A few food and general q's :)

Norty Torty · 10-11-2009, 11:04 PM

Hi

I am a little worried about Snorkmaiden...

Firstly - he sleeps all the time. I have to wake him up to feed him and bath him etc. Is he ok do you think?

I have only had him for a few months so am not wanting to hibernate him this year and to be honest the idea of it scares me Any tips? Is it true that if you do not hibernate your tort it shortens their lifespan?

I have a joint UV/Mercury lamp and he seems happy sitting underneath it when I get him out to feed him.

He has hemp base (which I have just read on here may not be ideal?) topsoil to dig in and some hay which he likes to tunnel through. He also has a cuttlefish.

He has a dry nose...is this ok?

I give him baths which he seems to like and I see him drink and wee and poo in there etc.

He doesn't seem to be keen on many foods apart from cucumber. I have read that he shouldn't be having this every day but I feel that I would rather know he had something to eat than nothing etc. He occasionally has dandelion leaves and flowers, strawbs, brocolli and its leaves, greens and weeds but generally doesn't seem keen. Also - I usually have to hand feed him otherwise he doesn't seem interested. I think that the people who had him before me weren't very clued up on torts and I know they did not have a heat lamp...could this be a knock on effect?

He also has pyramiding on his back.

Any tips for me anyone? .

Thank you

x
__________________
I love torts!

Ozric Jonathan · 10-11-2009, 11:19 PM

Hi there! I'll just try and answer a couple of your qu's. I only know about Hermanns so if that is not the kind you have this might not be right.

When we keep them indoors, and especially now we are going into winter, they need a lot of light and heat to believe it is still summer. So your tort might be thinking its time to slow down. Can you tell us what temperature you keep him at and how many hours per day light and heat?

Can you tell us how much your tort weighs and also what his straight line length is?

Regarding hibernation there are opinions about this but I think most of us would say that no it will not shorten the lifespan if you do not hibernate the tortoise and personally I think you would be correct not to hibernate this tortoise this time.

They can get hooked on hand feeding and it can be difficult to wean them off it. Probably this is not a good habit, but if you want to change that you should first find out if he is the right weight for his length as he might go on food strike to begin with.

Hope this helps a bit. Please also wait for other people to comment.

Norty Torty · 10-11-2009, 11:32 PM

Thank you very much for your answers, I will measure and weigh him in the morning and let you know then.

I was told by my vet - a specialist - that he was a Horsfield but am not sure so I will post a pic tomorrow as well.

I tend to leave the lamp on for about 10-12 hours a day. I also need to buy a new thermostat as mine has died so will let you know that tomorrow as well!!

Oh no - Hunger strike!! I hope I haven't made him lazy!! Right - well we'll deal with that when I know what weight he is.

Thanks so much for your answers and I'll message in the morning with the answers you need

x

**Alan1** · 11-11-2009, 08:01 AM

If the thermostat is for your mercury vapour lamp then they shouldn't be used with a thermostat. They are not designed to go on and off. When they are switched off they are supposed to be left off for at least 15 minutes before switching back on again. 12 -14 hours a day is the recommended lamps on time

Norty Torty · 11-11-2009, 12:24 PM

'If the thermostat is for your mercury vapour lamp then they shouldn't be used with a thermostat. They are not designed to go on and off. When they are switched off they are supposed to be left off for at least 15 minutes before switching back on again. 12 -14 hours a day is the recommended lamps on time[/QUOTE]

I don't understand why you shouldn't use a thermostat with the lamp?

Is it a bad lamp that I am using?

Norty Torty · 11-11-2009, 12:25 PM

Can you tell us how much your tort weighs and also what his straight line length is?

QUOTE]

He is 15 cm (I measured him from the tip of his shell to the end of it) and I think he weighs 1 pound. Does that sound about right?

I believe him to be approx 2 years old.

x

**Bindi** · 11-11-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norty Torty

'

I don't understand why you shouldn't use a thermostat with the lamp?

If you use a thermostat with a bulb it will blow. You can adjust the temperature by raising and lowering the lamp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norty Torty

QUOTE]

He is 15 cm (I measured him from the tip of his shell to the end of it) and I think he weighs 1 pound. Does that sound about right?

I believe him to be approx 2 years old.

x

You need to measure accurately the SCL (straight carapace length)
You can do this by
Placing torty on a piece of paper, the paper's edge being upagainst a wall.
Push torty's head in gently so that it is completely in his shell, then push his whole shell up against the wall. ( He is still on the piece of paper)
Then mark on the piece of paper the other end of his shell
You then measure from the edge of the paper to your mark, which will give you his straight carapace length.

Hope that all makes sense?

Have you got any digital kitchen scales or similar? They are very useful for getting an accurate weight

swad1000 · 11-11-2009, 12:43 PM

Due to the way MV lamps operate, they are not suited to use with a thermostat. And frankly if you are housing the tort in a tort table, there is no need for a thermostat, I've never used a thermostat for my tortoises.

MV lamps aren't bad lamps, in fact they are very good lamps, they just don't work with thermostats.

What type of MV lamp are you using?

Norty Torty · 11-11-2009, 03:29 PM

Thanks Bindi

That is how I measured him - so if he is 15cm long and weighs 1 lb - how does that look for his weight ie does that sound over/under weight?

