I have noticed some things with one of my cheryhead hatchlings. She is about 6 months old and 71g today. Two weeks ago she was 85g!!
I had been weighing the torts (5 cherries) every 2-3 days when I soak them, and she had been steadily gaining. Had company and didnt soak or weigh so often.
She has been a good eater- she normally comes out first thing in the morning to eat. The rest of the cherries eat at noon. Last week I found her flipped over twice. First time right under basking light!! It is a flat area so dont know how she ended up on her back. The longest she could have been flipped is 4 hours. The following day I found her on her back in the moist hide. They have several inches to bury in moss so I'm sure one of the other torts could have been under her and flipped her. Dont know how long she was on her back. This morning she was out very early- before any lights on. And she has been a bit restless last few days. Walking back and forth in the tank. I took her out to look at her and she was tail swishing, thought she might be constipated. So soaked everyone, she still tail swished but no poop. I started cleaning tank and looked back and she had head under and was blowing bubbles, so I got her out- mouth was foamy and she stretched her neck out and seemed to gasp a bit.
No nose or eye discharge, but eyes are not right. If she were a dog I'd say her third eyelid was out, I' ll assume torts have those too.
Tried to put Terramycin in, not sure that really worked.
I'm researching, my plan thus far: put her in ISO tank, heat around 95? Keep clean. I have ReptAid, Acidophilus for reptiles and an electrolyte soaking solution.
Also, she has several new spots of shell rot- did not have a week ago. No other torts have any shell rot.
Tank specs: under basking light is 90, cool side is 75, the moist hide was around 85- however I one of the two heating pads on that side stopped working recently. I did not think to check temps before I left this morning. Humidity is 70-80% after I mist or pour water in. It will drop to 40-50% if I dont do that 3x daily. The torts seem to switch every few days: moist hide , then bury in moss on the dry side.
Advise? I am a vet tech, I do have access to meds. But not a reptile practice.
Thank you! Missi
I had been weighing the torts (5 cherries) every 2-3 days when I soak them, and she had been steadily gaining. Had company and didnt soak or weigh so often.
She has been a good eater- she normally comes out first thing in the morning to eat. The rest of the cherries eat at noon. Last week I found her flipped over twice. First time right under basking light!! It is a flat area so dont know how she ended up on her back. The longest she could have been flipped is 4 hours. The following day I found her on her back in the moist hide. They have several inches to bury in moss so I'm sure one of the other torts could have been under her and flipped her. Dont know how long she was on her back. This morning she was out very early- before any lights on. And she has been a bit restless last few days. Walking back and forth in the tank. I took her out to look at her and she was tail swishing, thought she might be constipated. So soaked everyone, she still tail swished but no poop. I started cleaning tank and looked back and she had head under and was blowing bubbles, so I got her out- mouth was foamy and she stretched her neck out and seemed to gasp a bit.
No nose or eye discharge, but eyes are not right. If she were a dog I'd say her third eyelid was out, I' ll assume torts have those too.
Tried to put Terramycin in, not sure that really worked.
I'm researching, my plan thus far: put her in ISO tank, heat around 95? Keep clean. I have ReptAid, Acidophilus for reptiles and an electrolyte soaking solution.
Also, she has several new spots of shell rot- did not have a week ago. No other torts have any shell rot.
Tank specs: under basking light is 90, cool side is 75, the moist hide was around 85- however I one of the two heating pads on that side stopped working recently. I did not think to check temps before I left this morning. Humidity is 70-80% after I mist or pour water in. It will drop to 40-50% if I dont do that 3x daily. The torts seem to switch every few days: moist hide , then bury in moss on the dry side.
Advise? I am a vet tech, I do have access to meds. But not a reptile practice.
Thank you! Missi