Q. I have two baby Western Painted turtles. What should be doing to keep them healthy.
A. Paints actually only get to about ten inches...
The rule of thumb posted by one poster is correct... however, a 50 gallon tank is a decent size for a SINGLE adult Paint. Since you have two, you'll want a minimum 75 gallon to give your turtles enough space. There's really no need to buy 100 gallon tank.
You need a submerged heater to keep the water at about 80 degrees, and a floating thermometer to monitor it.
Give them a nice habitat to live in... with plenty of artificial plants floating around to hide in, and something to lay on or under on the bottom of the tank-- like a rock cave, maybe or log.
They also need a dock to bask on with a heat lamp over it-- the lamp should maintain about 90 degrees. The lamp doesn't need to be on 24/7. I turn mine on for several hours a day-- some keep the lamps on all day and only switch them off at night. Either way is fine, so long as the turtles get some basking time each day.
For their diet, I recommend Repto Min floating sticks. You can get this at pretty much any pet store. Feed them the sticks once a a day, and and another food source once a day. Try fresh lettuce greens like romaine, kale, or mustard greens. Cherry tomatoes are great, too. And though adult turtles are primarily herbivore, the occasional meat is great in their diet. Mine get worms once a week and shrimp once a week. Try night crawlers, crickets, ghost shrimp, guppies, or shad. Also, the occasional cray fish.
The rule of thumb posted by one poster is correct... however, a 50 gallon tank is a decent size for a SINGLE adult Paint. Since you have two, you'll want a minimum 75 gallon to give your turtles enough space. There's really no need to buy 100 gallon tank.
You need a submerged heater to keep the water at about 80 degrees, and a floating thermometer to monitor it.
Give them a nice habitat to live in... with plenty of artificial plants floating around to hide in, and something to lay on or under on the bottom of the tank-- like a rock cave, maybe or log.
They also need a dock to bask on with a heat lamp over it-- the lamp should maintain about 90 degrees. The lamp doesn't need to be on 24/7. I turn mine on for several hours a day-- some keep the lamps on all day and only switch them off at night. Either way is fine, so long as the turtles get some basking time each day.
For their diet, I recommend Repto Min floating sticks. You can get this at pretty much any pet store. Feed them the sticks once a a day, and and another food source once a day. Try fresh lettuce greens like romaine, kale, or mustard greens. Cherry tomatoes are great, too. And though adult turtles are primarily herbivore, the occasional meat is great in their diet. Mine get worms once a week and shrimp once a week. Try night crawlers, crickets, ghost shrimp, guppies, or shad. Also, the occasional cray fish.
I am thinking about getting a bearded dragon, how much would all the accessories cost?
Q. I've been researching bearded dragons these last couple weeks and I am interested in getting one. I am an experienced pet owner when it comes to raising reptiles. I have raised snakes, turtles, and tortoises and am considering getting a baby bearded dragon soon. I want to set his tank up before i get him, any ideas on how much it would all cost?
A. First of all, you need this website: http://www.beardeddragon.org
You will learn everything you need there.
Secondly, DO NOT LISTEN TO ADVICE FROM THE PET STORE!! They don't know squat about caring for exotics, so make sure you know everything you need before you go, and don't let them talk you out of something you know to be true. That's why you need the above website!
Here is a basic list:
20g tank minimum. You'll need at least a 40g breeder when he's grown, so you may want to go ahead and get the bigger one. You can block off part of it if he seems intimidated by the size.
Craigslist is a great place to find cheap tanks.
Solid substrate for the bottom - Repticarpet, paper towels, non-adhesive shelf liner, or my favorite, tiles. Tiles are great. You only have to buy them once. They are super easy to clean and disinfect. They come in a lot of colors and styles so you can customize your look. They also help keep beardie's nails filed down. Sand, especially calcium sand, or any other particle substrate poses an impaction risk and should not be used for a dragon under one year old. And then washed childrens playsand is the only safe option. Please consider these cons about sand before you make a final decision, though.
*possible impaction risk
*have to keep buying it
*heavy
*hard to dump out for tank cleaning
*impossible to disinfect (it's important to disinfect any surface your dragon has pooped on because they do carry salmonella)
*stinks
**Absorbs moisture from poop, so that fecal bacteria is left behind even after you scoop out the solid waste. You dragon walks through this fecal matter and spreads it about his cage. He ends up living in what is basically a litter box.
**The left behind fecal bacteria can cause an increased risk of parasites
You can go real cheap here, pennies for paper towels or less than $10 for tiles.
Thermometer - A temp gun or digital indoor/outdoor therm with a probe on a wire. The stick on type are useless, and it's important that you accurately monitor your temps. The probe goes directly on the basking spot, and this temp should be 100-110. The cool side should stay around 80.
