I've recently built a three tier hatchling tortoise table. See it here, post #34:
http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-12973-page-3.html
The main reason for building it is to test out all these pyramiding theories. I intend to do two hatchlings per tub, just to show some consistency. All six babies will be from the same clutch and genetically identical (Don't get technical! You know what I mean. Same mother and father). There are a lot of possible variables and that is the reason for this post. I already have three adults that were raised on this same ranch, in this same room, in the same outdoor sunning/exercise pens on the same diet I'll feed these. The difference will be humidity. My three current adults were all raised in very dry, hot, arid conditions because I mistakenly thought that's what they needed. So we know what will happen if they are raised dry, here in this location on the local weeds and grasses. This is my "control", so to speak.
I would like ideas from you ladies and gentlemen about what would be the best way to raise these three separate pairs to best as many of the prevailing theories as possible.
For starters, the room humidity is now around 50% 24/7. It used to be in the single digits. They will all be raised on the same orchid bark/soil substrate. Formerly I used rabbit pellets and then "Sani-Chips" until they were big enough to be moved outside on to the dirt, permanently. The tops of their tubs will be partially covered with plexi-glass to keep the moisture and humidity up. Room temp is 75-77 at night and 80-86 during the day. It will probably hit the low 90's during the hot summer months.
For one tub, I will use an 18" square Kane heat mat on the surface, instead of an overhead heat bulb. One breeder has been raising smooth South African Leopard babies using this as part of his strategy. The other two tubs will have 50 watt incandescent, overhead flood bulbs with the height adjusted to offer a basking spot on a flat rock of about 100-110 degrees.
I thought the next variable could be diet. Maybe raise one pair on spring mix with regular calcium and vitamin fortification. One pair on grass, weeds and cactus, with no supplements. And one pair on Mazuri, again no supplements.
They will all get one or two hours of sunshine a day, in a large, watered pen, for most of the year and no other artificial UV.
I'm a ways away from starting this experiment as I have to hatch out the babies. I've got two different sources that are going to give me eggs as soon as they see some. One is the guy who gave me Daisy, so I know the eggs will be vialble. I may incubate 8-10 just to make sure I get six healthy hatchlings to start with.
I will want my peers to review this experiment at all phases, starting now, before I even begin. The point is to end the arguments once and for all. We can see right now what happens when I raise them dry in this area. I will keep all other variables the same and see what happens when I raise them with humidity and moisture.
To recap: Same species, same location, same water, same diet, same supplements, same room, same temps, same set-up, DIFFERENT humidity and moisture levels. We will see, first hand, what happens. I intend to post a weekly or monthly pictorial update and keep it going for at least a couple of years.
http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-12973-page-3.html
The main reason for building it is to test out all these pyramiding theories. I intend to do two hatchlings per tub, just to show some consistency. All six babies will be from the same clutch and genetically identical (Don't get technical! You know what I mean. Same mother and father). There are a lot of possible variables and that is the reason for this post. I already have three adults that were raised on this same ranch, in this same room, in the same outdoor sunning/exercise pens on the same diet I'll feed these. The difference will be humidity. My three current adults were all raised in very dry, hot, arid conditions because I mistakenly thought that's what they needed. So we know what will happen if they are raised dry, here in this location on the local weeds and grasses. This is my "control", so to speak.
I would like ideas from you ladies and gentlemen about what would be the best way to raise these three separate pairs to best as many of the prevailing theories as possible.
For starters, the room humidity is now around 50% 24/7. It used to be in the single digits. They will all be raised on the same orchid bark/soil substrate. Formerly I used rabbit pellets and then "Sani-Chips" until they were big enough to be moved outside on to the dirt, permanently. The tops of their tubs will be partially covered with plexi-glass to keep the moisture and humidity up. Room temp is 75-77 at night and 80-86 during the day. It will probably hit the low 90's during the hot summer months.
For one tub, I will use an 18" square Kane heat mat on the surface, instead of an overhead heat bulb. One breeder has been raising smooth South African Leopard babies using this as part of his strategy. The other two tubs will have 50 watt incandescent, overhead flood bulbs with the height adjusted to offer a basking spot on a flat rock of about 100-110 degrees.
I thought the next variable could be diet. Maybe raise one pair on spring mix with regular calcium and vitamin fortification. One pair on grass, weeds and cactus, with no supplements. And one pair on Mazuri, again no supplements.
They will all get one or two hours of sunshine a day, in a large, watered pen, for most of the year and no other artificial UV.
I'm a ways away from starting this experiment as I have to hatch out the babies. I've got two different sources that are going to give me eggs as soon as they see some. One is the guy who gave me Daisy, so I know the eggs will be vialble. I may incubate 8-10 just to make sure I get six healthy hatchlings to start with.
I will want my peers to review this experiment at all phases, starting now, before I even begin. The point is to end the arguments once and for all. We can see right now what happens when I raise them dry in this area. I will keep all other variables the same and see what happens when I raise them with humidity and moisture.
To recap: Same species, same location, same water, same diet, same supplements, same room, same temps, same set-up, DIFFERENT humidity and moisture levels. We will see, first hand, what happens. I intend to post a weekly or monthly pictorial update and keep it going for at least a couple of years.