Taco*mom
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2016
- Messages
- 213
Hi everyone,
Just want to share my horrible experience with you. I were not gonna post anything, but my family, good friend and senior member of this forum really suggest that I do. So here it is.
I purchased 4 albino sulcatas and 6 hets from a breeder in Florida, who unfortunately, starts his hatchlings VERY dry.
I was aware about Tom's HFS thread, but somehow feeling hopeful after reading Maggie's post that not all hatchlings started dry ended up horribly. The breeder that I purchased from, being the only one who has master CITES for exporting purpose, became my only source to get hatchlings from. He gave me pictures of his enclosure after I transferred him the money, despite my previous attempts to get it from him.
For those of you who are not familiar with HFS please refer to this link:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
I prepared humid enclosure for them. Provided the right 4 temp. Sun them 1 hour every day. Soak and feed them twice a day.
One of the albinos, P, died after 12 days in my care. Ever since it came, it didn't move much and didn't eat until about the 8th day. I was so happy when he started to eat. But he died suddenly on the 12th day with a soft carapace.
The second albino, M, died Jan 8, 2017. She was eating and moving fine, but suddenly lost her appetite. She barely ate anything for 3 days, then completely stop eating until the day she died. I brought her to the vet and the vet tried everything she could to save her, but none worked.
One of the hets, T, started to show symptoms of kidney failure around 10th day in my care. It was swollen around the neck and upper limbs. I will post the picture later. Again, though I am aware from the forum that nothing can be done about it, I still brought it to the vet, who gave him series of diuretic injections. The swollen was gone for about a week but then came back. He died yesterday morning.
Right now I'm trying my best to have the rest survived. But their growth really makes me worried. I have had them for 2 months but they barely grows. I've attached my growth note for you guys to see. I'm supposed to weigh them every 4 days, but can't help to weigh them everyday.
E was 54 now 57 (*)
L 37 now 56
C 42 now 49 (*)
G 35 now 47
K 41 now 55
N 46 now 75
R 32 now 34 (*)
* means I am watching them closely, they could be the next time bomb.
I have contacted the breeder to let him know the hatchlings are doing, and he needs to change the way he raises his hatchlings. I also asked for some refund on some (not all) of the hatchlings. He then completely blamed my care. This is what he said about coir, "They use this fiber to make door mats and floor mats for cars, houses and such because it such a coarse material. Again not something you should be using for your substrate on baby tortoises. Because, if you don't think the babies will eat it, you are mistaken. It's a slow process but in time the will ingest minute particles of the coir and they will stop eating in time."
He kept repeating that 0 (zero) died in his care. Though after some time arguing, he admitted that 1 died in his care. He said that his other hatchlings are doing just fine. And so are older ones.
Oh and one more. When I just received my babies (unaware of the problem yet), I asked him the hatch date and he said it was around June 2016 and I received them November 20, 2016. Please refer to their weight above. So he sent me 5 months old hatchlings with the above weight. So much for raising them the right way.
Anyway... Just to let you guys know my story. If anyone is interested in buying albino sulcata, you can PM me. And I will be more than happy to point you away from this breeder's direction
Just want to share my horrible experience with you. I were not gonna post anything, but my family, good friend and senior member of this forum really suggest that I do. So here it is.
I purchased 4 albino sulcatas and 6 hets from a breeder in Florida, who unfortunately, starts his hatchlings VERY dry.
I was aware about Tom's HFS thread, but somehow feeling hopeful after reading Maggie's post that not all hatchlings started dry ended up horribly. The breeder that I purchased from, being the only one who has master CITES for exporting purpose, became my only source to get hatchlings from. He gave me pictures of his enclosure after I transferred him the money, despite my previous attempts to get it from him.
For those of you who are not familiar with HFS please refer to this link:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
I prepared humid enclosure for them. Provided the right 4 temp. Sun them 1 hour every day. Soak and feed them twice a day.
One of the albinos, P, died after 12 days in my care. Ever since it came, it didn't move much and didn't eat until about the 8th day. I was so happy when he started to eat. But he died suddenly on the 12th day with a soft carapace.
The second albino, M, died Jan 8, 2017. She was eating and moving fine, but suddenly lost her appetite. She barely ate anything for 3 days, then completely stop eating until the day she died. I brought her to the vet and the vet tried everything she could to save her, but none worked.
One of the hets, T, started to show symptoms of kidney failure around 10th day in my care. It was swollen around the neck and upper limbs. I will post the picture later. Again, though I am aware from the forum that nothing can be done about it, I still brought it to the vet, who gave him series of diuretic injections. The swollen was gone for about a week but then came back. He died yesterday morning.
Right now I'm trying my best to have the rest survived. But their growth really makes me worried. I have had them for 2 months but they barely grows. I've attached my growth note for you guys to see. I'm supposed to weigh them every 4 days, but can't help to weigh them everyday.
E was 54 now 57 (*)
L 37 now 56
C 42 now 49 (*)
G 35 now 47
K 41 now 55
N 46 now 75
R 32 now 34 (*)
* means I am watching them closely, they could be the next time bomb.
I have contacted the breeder to let him know the hatchlings are doing, and he needs to change the way he raises his hatchlings. I also asked for some refund on some (not all) of the hatchlings. He then completely blamed my care. This is what he said about coir, "They use this fiber to make door mats and floor mats for cars, houses and such because it such a coarse material. Again not something you should be using for your substrate on baby tortoises. Because, if you don't think the babies will eat it, you are mistaken. It's a slow process but in time the will ingest minute particles of the coir and they will stop eating in time."
He kept repeating that 0 (zero) died in his care. Though after some time arguing, he admitted that 1 died in his care. He said that his other hatchlings are doing just fine. And so are older ones.
Oh and one more. When I just received my babies (unaware of the problem yet), I asked him the hatch date and he said it was around June 2016 and I received them November 20, 2016. Please refer to their weight above. So he sent me 5 months old hatchlings with the above weight. So much for raising them the right way.
Anyway... Just to let you guys know my story. If anyone is interested in buying albino sulcata, you can PM me. And I will be more than happy to point you away from this breeder's direction
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