Wal Mart sells the Acurite Digital Weather Station for $12. It is an indoor/outdoor therm with the probe and works perfect for this application.
Heat bulb and fixture - Lowes and Wal Mart both have metal dome work light fixtures. These work great. The bulb can be just a regular household bulb. You might need to try different wattages to see which one gives you the temps you need. Usually a 75W or 100W will do.
Bulb <$1, Fixure: $10
UVB bulb and fixture - AVOID THE COMPACT COIL. Linear fluorescents provide the best UVB (besides MVB bulbs, but you can learn about that on bd.org) and REPTISUN 10.0 (not ReptiGLO) is the best fluor bulb on the US market. You can get the fixture at Lowes or Wal Mart for a reasonable price. Make sure the fixture does not have a glass or plastic shield over the light. Glass and plastic both completely filter UVB. The bulbs are way cheaper if you order them online from somewhere like Pet Mountain.
Bulb: $30-$60 depending on which type you get. The fluor needs to be replaced ever 6 months and the MVB just once a year so the yearly costs are about the same.
Fixture: 24" fluor fixture at Wal Mart for $8, or the work light fixture for MVB for $10.
Then you'll want some cage furniture, a basking rock or log, a hide if you like (although a hide isn't really necessary), some fake greenery to make it pretty. You might want to consider something to enclose 3 sides of your tank. Some beardies freak out about all the visibility, but some don't seem to notice. I used fake bamboo blinds to do this and it looked great.
You'll need a plan for your live feeders. Again, way cheaper to buy in bulk online than a few at a time at the pet store (and healthier too, no doubt). A 20 qt or bigger plastic tub does nicely. Cut a hole in the lid and hot glue or duct tape some screen on top for ventilation. You can learn all you need about caring for your crix at bd.org, and you can also learn about other feeders.
Here's a good website to tell you which veggies are good for your dragon:
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.co…
Okay, just as important, I will give you a list of things NOT to get, no matter what the pet store tells you!
*calcium sand
*crushed walnut shells
*any substrate that has particles
*stick on thermometers
*crickets bigger than the space between his eyes
*mealworms
*compact coil UVB bulbs
*heat pad
*blue or red night light
You will learn everything you need there.
Secondly, DO NOT LISTEN TO ADVICE FROM THE PET STORE!! They don't know squat about caring for exotics, so make sure you know everything you need before you go, and don't let them talk you out of something you know to be true. That's why you need the above website!
Here is a basic list:
20g tank minimum. You'll need at least a 40g breeder when he's grown, so you may want to go ahead and get the bigger one. You can block off part of it if he seems intimidated by the size.
Craigslist is a great place to find cheap tanks.
Solid substrate for the bottom - Repticarpet, paper towels, non-adhesive shelf liner, or my favorite, tiles. Tiles are great. You only have to buy them once. They are super easy to clean and disinfect. They come in a lot of colors and styles so you can customize your look. They also help keep beardie's nails filed down. Sand, especially calcium sand, or any other particle substrate poses an impaction risk and should not be used for a dragon under one year old. And then washed childrens playsand is the only safe option. Please consider these cons about sand before you make a final decision, though.
*possible impaction risk
*have to keep buying it
*heavy
*hard to dump out for tank cleaning
*impossible to disinfect (it's important to disinfect any surface your dragon has pooped on because they do carry salmonella)
*stinks
**Absorbs moisture from poop, so that fecal bacteria is left behind even after you scoop out the solid waste. You dragon walks through this fecal matter and spreads it about his cage. He ends up living in what is basically a litter box.
**The left behind fecal bacteria can cause an increased risk of parasites
You can go real cheap here, pennies for paper towels or less than $10 for tiles.
Thermometer - A temp gun or digital indoor/outdoor therm with a probe on a wire. The stick on type are useless, and it's important that you accurately monitor your temps. The probe goes directly on the basking spot, and this temp should be 100-110. The cool side should stay around 80.
Wal Mart sells the Acurite Digital Weather Station for $12. It is an indoor/outdoor therm with the probe and works perfect for this application.
Heat bulb and fixture - Lowes and Wal Mart both have metal dome work light fixtures. These work great. The bulb can be just a regular household bulb. You might need to try different wattages to see which one gives you the temps you need. Usually a 75W or 100W will do.
Bulb <$1, Fixure: $10
UVB bulb and fixture - AVOID THE COMPACT COIL. Linear fluorescents provide the best UVB (besides MVB bulbs, but you can learn about that on bd.org) and REPTISUN 10.0 (not ReptiGLO) is the best fluor bulb on the US market. You can get the fixture at Lowes or Wal Mart for a reasonable price. Make sure the fixture does not have a glass or plastic shield over the light. Glass and plastic both completely filter UVB. The bulbs are way cheaper if you order them online from somewhere like Pet Mountain.
