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deborahbroadus

deborahbroadus

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Hello, My name is Samwise. I am named after the LOTR's character because of my steadfast temperament and loyalty to my owner.

My owner loves me to death, she makes sure to give plenty of veggies, fruit and turtle food. My all time favorite treat is green grapes!

BARBQUE068.jpg


To make sure I had enough sunshine, she was nice enough to build me a pen outside (she's not handy and I promised I wouldn't mention the cuss words she let loose everytime she hit her finger instead of a nail. :eek: She can be a bit of a potty-mouth sometimes. :eek:

Samwiseescapes006.jpg


Now that it's getting colder, she has brought me inside and to ensure that I have enough belly heat and all around heat (did you know that if I don't have sufficient heat to digest my food, it will run right out of me?) I have heating pads on each end..one is stronger than the other and keeps me warm..the other end just keeps me from getting too cold. She has a me in front of a window that she monitors for heat, and she also provided me with a "sunlight" lamp.

At first my habitant had a screen top..but it didn't hold humidtity very well, and mama is too busy to spray every day and I am naughty...I always overturn the foggers she puts in...

samwiseandbambam016.jpg


so she did this:
Chanillypurchases2007001.jpg


This is great..my humidity is fine, she has insulation around the sides...this is an old tall aquarium that she turned on the sides, wrapped aluminium around the sides and bottom on top of the UTHS to create a tropical feel.

Chanillypurchases2007003.jpg


She's always trying to come up with new ideas to make my life easier. This summer she's going to get me an outside container...and put some heat under a dog house. I can't wait to see where I am going next..I do love to wander!
 
i was just was reminded that UVB though glass is not effective! Apparently, I have forgotten my elementary Biology lessons...back to the drawing board.

BTW..Thanks Tracie :yesnod: for the information on the dangers of the UVB lights involving strengths and distances! Now..what to do...ummmmm :eek:
 
This is the set up that I had previously...humidty is awesome, but as I was reminded, the UVB bulb had to go though glass, which wasn't an effective conductor of the rays.

Chanillypurchases2007001-1.jpg


I had though to just put Samwise in the tub on some substrate with a large flat pan for bathing, drinking etc...but AHHHH! I'll be having guests for both Thanksgiving and Christmas..so can't convert the bathtub. This is what I did instead...

November32007010.jpg



Here he is eating a slice of mango.

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So for weekends the door will be open and the UVB rays will be shining in the tank rather than though. Any thoughts?
 
Your owner really loves you!

Next time ya'll are talking, suggest that she get a piece of plywood from Home Depot, have them cut to fit the top of your aquarium. Then have them cut a 10 inch diameter hole in the piece. Get a piece of metal screening and tack it securely on the underside of the hole. Place your UVB light there, and the rest will be sealed to keep in all that great humidity. Tell her to be sure to use the right UVB bulb for the hieght of the light over your yellow head. She can paint it too!

She's on the right track. I've messed endlessly with Lucy's habitat.

Lucy said to tell you "Hi!"


LUCY

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Luuuuuucy! That's a beautiful name, almost as pretty as the owner! Can I have a better look at your place? I like that rock moif you have going on, and your pool/waterdish decoration is awesome.

I spoke with Miss Deb, and we looked over my place..I can do rocks, but she explained to me that the top that can actually be taken off has become the side/front because she laid the aquarium on its side to give me more "roaming" room. The way she explained it to me is, if she set the aquarium upright as it's supposed to be, I would not have a lot of room and it would be as if I were in a "cell" with only a few inches to move either way with the water dish and hide in there.

She was looking for options of cutting though the glass..but hasn't hit on anything yet. Do you have any suggestions?
 
Yes, I see your problem with roaming room.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...
 
She will only get to be about 10 inches full grown, so her enclosure should last her lifetime.
 
mateomasfeo said:
She will only get to be about 10 inches full grown, so her enclosure should last her lifetime.
Click to expand...
OK-- where do I get one?! lol

That's awesome usually torts get kinda big, or atleast I thought they do.
:thumbsup:
 
IloveSnakes1234 said:
Wowza! That is a nice set-up. You said she's 4 years old... she looks so small! Are they small like that all their life?
Click to expand...

Four years old? I missed that part. She is pretty small for a 4 year old, and they get the size of footballs if fed properly.

I did research on the food..a lot of people have been feeding their turtles toxic plants and fruits unknowingly. Up until the bad weather, Samwise was living outside. He got out of his pen and wandered away (or was stolen) either way he ended back up here and it was cold and I wasn't prepared to house inside him because I had not thought that I would see him again.

I had some 2 beanfarm cages like you have, I donated them at the Chantilly show!! :shootfoot I thought that they were too dark inside for Samwise..darn!
 
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