Recent content by Randdawgg

  1. Randdawgg

    Swollen eyes?

    Can I ask what is your lighting source indoors?
  2. Randdawgg

    Swollen eyes?

    If warm outside the natural sunlight can do wonders with lots of water to soak in.Provide shade outside of course.
  3. Randdawgg

    Starvation/malnutrition effects in tortoises?

    I think getting torts in the sun is underestimated.I have a 6 month african leopard tort and I cant believe how active he is when outside.With shade and water I hope to have him out till late in the fall.Did you guys know that african leopard torts are one of the few species that will swim to...
  4. Randdawgg

    So... (didn't poop)

    I was gonna mention that I come from a background of fish keeping fresh and salt water.Last year I set up a dirted tank which is pottiing soil underneath the substrate.The tank amazed me.It stayed clean the aquatic plants grew like crazy.Stay with me .I have done a similiar set up with my tort...
  5. Randdawgg

    So... (didn't poop)

    Absolutely.Clay pots absorb moisture and the my tort spends 10 to 12 hours per day there.You can also pour water on the pot and around it.
  6. Randdawgg

    So... (didn't poop)

    I have a 5 month old african leopard tort.I recently gave him a tercotta pot as a house.I sunk his house into the subtrate on its side.By accident Im seeing the benefits.The pottery material wicks up moisture keeping his house humidified and ocassionally he actually rubs his beak on the pot...
  7. Randdawgg

    So... (didn't poop)

    I call that tortoise breath!!!!!!
  8. Randdawgg

    Tortoise bit off the head of cage mate.

    Very sad.I was thinking of getting a friend for my tort but I think I will play it safe.I have heard that males can be pretty aggressive towards each other.
  9. Randdawgg

    Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

    Pyramiding is still up in the air as far as the research goes.One of the speculations is that if the tort does not hibernate it continues to grow at a rate that it was not genetically designed to do which the speculation is pyramiding.Its also stressful for the tortoise to not hibernate and can...
  10. Randdawgg

    Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

    The research is there.Im big on the tortoise health first.
  11. Randdawgg

    Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

    Horsfields like a number of torts need to hibernate.I have read of alot of health issues when owning a tortoise that needs to hibernate.They are wired for it and even if they have been hatched and hand raised it is not healthy for the tort.I have a african leopard tort and did as much research...
  12. Randdawgg

    UVB

    77 degrees or warmer at night.Help to keep his gut digesting properly.Torts have amazingly long and efficient intestines.They kind of a cow with a shell!!!
  13. Randdawgg

    Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

    Horsfield torts are a species that need to hibernate.If they grow all year long they can develop metabolic bone disease and pyrmiding.This is tough one but it is very beneficial for the torotoise!
  14. Randdawgg

    Orchid bark - should it be pre- soaked?

    Horsfield need to hibernate.They spend half their life in hibernation and with out that time out they grow too quickly.Hibernation this winter will really help!!!!
Top