Bulb: $30-$60 depending on which type you get. The fluor needs to be replaced ever 6 months and the MVB just once a year so the yearly costs are about the same.
Fixture: 24" fluor fixture at Wal Mart for $8, or the work light fixture for MVB for $10.
Then you'll want some cage furniture, a basking rock or log, a hide if you like (although a hide isn't really necessary), some fake greenery to make it pretty. You might want to consider something to enclose 3 sides of your tank. Some beardies freak out about all the visibility, but some don't seem to notice. I used fake bamboo blinds to do this and it looked great.
You'll need a plan for your live feeders. Again, way cheaper to buy in bulk online than a few at a time at the pet store (and healthier too, no doubt). A 20 qt or bigger plastic tub does nicely. Cut a hole in the lid and hot glue or duct tape some screen on top for ventilation. You can learn all you need about caring for your crix at bd.org, and you can also learn about other feeders.
Here's a good website to tell you which veggies are good for your dragon:
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.co…
Okay, just as important, I will give you a list of things NOT to get, no matter what the pet store tells you!
*calcium sand
*crushed walnut shells
*any substrate that has particles
*stick on thermometers
*crickets bigger than the space between his eyes
*mealworms
*compact coil UVB bulbs
*heat pad
*blue or red night light
Any good remedies for getting rid of a headache..?
Q. I've had a headache all day, and I want it gone :( but I can't swallow pills and I already took baby asprin in the morning, and I took some liquid childrens medicine almost two hours ago. but it still won't go away. it's at bay right now, like it doesn't hurt as much but it's still bothering me a lot. and I can feel it like behind my right eye. and tips or remedies are appreciated. thanks in advance!
A. IHave you seen an orthodontist/dentist to be examined for TMJ/TMD. Tension stress from your TM joint in your jaw can make you sickly with migraines if out of place even a smidge.I got it from a jolt to my head and the tmj muscles stretched out causing sickening headaches, face pain and ear aches. Please check even with your doctor about it.
Many things can trigger a HEADACHES/MIGRAINES: using your arm in an awkward way (bowling) when you don't normally do that, lack of food (skipping meals), head resting in a hairdressers sink, going to a concert with light show, video game screen with fast movements & flashing lights, staring in the light (sun) constantly on your eyes...etc.
You may want to check your settings on all your digital items that you are using. Each device you use has a warning that MANY COMPLETELY IGNORE. Go under your settings for your screen settings on your computer, laptops, televisions, monitors, digital games, etc. AND LOWER THE BRIGHTNESS ON THE SCREEN.
Also, don't forget that all these items are a heat source and depending on how close you are to the item you are using, you are affecting your personal body sources. (ie. flickering lights affect the eyes, laptops on laps affect fluids. etc.)
You may be completely dehydrated if you aren't drinking adequates amounts of water daily. Here's a guide to help you figure out how much water you require daily for your weight.
? Your Weight Times (.5) Equals Divided By 8oz (or 1 Cup) Equals # Cups of Water/Day
• 150lbs x .5 = 75/8 = 9 Cups of Water/day
• 175lbs x .5 = /8 = 11 Cups of Water/day
• 200lbs x .5 = 100/8 = 12.5 Cups Water/day
If you take your medication with an extra caffeine drink, it will hit your system faster, but that only means enough to swallow the medication and wash it down. It does not mean drink an entire can or you will suffer from extreme caffeine withdrawal (rebound migraines).
1. I used to use a combination of medications which included 400mg Ibuprofen 4x a day with food. This takes the swelling and inflammation down. DO NOT exceed1600mg in one day and you may need prilosec for stomach protection as ALL ANTI INFLAMMATORIES are difficult on the stomach. ***You can use Tylenol with Ibuprofen and Aspirin watch for daily maximums & don't exceed.
2. Robaxacet is Tylenol (acetominophen) combined with methocarbonal (muscle relaxant)...this also comes with codeine on request from the pharmacist. This only relaxes any tight muscles around the pain and helps reduce some pain. You can use Robaxacet with Ibuprofen and Aspirin, BUT NOT Tylenol as it's already an ingredient in this pill.
3. Robaxacyl is Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) combines with methocarbonal (muscle relaxant)...this has a blood thinning active ingredient and isn't ideal for anyone under age 16 years or complications with blood pressure, ailments, etc. This both takes down the inflammation as well as treats the pain.You can use Robaxacyl with Ibuprofen and Tylenol, BUT NOT Aspirin as it's already an ingredient in this pill.
