Help please! (MBD?)

[sage89]

Hey everyone,I'm new to this forum and any help would be appreciated,my mum bought our tortoise about 7 years ago from a local garden,pet and aquatic centre,i hate the thought that we may have unintentionally been doing something wrong all these years,it actually break my heart to think that this could be our doing but I've noticed recently that his shell to me looks as though it could be sloping...is it just me or do you's agree and what can I do to help him?

 

[Yvonne G]

RE: Help please!

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

Your tortoise is showing signs of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). He needs calcium-rich foods with a calcium supplement sprinkled over the food VERY SPARINGLY two or three times a week. And in order for the calcium to work, the tortoise either has to have real sunshine or a good UVB light (Not a spiral-shaped bulb). Without the UVB either from the sun or from the light, the calcium just goes right through the tortoise's system and out the other end.

 

[sage89]

Thankyou so much...I have a calcium supplement that I sprinkle on his food,I'll change the bulb and see if this helps...I don't want my wee man suffering

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. The best UVB bulbs out right now are the Mercury Vapor Bulbs. They need to be replaced every 12 months, even though it still lights up. They also give off heat. The next is the Florescent bulbs. They don't give off heat and have to be replaced every six months, even though they still light up.

 

[sage89]

Thankyou so much for your help guys!my mum about a year ago had a new Viv made for him by a local man who makes them,his other one was too small but I remember the other one having the heat light and a UVB light,the new Viv that he is in now has only one fitting for the heat light,I will have another one fitted for the UVB...I know a Viv isn't the most ideal home for him and seeing as I have recently taken over his care I'm currently looking into having a decent table made for him...hopefully I can get him on the right road,happy and healthy!

 

[jlb1077]

Are these ok for UVB?

 

[shaigirl98]

Those lights might not be the best for him, they could damage his eyes an with painful eyes he won't eat.

 

[mikeh]

Your tortoise has been suffering from MBD for much longer period then just past year. UVB lights need to be changed on regular bases (even if they continue to put out light), positioned at proper height and the tortoise needs to spend actual time under them. Miss any of these parameters and tortoise will not be getting adequate UVB levels.
The spiral UVB bulb in your post is NOT recommended due to possibly causing injury to torts eyes.

MegaRay or Zoomed UVB mercury vapor bulbs if you want heat light and UVB all in one, or Florescent T5HO long tubes for light and UVB but no heat.

Taking your tortoise outside for some sun few times a week for an hour would also help a bunch.

 

[Yvonne G]

A note of clarification:

The post that shows the picture of the spiral-shaped bulb was not made by the original poster in this thread.


jlb1077: May I suggest that when you have a question of your own you start a new thread to avoid this confusion?

 

[henrywh]

He's got MBD but I don't think it's to serious just make sure he gets lots of calcium, hope he recovers and the best of luck henrywh

 

[sage89]

Thankyou everybody,your help is seriously appreciated,do the UVA and UVB combined bulbs work just as well or would you's recommend what I was going to do and get another light fitting put in just now until I can get a table made for him?
Ideally I would love to get him outside for a few hours a day as well,unfortunately though the Scottish weather doesn't always allow us to do that...it's always to cold,rainy and damp...hopefully this year we'll get a much better summer than we have been getting which will allow the him some opportunity to soak up some rays!

 

[KirstieD]

British weather isn't the best is it? Lol. Although spotted (& picked) the first dandelion the other day - Herbie wasn't too sure about it!

I would recommend the following if you are looking at combined bulbs they are quite pricy though so have a search around!

Arcadia D3 UV Reptile Basking Lamp - Combined Heat UVB Bulb

http://bit.ly/1bAKrYX

It's a link to UK eBay. The pet centre near me charge nearly £70 for the same one!

 

[sage89]

Thankyou [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH],what a great help you's guys are...i think becoming part of this forum has definitely been one of my smartest moments [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]!