Update: After about 3 months, I got an e-mail response asking if I had received a replacement. Replied back no, and a day later had a UPS tracking number. I'm glad they finally made good, but its going to take a lot to ever get me to be a customer again. You'd think they'd just bite the...
I feel better about sprinkling pure calcium over the food, but I feed more of a grocery diet (although varied and organic). I would not use D3 as I have a MVB for UVB (same if your tort got sun). Opinions really vary. I'd never use fat soluble vitamins because I believe in feeding a good diet...
Temps are the biggest thing with tort keeping, so double check those with a good thermometer like a temp gun... With an indoor setup, you need to be checking the temps every couple days. Even if you have a thermostat set, the humidity in the room or sun coming in can change the temps...
When my tort was tiny we used the Groovy Jacuzzi...he couldn't safely use a ramp bowl or saucer, but even the XL size won't work past 3 or 4 inches. Now we use part of a plastic pond waterfall (black plastic from Lowes which we used safe rough spray paint on to give it traction and some color...
I'm personally against D3 if you have UVB from a bulb or the sun, but read up on it and see what you think. I just use a pure calcium starting at daily for a hatchling, decreasing to every other to every third day as the tort grows to an adult size. THe calcium is water soluble while D3 is fat...
I'm a believer in keeping everything with my tort as natural as possible (like the wild), so at this time I'd never consider putting anything on the shell. I believe the products have the potential to do more harm than good. What about the products trapping bacteria in the scutes? I have also...
Yes, some people describe the light put out from a MVB as blueish. I haven't seen that with mine though. The light can change color over the first couple weeks as the UVB does its major decay (although it still is supposed to maintain a healthy level for 12 months used 12 hours a day). What...
I think once you decide to get more than one, the chance that you will end up with a large amount of torts is pretty likely, so thats another thing to consider (the just one more syndrome). We've decided our little guy will be an only child until the possible day where we have the climate &...
I have digital timers and temp gun, but thats about all the tort equipment I use. Before those, I had a mechanical timer, which made a very annoying clicking noise, and wasn't very reliable (it would randomly stop), and one of those silly digital probe thermometers (way too slow).
I 100% agree with Kristina. I regret getting a hatchling, even though everything turned out great. I worried quite a bit about was I doing everything correct, would he flip over while I was at work, etc. I think they aren't much more difficult to keep, but they are more likely to fail with...
Does it really say 24 inches? With the 100 Watt MVBs, I am more familiar with seeing a safe distance of 12-18 inches from the substrate (so that at 24 inches it wouldn't get hot enough, which 80 F shows...for a Greek you're probably looking for more like 95 F). I haven't heard of the 24 inches...
Most captive/indoor torts tend to have chronic loose stools from the diet. I'd almost expect it with what you feed. The stools can really vary with the difference in diet week to week though. I'd do regular (every 6-12 month) parasite tests and not worry about it...just do the best you can...
The tubs have even more ventilation the cages (I believe we are talking about the tubs). I have the large one and its awesome...couldn't find anything anywhere near the shape and look of it to get 18 sq ft, looking at the Waterland tubs and stock tanks. That boa tub is a much better deal than...
Substrate with calcium in it...is that calci-sand? Not a good choice. A pure calcium supplement on the food every other day or so is needed. I would also not use hemp. Both sand and hemp can lead to impaction if the tort eats it, more readily than other recommended substrates. Calci-sand is...
Welcome! As far as the noise at night, you can set their light to turn off a few hours before you go to bed so they are sure to be settled down for the night. I do lights on 12 hours a day (typical), so likely it will work just fine for you to not have their light on until you are up, and have...