Team Gomberg said:I'd love to know how they were raised. Any threads you have on them and their upbringing?? I'm interested in how anyone raises them smooth even if using a different method.
I've had a large thread cued up in my "saved drafts" folder about it with more details for a long time, but I don't think I'll ever get around to finishing it any time soon. I didn't want to leave you hanging so here's an overview.
They were primarily raised outdoors here in AZ. Whenever I brought them inside, they would be placed in 50 gallon rubbermaid tubs with cypress which was kept dry. They did have water dishes in both their inside and outside enclosures and they were soaked daily anywhere from 5 - 20 minutes, so they were kept well hydrated. Indoors I used MVB's occasionally, but the artificial lighting was primarily tube florescent with a CHE for heat. They had a very standard diet, whatever was growing outside primarily (grasses, weeds, leaves). Spring mix and mazuri were regularly fed too. The first two years they were outside we had poor monsoon seasons so humidity levels remained relatively low and inconsistent during those summers. Their pen was hosed down about once a day so things were not completely bone dry at all times. But, it certainly wasn't enough to increase humidity levels for an extended period of time.
So while not kept bone dry at all times, my particular group definitely were not maintained with high humidity for any extended periods of time. The entire group I had grew consistently smooth. They had quite a bit of growth before they came to me, which was slightly pyramided, but you can see from the pictures I post that most of their growth has been smooth. I think part of it has to do with them being South African's which appear to be less prone to pyramiding than the other type. That has been my observation at least. I have mentioned before that the babcocki I have raised in this same manner have not been as consistent, though the pyramiding is not severe in any sense.
There's the general overview. If you have any specific questions I would be more than happy to answer.