his pen. The plants have been washed and replanted in their own soil. Just put them in today and he hasn't eaten any of them.
Matter of fact, he doesn't eat much at all. But more on that in a sec.
I keep the substrate damp 24/7. Not too wet where it's dripping but damp enough to where it will stick together when you mash it.
Now...for Tebow's activity...or lack there-of.
Inside the home, Tebow is lethargic. He really doesn't move at all and he sleeps almost all day. He stays under his basking lamp for most of the day (basking temp is 95 degrees and coolest part of table is about 70 degrees). When he does move out from under it, he only moves about 7-8 inches away.
Almost every morning when I come into the room to turn his lights back on, he hasn't moved an inch from where he was at the night before.
He hardly every opens his eyes. Matter-of-fact, he only does it on three occasions. 1. When he goes outside. 2. When he gets his daily soaking. 3. When I pick him up (actually it's few and far between that he opens his eyes when I pick him up...but he does do it occasionally).
Also, it looks like he's rubbing his eyes (or at least trying to) with his front legs off-and-on throughout the day and night. However, his eyes don't look swollen.
Sometimes when I bask him, he'll open one eye but it can take a few seconds before the other one opens.
He squirms on a regular basis. He's also responsive to touch.
I've only seen him eat on 4 different occasions. Three times when he's outside, and once when my fiance gave him some collard greens in the basking area in his pen.
He does not have an appetite at all...not even when I put the food right in front of him. I make sure to give him about a 1/4 cup of grass and greens daily, but he doesn't eat them. They all end up getting thrown in the trash.
His shell isn't any softer and I see no visual signs of sickness (aka bubbles coming from nose, rasping when breathing, etc)
He really just looks like a very lazy turtle...but I know that's not the case. It's just the best way I know how to describe him.
Now for the kicker...
Whenever Tebow goes outside, he energizes up almost instantly. He walks around like crazy, munches on some grass and weeds, and has both eyes open. It's like nothing was ever wrong with him.
He also livens up when I give him a soak (just not quite as much as outside). He'll start walking around the container and I've actually seen him drink some water, too.
It's just weird and I don't understand it...what could be causing these huge differences in behavior?
I've had others from another group suggest getting a T-Rex or a Zoo Med Powersun bulb. I have one ordered and on the way now. They tend to think it has something to do with the lighting.
Really, I don't know what else it could be.
I do have a wood table, and I heard that certain types of wood are toxic to Sulcatas. But Tebow never comes in contact with it unless he has his face up against it while he's sleeping in the corner.
I would love to hear any suggestions about what to do, what it could be, and any other information or advice you can share...
I really love the guy to death, and I want to get this figured out ASAP.
Thanks for everything!
Sincerely,
Tyler
First post...and I wish it was under better circumstances. This post is going to be as detailed as possible.
I got Tebow 9 days ago from Turtle Shack. It's amazing how deeply and quickly I've become attached to the little guy (I've always had a fascination with turtles).
But I'm honestly worried about him. Here's why...
Since I've gotten him, he's been very lethargic. But here's the kicker...he's lethargic when he's inside, but when he goes outside, he livens up ALOT.
I originally had a dual deep dome light fixture by Zoo Med. It had a basking lamp and a 5% UVB coil bulb in it hanging about 12" from the substrate.
I've since changed it to a 10% UVB coil bulb in a separate fixture. The new bulb sits about 8 inches from the substrate, and it's pointed in the same spot that the basking bulb is placed in.
His table was hand made by me out of wood. It's all wood purchased from Home Depot. The substrate is 50% coconut coir and 50% top soil. It's 4 ft in length and 2 ft in width. It's also 10" deep.
I have a hide box, a water hole, and various "approved" plants in his pen. The plants have been washed and replanted in their own soil. Just put them in today and he hasn't eaten any of them.
Matter of fact, he doesn't eat much at all. But more on that in a sec.
I keep the substrate damp 24/7. Not too wet where it's dripping but damp enough to where it will stick together when you mash it.
Now...for Tebow's activity...or lack there-of.
Inside the home, Tebow is lethargic. He really doesn't move at all and he sleeps almost all day. He stays under his basking lamp for most of the day (basking temp is 95 degrees and coolest part of table is about 70 degrees). When he does move out from under it, he only moves about 7-8 inches away.
Almost every morning when I come into the room to turn his lights back on, he hasn't moved an inch from where he was at the night before.
He hardly every opens his eyes. Matter-of-fact, he only does it on three occasions. 1. When he goes outside. 2. When he gets his daily soaking. 3. When I pick him up (actually it's few and far between that he opens his eyes when I pick him up...but he does do it occasionally).
Also, it looks like he's rubbing his eyes (or at least trying to) with his front legs off-and-on throughout the day and night. However, his eyes don't look swollen.
Sometimes when I bask him, he'll open one eye but it can take a few seconds before the other one opens.
He squirms on a regular basis. He's also responsive to touch.
I've only seen him eat on 4 different occasions. Three times when he's outside, and once when my fiance gave him some collard greens in the basking area in his pen.
He does not have an appetite at all...not even when I put the food right in front of him. I make sure to give him about a 1/4 cup of grass and greens daily, but he doesn't eat them. They all end up getting thrown in the trash.
His shell isn't any softer and I see no visual signs of sickness (aka bubbles coming from nose, rasping when breathing, etc)
He really just looks like a very lazy turtle...but I know that's not the case. It's just the best way I know how to describe him.
Now for the kicker...
Whenever Tebow goes outside, he energizes up almost instantly. He walks around like crazy, munches on some grass and weeds, and has both eyes open. It's like nothing was ever wrong with him.
He also livens up when I give him a soak (just not quite as much as outside). He'll start walking around the container and I've actually seen him drink some water, too.
It's just weird and I don't understand it...what could be causing these huge differences in behavior?
I've had others from another group suggest getting a T-Rex or a Zoo Med Powersun bulb. I have one ordered and on the way now. They tend to think it has something to do with the lighting.
Really, I don't know what else it could be.
I do have a wood table, and I heard that certain types of wood are toxic to Sulcatas. But Tebow never comes in contact with it unless he has his face up against it while he's sleeping in the corner.
I would love to hear any suggestions about what to do, what it could be, and any other information or advice you can share...
I really love the guy to death, and I want to get this figured out ASAP.
Thanks for everything!
Sincerely,
Tyler
