8 New Babies from TOM! AKA The Bond Girls (maybe)

Moozillion

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WOW!!! That's great!!!:):):)
I gotta admit, for ME, the IT's are DA BOMB!!!! :p
 

DeanS

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As stated in tom's thread, http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/2015-growth-experiment.119874/ , and for those of you just tuning in, the 8s are siblings from Tom's experiment. While he conducted his experiment, I took on one of my own...which consists of several ever-changing variables. The only constant is that mine are housed (at night) in a basically dark closed chamber. I bring them out during the peak hours of sunlight...i.e. 10AM to 2PM. Occasionally, they are out longer...but not much and not often. I keep the chamber set at 95ºF which means temps will fluctuate between 90 and 100...and the only light source is a ZooMed 5.0 UVB 18" tube. All heat is generated by a Reptile Basics Radiant Heat panel. Any and all questions are welcome! As I continue, I'll delve deeper into, diet, hydration and what not...
 

DeanS

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How do the shells look on your babies in comparison to Tom's group? Yours look like they have perfect shells from the pictures but I would like to still ask. It is shocking how much heavier your babies are as well compared to Toms.
Flawless...thanks for asking! ;)
 

Tom

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These guys are on a pace like my Sudans were. Can't wait to see their weight on their first birthday.
 

GRohr

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Wow @DeanS , those shells truly do look perfect. I don't have a sulcata so this is just from what I have seen on the forum but these look a bit more domed then a lot of other baby sulcatas. is it just me? Also, how long are you going to simulate them living in a "burrow"?
 

DeanS

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Wow @DeanS , those shells truly do look perfect. I don't have a sulcata so this is just from what I have seen on the forum but these look a bit more domed then a lot of other baby sulcatas. is it just me? Also, how long are you going to simulate them living in a "burrow"?
The funny thing is...this past summer...when they were outside, ALL of them were digging already. This was what I meant when sometimes I'd let them stay out longer than their allotted 4-5 hours. THEY WERE BURROWING at 5 months. I attribute their size primarily to the intense exercise they were getting just burrowing. Here are a few shots of one of them...OK, maybe more than a few! ;) @Tom
IMG_4326.JPG IMG_4333.JPG IMG_4335.JPG IMG_4338.JPG IMG_4353.JPG IMG_4362.JPG IMG_4382.JPG IMG_4384.JPG
 

DeanS

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@GRohr to finish answering your question...The ITs are still in the simulated burrow...so I presume I'll continue until they're (at least) 2 years old!
 

DeanS

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Those are some nice shells. Didn't get that on rabbit pellets with a red bulb… :)
@Tom NOPE! They came from PERFECT incubation and brooding...that took care of 90% of it...a damn near perfect routine took care of the rest! ;) Did I mention...hydration from the get-go! ;)
 

GRohr

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I like the idea of simulating a burrow. Are they super active when you have them outside or do they still hide just as much?
 

DeanS

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I like the idea of simulating a burrow. Are they super active when you have them outside or do they still hide just as much?
More active than any others I ever had! But, they do get their share of rest when outside!
 
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