- Joined
- Jun 27, 2011
- Messages
- 25
I haven't had time to read every post since I am new. If I can describe my enclosure and questions I'd appreciate any responses or suggestions.
1. My babies are almost 2 1/2" long and 2" wide that I picked up at a herp show last Sat. Anyone care to guess how old they might be? The whole tank they were selling was approx the same size.
2. I have a 40 gallon tank. I bought some Spangom Peat Moss for substrate. I have Spangom Moss (the longer stringy kind) in their hides that I keep damp. A big water dish (shallow). A ceramic heat lamp that I leave on 24 hrs a day, and a basking light for daytime. Is this setup sufficient? Do I need to keep the ceramic lamp on during the day or just at night since I have the other light for a heat source?
3. I take them outside ALMOST every day, one day almost killed them, I couldn't stay outside with them so I put them in a plastic container and set them outside for 20 minutes. I didn't realize how hot they would get and when I checked on them they were bubbling at the mouth and had their mouths open trying to cool off or gasp for air? I was thinking to bring down their temp slowly but they were scaring me so I went ahead and put them in their plate of water that was cool. Finally they recoverd. I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! Would what happen cause any long term damage?
4. When I picked them up yesterday to take them out I noticed the underside of their shell was not completely hard. I could press on it and it would mush in some, not like mush just movable. Is that normal or am I keeping the dirt to moist in their cage? The top of the shells are fine.
5. Last for now....I have been feeding them just spring mix. (they don't seem to eat much at all outside in the way of grass or weeds) I have bought some Herptivite and Rep-Cal and sprinkled on there food but I don't think they liked the taste much because the food was still there this morning which is the first! One has an appetite that doesn't stop. Can you over feed them??
Sorry to make this so long, hope nobody minds. I just want to do everything I can to keep these little guys healthy.
1. My babies are almost 2 1/2" long and 2" wide that I picked up at a herp show last Sat. Anyone care to guess how old they might be? The whole tank they were selling was approx the same size.
2. I have a 40 gallon tank. I bought some Spangom Peat Moss for substrate. I have Spangom Moss (the longer stringy kind) in their hides that I keep damp. A big water dish (shallow). A ceramic heat lamp that I leave on 24 hrs a day, and a basking light for daytime. Is this setup sufficient? Do I need to keep the ceramic lamp on during the day or just at night since I have the other light for a heat source?
3. I take them outside ALMOST every day, one day almost killed them, I couldn't stay outside with them so I put them in a plastic container and set them outside for 20 minutes. I didn't realize how hot they would get and when I checked on them they were bubbling at the mouth and had their mouths open trying to cool off or gasp for air? I was thinking to bring down their temp slowly but they were scaring me so I went ahead and put them in their plate of water that was cool. Finally they recoverd. I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! Would what happen cause any long term damage?
4. When I picked them up yesterday to take them out I noticed the underside of their shell was not completely hard. I could press on it and it would mush in some, not like mush just movable. Is that normal or am I keeping the dirt to moist in their cage? The top of the shells are fine.
5. Last for now....I have been feeding them just spring mix. (they don't seem to eat much at all outside in the way of grass or weeds) I have bought some Herptivite and Rep-Cal and sprinkled on there food but I don't think they liked the taste much because the food was still there this morning which is the first! One has an appetite that doesn't stop. Can you over feed them??
Sorry to make this so long, hope nobody minds. I just want to do everything I can to keep these little guys healthy.