new mom!
- Thread starter sumsulcatamom
- Start date
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Kenan is very knowledgable when it comes to reptiles.. but i wouldnt say tortoises are one of his strengths
Kenan definitely isn’t a good resource for tortoises. Most of his info is extremely outdated or just flat out incorrect. Do a search for him here for more info.
He breeds many varieties including the very tricky Radiated. And zoo’s give him their endangered tort/turtle species that they struggle to care for and get to reproduce. While he has some interesting ideas about husbandry that might not be mainstream...I listen to info from all sources and make my own judgements
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Have you ever seen one of his torts with a smooth shell?
Recently, we had a member housing their leopard with their Sulcata because “that's what kenan does”. I personally followed his advice when I first got my tortoise, and he gained a band of pyramiding that will never go away because of it. He is definitely not someone I would be recommending, especially to a brand new keeper.
Srmcclure
Well-Known Member
I agree that he puts out great videos and is great with reptiles, but i agree with @Chubbs the tegu
I wouldn't listen to him when it comes to tortoise.
I wouldn't listen to him when it comes to tortoise.
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
I do love Lola and Guapo though 
Srmcclure
Well-Known Member
They are so rowdy!I do love Lola and Guapo though
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Iguanas will be iguanas lol
Most of his torts were rescues. He goes into depth about that. He does have an advantage being in humid FLA with warmer temps. But I have to agree with him in regards to pyramiding. It could be humidity, diet, genetic predisposition or a combination. I recently watched a vid were he went to a breeder of Alda’s and Galops. The breeder showed him a group of adult Alda’s from the same hatching. Some were bigger than others and some had pyramiding while others did not. They were all raised in the same environ with the same diet. There are too many variables to make definitive assumptions. But as I said before I absorb info from many sources ...from the knowledgeable members here to Kenan and other sources...including breeders I have bought from. Many have conflicting info but all are successful. So I make my own judgements based on all input.
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Many years of experimenting here has proved it is all about humidity.. growing in dry conditions.. nothing to do with diet
Have you ever seen videos of Leopards in the wild? Some are naturally very pyramided. Some scientists believe pyramiding is a natural response...because the pyramiding stops a flipped over tort from landing completely on its back...keeping it at angle that allows it to right itself. Whether I subscribe to this...I don’t know...but I don’t discount it either. Personally...as long as a tort doesn’t have obscene pyramiding...not to be confused with MBD...I’m good with it. My thought... if it happens naturally in nature...and causes no harm...it’s not high on my priority list. I think humidity...to me...is more important to hydration. I also believe over feeding and too much protein can exacerbate pyramiding that results from lack of humidity
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
But Chubbs...I actually do love iguanas. I had some monsters for years...and incredibly intelligent. Tegu’s are magnificent. I have never had one but a friend of mine has one. Besides iguanas and basilisks...been pretty much a Chelonian junkie
Welcome, I would guess by the looks of your enclosure when you started that you bought your Tort from the pet store on the mileground? Iv'e been in there several times. They are nice people but they really have no idea how to raise tortoises. You are in the right place now. Good luck.
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Cypress mulch and the CHE are both great!i got him cypress mulch and a ceramic heat emitter! i got an LED light as someone mentioned but i’m unsure as to which light i should be using for his UV. i plan on taking him outside also, i think i can manage watching him for out there while he’s still tiny. i have a few different lights at home for him and my gecko but i don’t have the packaging anymore so i’m unsure of which would be best. i bought a new light bulb for him which is supposed to be a lightbulb and basking bulb and it’s 50-60 watts pretty sure. but i’m not sure if that’s adequate? pet store ppl weren’t much help and there was no hardware store near
The LED bulb is only for more brightness in the enclosure. It serves no "medical" purpose.
For UVB, get this. You'll probably need an additional one for when he moves into a much bigger area, but this will work well for now. You need the fixture as well, so this is the fixture and the bulb together.
22" T-5 HO Fixture *High Output* with ARCADIA D3+ 12% HO Bulb
LightYourReptiles.com was founded on one simple idea: To bring the best in full spectrum lighting products to the herpetological community.
www.lightyourreptiles.com
When you take him outside, 1. make sure he has access to shade. He can overheat very quickly and die. 2. Put him in some kind of enclosure that keeps him safe. You look away for an instant, and he's gone. 3. Watch overhead. Lots of birds will take him if given the chance. 4. Go out for a short time only. Only 1 hour of sun per inch of tortoise daily. Too much sun is harmful as babies.
The basking bulb needs to provide 100°F on a flat rock directly underneath it. It can be a regular flood bulb like you put outside in motion detectors and outside lights. No LEDs (no heat). No halogen (too much heat). You don't want one that says "spot", you want flood.
sumsulcatamom
Member
thank you soooooo much!!! the lighting is where i’ve been most confused!!! i’m gonna order a light nowCypress mulch and the CHE are both great!
The LED bulb is only for more brightness in the enclosure. It serves no "medical" purpose.
For UVB, get this. You'll probably need an additional one for when he moves into a much bigger area, but this will work well for now. You need the fixture as well, so this is the fixture and the bulb together.
22" T-5 HO Fixture *High Output* with ARCADIA D3+ 12% HO Bulb
LightYourReptiles.com was founded on one simple idea: To bring the best in full spectrum lighting products to the herpetological community.
When you take him outside, 1. make sure he has access to shade. He can overheat very quickly and die. 2. Put him in some kind of enclosure that keeps him safe. You look away for an instant, and he's gone. 3. Watch overhead. Lots of birds will take him if given the chance. 4. Go out for a short time only. Only 1 hour of sun per inch of tortoise daily. Too much sun is harmful as babies.
The basking bulb needs to provide 100°F on a flat rock directly underneath it. It can be a regular flood bulb like you put outside in motion detectors and outside lights. No LEDs (no heat). No halogen (too much heat). You don't want one that says "spot", you want flood.
sumsulcatamom
Member
yes i did hahaha! didn’t know there were other people from morgantown on here
