NEWBIE ADVICE
Posted: 20 Nov 2020, 12:55
Hi All, new to to the forum and looking for some advice. We have a young Horsfield called Jack(ie) and we're not 100% on age but were advised 8 months when we got him 3 months ago, so on that he's around 11 months. He's currently 6.5cm in length and weight is a bit up and down, currently 43grams - the same as the day we got him.
I plan on doing a more detailed post with images etc at a later point - but very quickly looking for some guidance.
Basically, he's not ever been particularly active and spends 99% of the time asleep, pretty much ignores food and obviously doesn't poo or urinate often.
My suspicion is the temps are off and he maybe be trying to hibernate, and possibly trying to counter this we've gone too hot and aestivation is now happening. Which has stunted his appetite. I'd say he eats 5 mouthfuls tops, every other day or so. And will poo 3-4 times a week and I only witness urination about once a week. The change in behaviour from when we had him, coincided with the change in light and temperature outside, more evidence he's trying to do what's natural for him.
Temperature
I've monitored temps since we've had him and I've gone from using a small stick on thermometer, to a point and click - to now using a probe. I'm finding lots of contradictory info regarding temperature. Some places say basking of 30, 18-20 in cool end. Yet I got scolded on another forum for this, and told it was way too cold and 36 should be basking temp for a hatchling.
Currently my temp under the lamp at shell height is 34.7 and at night it's around 15 where he sleeps. We have to put him under the lamp as he won't go himself, he has 30/45 mins there and then we bath him for 20mins, in the enclosure half under the lamp. We were only bathing previously for 10mins outside of the enclosure, and the water wouldn't stay warm for long. Not sure if that had an impact either. His cool end is 18-20, varies slightly. I'd say he spends most of his time in the 20ish area.
I've got a ceramic bulb to try out at night, as I'm not sure if it might be getting a bit too cold.
So, questions are - what's your opinion? Too hot or too cold, bit of both? Also, what's best at night?
Food/eating habits
He's always been a fussy eater, which surprises me when I read about what gannets they tend be. We offer mixed leafy green leaves made up generally of weeds/plants from the garden and occasionally supermarket bought salad leaves, like lambs’ lettuce, frisee, radicchio and watercress.
Examples of what we offer - Dandelion, Nipplewort, Bellflower (leaf and flower), plantain, Sow thistle... there are others, but most have disappeared now with the time of year. Nothing stands out as a favourite. Sometimes he seems to like one over another, then the opposite another day (when he does eat). I am currently only offering 1 kind of leaf per day, to see if there is a particular fancy and try that for a bit to get his appetite up - but as of yet he's a bit 'meh' to it all.
Does he eat, yes - so I'm not terribly worried. Does he eat often and much, no - so I am wary of this. I'd say he's a bit random when it comes to eating. Some days he will ignore outright, others he'll take a nibble then ignore and sometimes he actually will eat a larger amount. There have been occasions he's walked off, then when we put him back, he actually eats. He also sometimes will go to eat and struggle to get a hold of anything and then give up and wander off. It maybe this is normal behaviour, but the fact his weight is all over the place is what's mainly the concern. On a side note we sprinkle calcium/vitamins on his food daily and I sometimes wonder if he smells that and it puts him off. He also sometimes will have a go at non-food items, like bark in the enclosure or my thumb nail.lol
Questions are... When do you recommend feeding? Is it normal to have off days and give up?
Weight
We weigh him weekly and whilst he's not seemingly 100% I shall continue to do so. He was 43 grams on arrival, and slowly went up to 52 grams (which seemed high), then came down to 44, back up to 50 and now down to 43 again. He's a proper yoyo dieter. He's definitely eating less this last few weeks than prior, so that would explain the fall. If my understanding is correct, we should be looking to see 3-9 grams of growth by now.
I guess it's normal for weight to be a bit up and down, but should obviously be on the up overall. Which I shall plot onto a graph to see if there is a trend line. I suspect it'd be flat.
Overall health
He seems good actually. He walks around fine and does change his location in the enclosure throughout the day, he has 3 spots he seems to like. His eyes are nice and black, no gunk or tears. His nose is always dry and no bubbles. His skin looks ok and his shell looks ok. So again, I'm not panicking yet. I have started to mist his topsoil daily now, as I noticed him rubbing his eyes - this fixed that.
I thought I'd mentioned his enclosure is a tabletop, 3ft by 2ft roughly, with a 100w combination bulb suspended in far-right back corner (I'll do pics in another post). We use sterilised topsoil and he has 4 hides, 2 water dishes and eats off slate.