The lamp I am using is a Solar Glo 125W. It is fitted with a clamp to his Tort table.

He loves sitting under it - but only if I wake him up to feed etc. Is there any thing I can do to encourage him to eat more? What is the best powder to use on his food? Nutribal or something?

Sorry for the bombardment of q's!!

xx

Norty Torty · 11-11-2009, 03:36 PM

What type of MV lamp are you using?[/QUOTE]

How far ideally should I be placing the lamp from the base of the tort table?

x

10-11-2009, 11:04 PM	#1
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	A few food and general q's :) Hi I am a little worried about Snorkmaiden... Firstly - he sleeps all the time. I have to wake him up to feed him and bath him etc. Is he ok do you think? I have only had him for a few months so am not wanting to hibernate him this year and to be honest the idea of it scares me Any tips? Is it true that if you do not hibernate your tort it shortens their lifespan? I have a joint UV/Mercury lamp and he seems happy sitting underneath it when I get him out to feed him. He has hemp base (which I have just read on here may not be ideal?) topsoil to dig in and some hay which he likes to tunnel through. He also has a cuttlefish. He has a dry nose...is this ok? I give him baths which he seems to like and I see him drink and wee and poo in there etc. He doesn't seem to be keen on many foods apart from cucumber. I have read that he shouldn't be having this every day but I feel that I would rather know he had something to eat than nothing etc. He occasionally has dandelion leaves and flowers, strawbs, brocolli and its leaves, greens and weeds but generally doesn't seem keen. Also - I usually have to hand feed him otherwise he doesn't seem interested. I think that the people who had him before me weren't very clued up on torts and I know they did not have a heat lamp...could this be a knock on effect? He also has pyramiding on his back. Any tips for me anyone? . Thank you x __________________ I love torts! __________________ Hayley

10-11-2009, 11:19 PM	#2
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi there! I'll just try and answer a couple of your qu's. I only know about Hermanns so if that is not the kind you have this might not be right. When we keep them indoors, and especially now we are going into winter, they need a lot of light and heat to believe it is still summer. So your tort might be thinking its time to slow down. Can you tell us what temperature you keep him at and how many hours per day light and heat? Can you tell us how much your tort weighs and also what his straight line length is? Regarding hibernation there are opinions about this but I think most of us would say that no it will not shorten the lifespan if you do not hibernate the tortoise and personally I think you would be correct not to hibernate this tortoise this time. They can get hooked on hand feeding and it can be difficult to wean them off it. Probably this is not a good habit, but if you want to change that you should first find out if he is the right weight for his length as he might go on food strike to begin with. Hope this helps a bit. Please also wait for other people to comment. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

10-11-2009, 11:32 PM	#3
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	Thank you very much for your answers, I will measure and weigh him in the morning and let you know then. I was told by my vet - a specialist - that he was a Horsfield but am not sure so I will post a pic tomorrow as well. I tend to leave the lamp on for about 10-12 hours a day. I also need to buy a new thermostat as mine has died so will let you know that tomorrow as well!! Oh no - Hunger strike!! I hope I haven't made him lazy!! Right - well we'll deal with that when I know what weight he is. Thanks so much for your answers and I'll message in the morning with the answers you need x __________________ Hayley

11-11-2009, 12:24 PM	#5
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	'If the thermostat is for your mercury vapour lamp then they shouldn't be used with a thermostat. They are not designed to go on and off. When they are switched off they are supposed to be left off for at least 15 minutes before switching back on again. 12 -14 hours a day is the recommended lamps on time[/QUOTE] I don't understand why you shouldn't use a thermostat with the lamp? Is it a bad lamp that I am using? __________________ Hayley

11-11-2009, 12:25 PM	#6
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	Can you tell us how much your tort weighs and also what his straight line length is? QUOTE] He is 15 cm (I measured him from the tip of his shell to the end of it) and I think he weighs 1 pound. Does that sound about right? I believe him to be approx 2 years old. x __________________ Hayley

11-11-2009, 08:01 AM	#4
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	If the thermostat is for your mercury vapour lamp then they shouldn't be used with a thermostat. They are not designed to go on and off. When they are switched off they are supposed to be left off for at least 15 minutes before switching back on again. 12 -14 hours a day is the recommended lamps on time

11-11-2009, 12:43 PM	#8
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	Due to the way MV lamps operate, they are not suited to use with a thermostat. And frankly if you are housing the tort in a tort table, there is no need for a thermostat, I've never used a thermostat for my tortoises. MV lamps aren't bad lamps, in fact they are very good lamps, they just don't work with thermostats. What type of MV lamp are you using?

11-11-2009, 03:29 PM	#9
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	Thanks Bindi That is how I measured him - so if he is 15cm long and weighs 1 lb - how does that look for his weight ie does that sound over/under weight? The lamp I am using is a Solar Glo 125W. It is fitted with a clamp to his Tort table. He loves sitting under it - but only if I wake him up to feed etc. Is there any thing I can do to encourage him to eat more? What is the best powder to use on his food? Nutribal or something? Sorry for the bombardment of q's!! xx __________________ Hayley

11-11-2009, 03:36 PM	#10
Norty Torty Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South West UK Posts: 51	What type of MV lamp are you using?[/QUOTE] How far ideally should I be placing the lamp from the base of the tort table? x __________________ Hayley

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)