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I'm doing reading about T's. The book said a fall of only a few centimeters can be fatal. Well my substrate must have been very soft, because my Red-Kneed fell eleven inches about five times.

When I first got him I was mistaken in thinking the substrate has to be damp. My poor T climbed the glass up to the lid, where he hung out all day. Several times I flicked the lid, making him fall to the ground. I was astonished to learn that falls are dangerous.
Then it sort of made sense. T's don't have any adaptation to falling, because in natural conditions they never fall.
Then I really worried whether he was dead in his burrow, so I carefully dug him up. He had made quite a nice cave for himself. He has the right environment and available water now, with no crickets to pester him. I assume he hasn't started to excavate again because the surface is more friendly to him now. Live and learn; I'm glad he didn't pay the price for my ignorance.

Clffdvr

If you-all were not there to help me, my Red-Kneed would have died by now. With your advice, he has a comfortable home. I really like that little guy (3-inch diameter).

If a ten gallon tank is too large, what size tank would be best for him?

Roge

Falls can be very dangerous, but at your Ts size, it has a better chance of being unharmed than if it was full grown. The thing is that their abdomens can get very large and heavy and the force of falling can rupture them, especially if they happen to land on something hard or sharp. You're right, terrestrial Ts are not built to climb, they can and will, but it is not their element. Arboreal Ts are built quite a bit differently, and can fall from great heights and come out unscathed.
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KJ Vezino
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