------------------------------...
4. Aleve is a Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory (Naproxen) which will helps reduce the inflammation, and as the inflammation decreases so does the pain; BUT you CANNOT mix this drug with any of the above mentioned safely.
5. Dynamint has been used on horses legs for years, but it does an amazing job on sore neck muscles. It's ingredients are Peppermint Oil, Eucalyptus Oil , Tea Tree Oil and Calendula Oil.
6. Deep Cold Gold is an alternative rub that works very well on tight aching tendons on your upper shoulders, neck and TMJ joints.
When I was 16 years old I had severe tension headaches that made the ligament behind my ear pop out like a big ole bump. The doctor prescribed a low dose of Elavil (amitryptaline) & it was gone within days. The Elavil in high doses is used for depression but they use it for car accidents because it relaxes the muscles from whiplash.
If you experience a headache with ANY LOSS OF WEAKNESS, SLURRING, IMBALANCE or FEVER, then you need to seek medical attention immediately for a consult to make sure there isn't something more serious going on.
Many things can trigger a HEADACHES/MIGRAINES: using your arm in an awkward way (bowling) when you don't normally do that, lack of food (skipping meals), head resting in a hairdressers sink, going to a concert with light show, video game screen with fast movements & flashing lights, staring in the light (sun) constantly on your eyes...etc.
You may want to check your settings on all your digital items that you are using. Each device you use has a warning that MANY COMPLETELY IGNORE. Go under your settings for your screen settings on your computer, laptops, televisions, monitors, digital games, etc. AND LOWER THE BRIGHTNESS ON THE SCREEN.
Also, don't forget that all these items are a heat source and depending on how close you are to the item you are using, you are affecting your personal body sources. (ie. flickering lights affect the eyes, laptops on laps affect fluids. etc.)
You may be completely dehydrated if you aren't drinking adequates amounts of water daily. Here's a guide to help you figure out how much water you require daily for your weight.
? Your Weight Times (.5) Equals Divided By 8oz (or 1 Cup) Equals # Cups of Water/Day
• 150lbs x .5 = 75/8 = 9 Cups of Water/day
• 175lbs x .5 = /8 = 11 Cups of Water/day
• 200lbs x .5 = 100/8 = 12.5 Cups Water/day
If you take your medication with an extra caffeine drink, it will hit your system faster, but that only means enough to swallow the medication and wash it down. It does not mean drink an entire can or you will suffer from extreme caffeine withdrawal (rebound migraines).
1. I used to use a combination of medications which included 400mg Ibuprofen 4x a day with food. This takes the swelling and inflammation down. DO NOT exceed1600mg in one day and you may need prilosec for stomach protection as ALL ANTI INFLAMMATORIES are difficult on the stomach. ***You can use Tylenol with Ibuprofen and Aspirin watch for daily maximums & don't exceed.
2. Robaxacet is Tylenol (acetominophen) combined with methocarbonal (muscle relaxant)...this also comes with codeine on request from the pharmacist. This only relaxes any tight muscles around the pain and helps reduce some pain. You can use Robaxacet with Ibuprofen and Aspirin, BUT NOT Tylenol as it's already an ingredient in this pill.
3. Robaxacyl is Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) combines with methocarbonal (muscle relaxant)...this has a blood thinning active ingredient and isn't ideal for anyone under age 16 years or complications with blood pressure, ailments, etc. This both takes down the inflammation as well as treats the pain.You can use Robaxacyl with Ibuprofen and Tylenol, BUT NOT Aspirin as it's already an ingredient in this pill.
------------------------------...
4. Aleve is a Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory (Naproxen) which will helps reduce the inflammation, and as the inflammation decreases so does the pain; BUT you CANNOT mix this drug with any of the above mentioned safely.
5. Dynamint has been used on horses legs for years, but it does an amazing job on sore neck muscles. It's ingredients are Peppermint Oil, Eucalyptus Oil , Tea Tree Oil and Calendula Oil.
6. Deep Cold Gold is an alternative rub that works very well on tight aching tendons on your upper shoulders, neck and TMJ joints.
When I was 16 years old I had severe tension headaches that made the ligament behind my ear pop out like a big ole bump. The doctor prescribed a low dose of Elavil (amitryptaline) & it was gone within days. The Elavil in high doses is used for depression but they use it for car accidents because it relaxes the muscles from whiplash.
If you experience a headache with ANY LOSS OF WEAKNESS, SLURRING, IMBALANCE or FEVER, then you need to seek medical attention immediately for a consult to make sure there isn't something more serious going on.
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Title Post: How should i take care of my baby Western Painted Turtles?
Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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