Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I am finally getting that baby burmese brown I have always wanted (taking in trade so nearly free!)

Anyway, I plan on keeping him with my redfoot baby after a suitable quarantine period.

A) How long a quarantine should this be? (It is coming from a broker and I dont really know where it has been)

B) I think the diet should consist of more greens/weeds/hay almost like a sulcata. Is this true? I can separate for feeding (I assume I will have to as the redfoot is not a great eater anyway - see previous post)

C) Will the redfoot enclosure be too hot for a Burmese. The redfoot is in a room that already has a background temp of 80 by day with a basking spot of 95. The coolest corners of the cage are that 80 degrees. It is 4x3 feet with misting system and uv. Is 80 too high of a temp? At night it is about 74-75.

Thank you for any advice.
Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

I think that Vic would agree that all of the UV.. basking spot and especially the HIGH temps would really be hard [ if not fatal ] on your new 'brown'.

{ actually I think all of that light and basking spot is TOO much for your redfoot as well }

Keep in mind your 'brown' comes from much "deeper-in-the-jungle" and I believe a higher elavation.. so they are much more cold tolerant. Again let's see what Vic says.

Personally I would never mix species.. especially from different continents. I found out the hard way.. early on!

Glad you asked...
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Terry E. Kilgore
Turtletary.com

"cold tolerent" "elavation" This is commonly stated of Manouria.It is true compared with other tortoises,but let me say that in captivity they do well without a big night time low.In most of their range it does not get to cold and their elavation is not that high.Maybe like N.C. I have found that they can get quite cool as long as it warmes up the NEXT day."Most of their range" There are no study's on Manouria in their most northern range other than they have been reported to be found there.It gets very cold in N.India,and Nepal.Very hot temps 90+ for long peroids of time is not good for "hatchlings" and the young in captivity.For the first year to be on the safe side 75F-88F.If it gets cold unexspectedly for a night,don't worry about it.If it gets to hot,soak in some shallow room temp/not cold water. NOW, SHOW US SOME MT.TORT PICS........Vic

WAHdoIKNO?

WADDAface!

Maybe Vic will explain the difference between "Browns" and "Blacks"

Terry

BTW.. earth to Vic... come in a little closer!

Hey thanks for the advice. For the first month I am going to have to keep him in a 20 gallon long in a room that is 82-85 by day and 75 by night. (We are going to FL for a couple of weeks and I need to keep it simple for the caretaker) I will put a very weak basking spot on one end and a uv tube over top (15". I plan on cypress for the substrate and a pile of sphagum moss in there on the cool side for him to hide in (the cool will no doubt be 83-85 degrees) TOO HOT? I can put the tank elsewhere until I get home and can re-evaluate. TOO SMALL to heat properly? I can look into other options.

I wanted to use the vision cage I mentioned earlier but there is no way to put a basking light in there and ventilation would be tough too.

Vic I dont suppose you allow visitors to see your torts? We will be passing thru your general area at some point on our way to FL. Or maybe thats a bad idea. Not sure I need my husband to see how big these guys get!

Stay tuned for pics tomorrow night!!!

Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

Carol,email me and I'll set you up for a visit.Bring boots.Vic

Hi, thanks for the reply. I feel rather like an idiot. The temps I quoted were way off. They were based on some assumptions. When you said it was too hot for the redfoot I immediately went and took measurements with a laser pointer type of thermometer. The results are 84 degree basking spot, one 80 degree corner and the other two corners are 76. Does this sound better? There is a 3 foot uv tube in there as well. Do you think that is too much uv for a redfoot? My older redfoot was raised under these conditions and she is a tad pyramided. Not bad but more than I would like to see. She does get outside by day maybe 30-50 days a year here in CT.

That is the older one.

Thank you very much for your time.

Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

The UV would be ok if filtered by pegboard or plants.They have to be close to work.Manouria comes from very dark places in the daytime.I have suspected eye damage.Suttle but it could effect its life in some mannor.Then again they have to have it so its catch 22.I just do it for short periods of time in a little corner of the cage when inside, and take them outside in something safe on a screened porch untill their a year old.Some "under heat" will help keep the moist area warm.I soak them and mist them heavy (get it in their face)As far as mixing,well.......here you go Terry,If you look from very far away.....they are allready mixed together.....on earth.(check for Parasites 2x yr.if they have simular enviro ok) pics juvy enc. about 5hr.Sun on one side the rest of the time filtered by plants or Shade.There are 20 in there hiding from the Sun.I took out the volenteers for the pic.Note how the enclosure for some adults in back round is very shaded.Vic

way out back adult enclosures

Thanks Vic and Terry. Soooo, am thinking for both the redfoot and burmese I should change the uv tube to at least something smaller like an 18" bulb on half the enclosure. I can add more plants to the indoor enclosure as well for more simulated shade.

My plan for outdoors this summer was some sort of wire rabbit cage in the shade on warm days.

Thanks!
Carole
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www.reptilecare.com