I may be worrying over nothing but would greatly appreciate any input and advice you can offer.
Thanks in advance,
Lee
I plan on doing a more detailed post with images etc at a later point - but very quickly looking for some guidance.
Basically, he's not ever been particularly active and spends 99% of the time asleep, pretty much ignores food and obviously doesn't poo or urinate often.
My suspicion is the temps are off and he maybe be trying to hibernate, and possibly trying to counter this we've gone too hot and aestivation is now happening. Which has stunted his appetite. I'd say he eats 5 mouthfuls tops, every other day or so. And will poo 3-4 times a week and I only witness urination about once a week. The change in behaviour from when we had him, coincided with the change in light and temperature outside, more evidence he's trying to do what's natural for him.
Temperature
I've monitored temps since we've had him and I've gone from using a small stick on thermometer, to a point and click - to now using a probe. I'm finding lots of contradictory info regarding temperature. Some places say basking of 30, 18-20 in cool end. Yet I got scolded on another forum for this, and told it was way too cold and 36 should be basking temp for a hatchling.
Currently my temp under the lamp at shell height is 34.7 and at night it's around 15 where he sleeps. We have to put him under the lamp as he won't go himself, he has 30/45 mins there and then we bath him for 20mins, in the enclosure half under the lamp. We were only bathing previously for 10mins outside of the enclosure, and the water wouldn't stay warm for long. Not sure if that had an impact either. His cool end is 18-20, varies slightly. I'd say he spends most of his time in the 20ish area.
I've got a ceramic bulb to try out at night, as I'm not sure if it might be getting a bit too cold.
So, questions are - what's your opinion? Too hot or too cold, bit of both? Also, what's best at night?
Food/eating habits
He's always been a fussy eater, which surprises me when I read about what gannets they tend be. We offer mixed leafy green leaves made up generally of weeds/plants from the garden and occasionally supermarket bought salad leaves, like lambs’ lettuce, frisee, radicchio and watercress.
Examples of what we offer - Dandelion, Nipplewort, Bellflower (leaf and flower), plantain, Sow thistle... there are others, but most have disappeared now with the time of year. Nothing stands out as a favourite. Sometimes he seems to like one over another, then the opposite another day (when he does eat). I am currently only offering 1 kind of leaf per day, to see if there is a particular fancy and try that for a bit to get his appetite up - but as of yet he's a bit 'meh' to it all.
Does he eat, yes - so I'm not terribly worried. Does he eat often and much, no - so I am wary of this. I'd say he's a bit random when it comes to eating. Some days he will ignore outright, others he'll take a nibble then ignore and sometimes he actually will eat a larger amount. There have been occasions he's walked off, then when we put him back, he actually eats. He also sometimes will go to eat and struggle to get a hold of anything and then give up and wander off. It maybe this is normal behaviour, but the fact his weight is all over the place is what's mainly the concern. On a side note we sprinkle calcium/vitamins on his food daily and I sometimes wonder if he smells that and it puts him off. He also sometimes will have a go at non-food items, like bark in the enclosure or my thumb nail.lol
Questions are... When do you recommend feeding? Is it normal to have off days and give up?
Weight
We weigh him weekly and whilst he's not seemingly 100% I shall continue to do so. He was 43 grams on arrival, and slowly went up to 52 grams (which seemed high), then came down to 44, back up to 50 and now down to 43 again. He's a proper yoyo dieter. He's definitely eating less this last few weeks than prior, so that would explain the fall. If my understanding is correct, we should be looking to see 3-9 grams of growth by now.
I guess it's normal for weight to be a bit up and down, but should obviously be on the up overall. Which I shall plot onto a graph to see if there is a trend line. I suspect it'd be flat.
Overall health
He seems good actually. He walks around fine and does change his location in the enclosure throughout the day, he has 3 spots he seems to like. His eyes are nice and black, no gunk or tears. His nose is always dry and no bubbles. His skin looks ok and his shell looks ok. So again, I'm not panicking yet. I have started to mist his topsoil daily now, as I noticed him rubbing his eyes - this fixed that.
I thought I'd mentioned his enclosure is a tabletop, 3ft by 2ft roughly, with a 100w combination bulb suspended in far-right back corner (I'll do pics in another post). We use sterilised topsoil and he has 4 hides, 2 water dishes and eats off slate.
I may be worrying over nothing but would greatly appreciate any input and advice you can offer.
Thanks in advance,
Lee