My Tunisian Spur-Thigh " Miles " Seems to be struggling with breathing?

[AdamK]

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=40141

Link showing vivarium.

[EJ]

Welcome to the world of tortoise keeping and the forums.

I thought you mentioned that you offered fruit... if so what kind... if not... don't worry about it.

Different keepers have different methods. You are going to have to find out what works for you because every household is different.

The only need is to find a temperature at which the tortoise is active and eating. The best solution is to offer a range so the tortoise can self regulate.

31-32 is a decent basking temperature. 20 or so is a good background temperature. If the tortoise can move between these temperatures that's a good thing.

A heat mat is good to use at night if you can adjust it to roughly 20 to 25c. This can be placed at the cool end.

Originally Posted by AdamK

i've had him about a month now.. Yes he has a little water dish. He doesn't have any fruit, which do you recommend for him? How come some people are saying he needs to be warmer 34,35 then others are saying he doesn't need a heat mat at them temps? Confusing? What temps does a tunisian tortoise need to be under during day and night?

[EJ]

thanks for that...

what is the wattage on the bulb? What is the temperature at the substrate level?

Does that substrate claim to have calcium in it?... I'd suggest changing that.

Originally Posted by AdamK

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=40141

Link showing vivarium.

[AdamK]

the bulbs 60W. Yes it states it has "limestone for calcium intake" Why suggest changing it?

[EJ]

I suggest changing it because the tortoise might ingest too much of it looking for calcium and get blocked up.

The llighting sounds good.

Originally Posted by AdamK

the bulbs 60W. Yes it states it has "limestone for calcium intake" Why suggest changing it?

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by EJ

I would like to say this privately but it's against my practices...

(sigh... deep breath... breeth) Ok... I'm good.

Please don't spout this kind of nonsense unless you are actually trolling in which case you are breaking the forum rules.

There is absolutely no basis to come to the conclusion that heat mats causes protozo to flourish. This is the first I've ever heard of this and should not be repeated to a new keeper... at least with out a decent explanation. Heat mats... when properly used... are one of the best sources of heat for chelonians.

you are one waste of time !!!!,do you come on here just to annoy people or dont you have any thing better to do with your time !

[vikiilou89]

hi adam if you wish to increase your temps a little i suggest lowering the lamp a little as starter see how that changes things before getting into anything else

[EJ]

Do you come on to feed new keepers misinformation?

Originally Posted by red foot marg

you are one waste of time !!!!,do you come on here just to annoy people or dont you have any thing better to do with your time !

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by EJ

Do you come on to feed new keepers misinformation?

now that i find funny coming from you !!!!!, im not going into why heat mats are bad as im sure most people already know the answer , adam if you need advice you know how to contact me

[egyptiandan64]

It's never good to pick up a small tortoise when it's head is under water. They tend to have a mouth full of water and when you pick them up they try to breath. When they do this they tend to get some water in their lungs. It sounds like this is what happened and it's set up an infection in the lungs from the water. It's deep in the lungs so won't show as a runny nose. I think it's time to get to a vet and get him/her on a course of antibiotics. While on antibiotics it's good to keep your tortoise at 30C day and night for the whole course of the antibiotics.

Danny