HinoaSan
Member
Hi all! I have a question about mycoplasma, night time heat and adoption. I have been fostering a male Hermann’s tortoise who was diagnosed with mycoplasma by a vet soon after I got him. He got a round of antibiotic shots and the vet said he was doing well in a follow up appointment. However, I know that mycoplasma is a lifelong thing and I need to keep him from being stressed.
I told the vet that I was worried about him getting cold at night and getting sick again because he only slept under his heat lamps. (68-70 in the cool side of his enclosure, 85-95 under the heat lamps, read with a temp gun.) So the vet said I could keep his heat lamps on 24/7. However, now I’m learning that is bad because it messes up their circadian rhythm. So I ordered a radiant heat panel to make sure he at least has a warm spot at night. I’m so scared to just turn off the lights at night since he still sleeps on the warm side most of the time. Do you think he'll adjust ok?
Also, I’d like to find him a permanent home at some point and was thinking I’d contact a rescue since I'm not sure how to best vet a potential adopter myself. But will rescues work with a tortoise that has mycoplasma? I’m not in a rush to get him adopted and want him to have a great home with lots of room to roam because he is so active.
Any thoughts or insights you have would be much appreciated! Thanks!
I told the vet that I was worried about him getting cold at night and getting sick again because he only slept under his heat lamps. (68-70 in the cool side of his enclosure, 85-95 under the heat lamps, read with a temp gun.) So the vet said I could keep his heat lamps on 24/7. However, now I’m learning that is bad because it messes up their circadian rhythm. So I ordered a radiant heat panel to make sure he at least has a warm spot at night. I’m so scared to just turn off the lights at night since he still sleeps on the warm side most of the time. Do you think he'll adjust ok?
Also, I’d like to find him a permanent home at some point and was thinking I’d contact a rescue since I'm not sure how to best vet a potential adopter myself. But will rescues work with a tortoise that has mycoplasma? I’m not in a rush to get him adopted and want him to have a great home with lots of room to roam because he is so active.
Any thoughts or insights you have would be much appreciated! Thanks!