Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to Pyramiding is too ensure you mist them at least once a day. While they come from an Arid region their burrows are warm and Humid, and many expert keepers have found a link between their shells pyramiding and humidity, keep their burrow humid and their shells will say thanks.
Sulcotta info?
- Thread starter Mavrick813
- Start date
I think the problem is fairly simple -
Sulcata poops in water.......Water discolors.......
Happens pretty frequently around here.......I feed all my Tortoises Mazuri fairly exclusively and havn't ever had issues.........Makes my life easier and the Tortoises don't mind.....Keep your Tortoises hydrated properly and shell issues disappear......
Sulcata poops in water.......Water discolors.......
Happens pretty frequently around here.......I feed all my Tortoises Mazuri fairly exclusively and havn't ever had issues.........Makes my life easier and the Tortoises don't mind.....Keep your Tortoises hydrated properly and shell issues disappear......
Mazuri is the only pellet I would trust on a regular basis, and even then, I know some keepers in the UK on Shelledwarriors have had issues with Mazuri on certain types of tortoise like Leopards and Indian Stars
EricIvins;4754794; said:
This is what I was thinking, Either Feces from him always trying to eat his own poop on his mouth. Or from when his front feet go in his water bowl.
As for the food, i've compared the RepCal to the Mazuri and they're actually very similar. My local favorite store doesn't carry the Mazuri so I went with the Repcal. Would the Tort normally get a pellet in the wild? No, but this is easier for the both of us. The tort does get a mix of greens, alfalfa and other diet items but not regularly. The Staple of his diet that is offered every day is the Rep-Cal in a large bowl. Another food I tried for him that he was not partial to was
Some pics to clear up health concerns re: pyramiding. When I got him he was a tad smaller then a golf ball.
methos75;4754937; said:
So, Add a UVB light, Spray Mist daily, Complete Diet Change? How about just increasing the amount of Alfalfa and greens and what not I offer? While leaving his daily bowl the way I do? I'd say he gets the other stuff 2x a week. I could up it to 3-4x a week and maintain his bowls as I have.
I will be completely honest with the fact that he was an ill-informed impulse buy while on Vacation in Fla. He came home in a 5g aquarium, green sand, a hide box and a light. I bought two books while at the petstore as well. After getting back to NJ and reading some, a trip to the vet. I had built a Tort Table put him on the Rep Cal and went from their. He is seen at the vet 1 a year and I haven't gotten any reports of problems yet. What's worse is I'd have gone on with my current set-up if it hadn't been for dirty water bowls.
Thanks guys
Mike
methos75;4754937; said:
Really? I see a perfectly healthy young Sulcata.......Pyramiding? Havn't seen too many Sulcatas in person?
That animal will be smooth when its done the majority of its growth......It's a young animal, and if it keeps going the way it is, it will be in the minority of normal looking Sulcatas.........
Dude he said a GREEN SHADE in the urine! And untill a bit ago nobody was saying anything about shells which by the way its normal shape.EricIvins;4754794; said:
Normal tortoise urine has a liquid part which sould be translucide and solid urates which sould be preferably white or yellow. If there is green in it, one way or another something is wrong with the animal. The cases Ive seen with this simptons were all related to bile in the urine due to extra macronutrients in the food (specially proteins). The cure for it you already know. And one more thing: we cant compare the metods you use sucessfully with your tortoises in FLORIDA on a outdoor space with all the warmth and sun shine in the world they could possibly want, with the conditions of a hobbist with a indoor pet far north. The conditions you use are idilic which gives you a edge to manuver their diets most people dont have. I bet they would do great there if you fed them allot of for example normal grocery vegetables, even stuff like letuce all the time. But most persons tortoises in diferent circunstances would get stuff like dierria and lack of yodine if they tryed to do the same (this of corse talking about grazer species like sulcatas). In less then so prefect circunstances people have to try harder to provide the rigth foods for their pets.
Its just the same thing with iguanas, just a few weeks back a girl here lost her pet iguana because she was using mainly zoomed iguana diet with a few vegetables. The iguana was very deshidrated and weak, even to a water bowl was provided all the time and she had a good uv ligth. The temperatures provided were good as well.
However I do know zoomed iguana diet is a normal staple for people in Florida with all kinds of igs to use. The conditions allow this form of providing food because the animals are outdoors in tropical climate which allows the perfect metabolizing and use of food. Did the iguana didnt learn to drink water? I dont know, what I know all the people here with old iguanas only feed them vegetables and only a litle (if any) dry food. I could metion to you many cases very similar. One way or another igs that receive this kind of nurishment in a major way in their diet here endup with metabolic issues. However I see people in Florida and California with owesame old igs and feeding dryfoods by the bugget full. I think the outdoor envoirement gives those people the edge to do so. Guys in colder climates simply have to work harder. By the way unless you have a herd of sulcatas it is not that hard to get them natural foods. This is still a young one, it is not to late to start planting some mulberry trees, grape vines and contacting supermarkets for their finest vegetable scraps
