General Care Discussion :: One growing - One not?

[CApears4u2]

Here's a couple of pictures I finally figured out how to do!
Big & Little Guy & Tank set up:







Yea it worked!

That is a quarter next to my turts. I had to put them in a tupperware dish to "pose". You see the difference in growth in the two.

[marisa]

LG sounds and looks a lot like a little RES I once had...He's a sweet little thing.

I don't know if you're doing this already, but with the calcium powder (make sure it says it's non-phosphorus), moisten the pellets and coat them with the powder, then let them dry and give them to him rather than just putting it on his food. He'll get more of the calcium this way. If he'll eat from your hands, you can just feed the moistened and coated pellets to him. You can do this with other foods as well.

[reptilegrrl]

In all honestly, this sounds like a vet who doesn't know what to tell you, and is just saying something to earn the fee.

ALL living things will absorb calcium from inside their bodies in order to survive, if they are not getting enough calcium in their diets. If your turtle can assimilate calcium from inside his body, then he is "genetically" capable of assimilating it from food.

Did he check for intestinal parasites?

Also, keep in mind that not seeing bullying does not mean it isn't happening; animal intimidation can be indirect as well as direct.

[reptilegrrl]

OK, I just saw the pics- I definitely don't see a UV light.

[marisa]

The point about intestinal parasites is a good one, especially since you said he eats well but weighs only 5 gms.

I reread your initial post---you said the turtle basks a lot but doesn't like to dive---can he dive? Can he submerge if he wants to?

[CApears4u2]

I have been doing exactly that with just a little more protein mixed in. It does stick much better when it dries on the food. I feed him on the basking rock and he drags it back into the little pool of water on the other end of the rock and eats it. This way he doesn't have jump in the water to chase it, and BG stays in the deep water because he's much more shy. So they're easily being fed seperately.

Oh farts,
The powder I bought is 2:1 Calcium/Phosphorus Suppliment With Vitamins.
...Figures. My Petco/PetSmart budget is shrinking... Frustrating.

[marisa]

At least there's more calcium than phosphorus, but using a product that is phosphorus free like RepCal (not Reptocal) would be better.

I'm wondering--can your turtle submerge and swim under water if he wants to?

[CApears4u2]

OK, I just saw the pics- I definitely don't see a UV light.

That bulb is supposedly or SUPPOSED to be a UV light. The box indicated as such

And what you said about being able to absorb calcium makes sense... and no, he did not check for internal parasites. How would he do that? Feces sample? And if LG might have them would BG have them as well?

Marisa, he does dive and can swim underwater but not very often.

Hmmm. Arff! This is frustrating. Although I DO appreciate and I AM glad you all are "monitoring" this so closely. How the heck else would I learn?

[marisa]

What's the name of the bulb (brand)?

Yes, you would bring a stool sample to be tested for parasites. If one does have parasites and they're in the same tank (and drinking/pooping in the same water), yes, the other turtle could be infected as well.

[CApears4u2]

Here's the info from the box:

ZOO-MED Repti Basking Spot Lamp

Unique patented double reflector focuses 35% more heat and light into a tight beam.
Perfect for use with high heat basking reptiles, such as tropical and desert species.
Provides beneficial UVA rays which promote breeding and feeding and are beneficial to your reptile's psychological well-being.
Increases the overall ambient air temperature, necessary for the proper health of all reptiles and amphibians.
Creates the proper heat gradients necessary for thermoregulation


Tried to post a pic of the box/bulb but I think the above info should be suff. Granted, they obviously are NOT a desert species...

So OKAY. If I have the wrong bulb, specifically which one should I get that will fit into my 5.5" ceramic clamp lamp?

Gads, I feel like I should be paying you all a fee!

[CApears4u2]

My daughters (5 & 3) are going crazy from boredom. I've been online for too long - they're starting to get into trouble on purpose I think!

However I WILL be checking back every moment I can today.

P4U2

[marisa]

Wrong bulb. Or rather, you need a UVB bulb in addition to this one. This is a basking bulb, which emits heat. The description also says it emits UVA rays, but there is no mention of UVB rays.

Regular UVB lights are flourescent and don't emit heat, but do emit those UVB rays. (In the future, you can just use a regular lightbulb for heat in addition to the UVB light).

If you need a UVB light for a ceramic dome, get a Reptisun compact flourescent UVB light (they come in 5% and 10% UVB strengths, since your turtles haven't had a UVB light, I'd get the latter. You can get them fairly cheaply (compared to buying in a store) at www.bigalsonline.com (type the name of the bulb in the search function to see and read about it). The bulb should be positioned 6-8 inches from the basking turtles, next to the heat lamp (the Zoo-Med one in this case).

When the weather is nice, it would also be good to take the turtles out for some natural, direct sunlight (glass, etc. blocks UVB rays). If you put them in a container, make sure it's not glass and that they have a shady spot to go to if they want to. You could take a newspaper/magazine outside and supervise them for the time they're outside.

[CApears4u2]

Okay, I've spent a little time on various reptile supplies websites and am looking at getting a Zoo-Med Power Sun 100 Watt UVA/UVB combo light. My tank is located where I don't have enough outlets for two lighting set-ups. So upon research I've read literally around 20 reviews about this bulb and all have been good although some say the bulb is "delicate" as it's more sophisticated than regular bulbs. Well duh.

Ya'll (No, i'm not from the South) probably know about these web-sites but they're new to me. So I'm sharing anyway.
Reptilesupply.com has excellent information regarding the supplies and bulbs they carry. Detailed descriptions, advice, reviews, specs, etc.

Also, THIS site (uvguide.co.uk/index.htm) is a fantastic information resource regarding UV lighting for reptiles. They provide extremely detailed (graphs, etc.) comparison info on all the different types of reptile lighting available. I wish I had more time to read everything but alas, life at home goes on.

Thanks again so much for all the wonderful advice and guidance from all of you.

Tamara (real name revealed! )

[reptilegrrl]

The mercury vapor combination bulbs are, in my experience, good bulbs as far as UV and basking goes. Just hang onto your receipt because they rarely live out the life of the bulb. Be sure to monitor your temps when you first get the bulb set up, because they make a LOT of heat.

Also, this is not an ad, but I have always gotten good prices from bigappleherp.com .

Although both turtles might have worms if they live together, it is also possible for only one to have them. I once fostered a little of street kittens; one was much larger than the others. It turned out that that one was the only one that didn't have worms!

Without the proper lighting, neither of your turtles will be able to properly assimilate calcium. And I must say, I am disturbed that your vet did not tell you this. I think you have a vet who really doesn't know much about turtles.

I cannot tell you how wonderful and caring I think you are, to keep pursuing this in order to do the right thing for your turtles. On their behalf, I thank you so much.

[sonyj]

Like reptilegrrl said, be careful with the mercury vapor combo bulb. It is recommended for use in tanks over 50 gallons because of the amount of heat it produces. Be sure to check (and recheck) the basking temp after using it. You don't want the basking temp to be too hot for the little guys.