Posted by:
RMB
at Tue May 8 23:40:49 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by RMB ]
Sure I can... I have a lot to say.
They are housed individually (see photos at the end of post) with a few hiding places and lots of damp sphagnum moss (no standing water). They have access to a warm area that stays at a fairly constant 85F (heat tape) and a cooler area that is ~75F during the day and ~70F at night. Full spectrum lighting is used, though they are buried in the sphagnum for the majority of the day.
I feed them 3-4 times per week. Usually Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - so as to avoid too rapid of growth from overfeeding and to ensure a good feeding response at mealtime. Sometimes they are fed every other day for a few weeks, it really depends on my schedule, but they always get at least three meals a week and never more than two days in between.
I usually alternate between water and dry feeding regimens. That is, on one feeding, I will feed them in ~1" of lukewarm water and the next I will feed them on dry land (they are fed in individual opaque containers). I do this to ensure that they get a good soak a couple times a week (also encourages regular defecation) and also because there are a variety of foods that are better suited to water and a variety of foods better suited to dry land.
I believe in variety and this does include commercially prepared pellets. Now, this is based on many years of head starting for research protocols. Commercial diets can and do play a very important role in rounding out a captive's diet. For example, during a water feed, I may offer a few pellets each of HBH Turtle Bites, Rep-Cal Aquatic Turtle Food, ReptoTreat Suprema, Gammarus Pellet Turtle Food, Zilla Aquatic Turtle Food, and Reptomin Baby Aquatic Turtle Food. I do not believe that anyone should rely on a commercial diet exclusively. In addition, using more than one brand will help make up for any pellet that may be lacking somehow. As such, I offer a little bit of everything. I will also add bloodworms, canned mealworms (easily digested), etc. during a water feed.
On dry land, I feed butterworms, waxworms, crickets, superworms, earthworms, chopped pink mice, etc. All items are dusted with Rep-Cal Phosphorus-Free Calcium w/ Vitamin D3 and Rep-Cal Herptivite Multivitamins. I also offer shredded carrots, cantaloupe, and other carotenoids to ensure proper vitamin A intake while avoiding toxicity (vitamin A is fat soluble and can reach toxic levels). I will be incorporating dark, leafy items soon: dandelion, kale, collard, etc.
They seem to be growing well, very smooth and continuous. They will be coming with me to my field site this summer so they will experience regular access to sunlight and lots of field collected bugs. They will also be artifically brumated this year with my North American Erycines.
Hope any of this helps 
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RE: Six months of EBT growth data *pics* - RMB, Tue May 8 23:40:49 2007