Geochelone sulcata Keeping Profile

Recognizing
Geochelone sulcata as turtles (Geochelone sulcata) is the world's third mainland turtles, a long up to 80 cm above. Habitat in the Sahara desert region, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia. They have brown or yellow oval carapace clemency, in a front-end and back end was on the verge of Juchi Zhuang, terminal on the edge slightly Qiaoqi, carapace length on a ring of growth patterns. Su Kada of Fujia was Ivory, the end of Fujiakaicha. Their skin was pale yellow or brown, skin is very thick sheet roughness. Su Kada is a rapid growth, the strong tropical medical giant tortoises, tropical farming areas outside must have their heating equipment, and you will have sufficient financial and psychological preparation, because they are really much too heavy, And they can accompany you more than half a century! Once you have decided to keep Su Kada, you must provide them with adequate feeding space, sound equipment, and with a reasonable diet, and they will be successful when you raised to 80 cm, Su Kada that powerful and you keep the momentum The sense of achievement is not comparable to other small pets can!

Optional
We first proposed the purchase of artificial entity, not to buy wild Su Kada. In addition to the protection of wild resources, the state of health of the individual to better adapt to the environment and the ability to accept artificial feed strong. Do not buy too small turtles (Fujia less than 5 cm), generally 8 cm above the higher survival rate of young turtles. Attention should be paid to whether the turtle's eyes of God, tears or a runny nose, nasal cavity and not to buy. Second is holding turtles, tortoises feel heavier, powerful limbs to be, when the limbs to crawl to Cheng Qi Wen Wen whole body. I have anal stool residue of a gastrointestinal disease may be individual, not easy to feed. Tortoiseshell check whether hard, soft tortoiseshell is a calcium deficiency, if tortoiseshell Qiaoqi, gray or red patch and then with a strange smell may be a rotten. (During transport is often caused by internal injuries squeeze)

Device



1, the basic equipment
Keeping me x1, heating pad or ceramic heater x1, Thermostat x1, pad material, basins x1, Shipen x1, hiding caves x1, UVB x1, reptiles lights x1, thermometer x2, Paoshui basins x1, clean Towel x1.

2, keeping me
It is hard to say how much the Su Kada keeping the environment is appropriate, because they grow very rapidly, so in keeping this giant land tortoises, you may need to constantly change your keeping me. In general, about 8 cm for the larvae, a standard reptile me (of 60 cm) Nengcheng 2 years. With the growth, you have to gradually expand the farming environment, the general requirements of keeping me at least the length of at least five times Fujia turtles, tortoises reached wide-body three times. And when your turtle to 50 cm long over, you can be in the summer of Su Kada backyard in the balcony, and so, but the winter you have the right size for their custom of keeping me or use a small open air-conditioned room Feeding me to do the. Feeding me the material can be a Chinese fir, Tongmu or plastic, but the precondition is that ventilation and keeping me to be keeping me the material did not smell or toxic chemical pollution.

3, heating equipment
Do not use heating stone, tortoises, heating the stone is the worst heating equipment. Tortoises, especially the young turtles, crustaceans and the skin is very sensitive to temperature, and heating-will often cause serious and even fatal burns. The tortoises, the best is at the bottom of heating equipment heating pad. In the wild, Su Kada through the sun to raise the body temperature of sunbathing, because the reptiles mainly through breathing to regulate body temperature, which means the air temperature decision reptile's body temperature. Therefore, ceramic heater for the tortoises is great heating equipment. Heating equipment to be equipped with temperature control for use, so that a constant temperature in an appropriate range.

4, lighting
If you can not be a day of the Su Kada certain amount of direct exposure to the sun, then you need to UVB light to help them produce vitamin D3, which they absorb calcium bone growth is very important. UVB when purchasing professionals should pay attention to the reptile shop to avoid buying fake to purchase the UVB light. UVB lights should be placed in a shelter and feeding me to the top of the general open 10 hours a day around Su Kada can to ensure that sufficient quantity to absorb UVB. UVB light is generally the life of six months, six months after the even-lights also, but in fact has not fired a UVB. Therefore, we must do a good job record for timely replacement of UVB light. Other lighting equipment is mainly used for viewing, usually used at night, the best use of red lights, because the reptiles on the red sensors weak, will not cause adverse reactions.

5, pad material
In the wild, like Wa Dong Su Kada, because they have to hide in the relative cool of the cave to escape the scorching sun and humidity while maintaining the body. Therefore, we should try to meet their mining instincts of this. In general, dry grass, tree bark, such as tablets are good pad material. But pine wood not suitable as a cushion material, because of their oil will Suka Da respiratory harm. Other materials not suitable for the pad is also available in pure yellow sand, shells and so on. In laying pad material, it is best in the pad material to pad several layers below the newspaper, so the turtles through the pad material wastes will be absorbed newspapers will not be contaminated bottom, while clean-up also more convenient.

6, other equipment
Basins and Shipen to maximize Diping, not too high. If the turtles to be very difficult to climb up to cannibalism, it may sometimes lead tortoises overturned, and if they can not Fanguo Shen will lead to suffocation. Suitable size to avoid holes to get possession of turtles can prevail, they finished a general will to rest, a dark quiet environment to ease their pressure, which bought the turtles of the new especially important.

Environment
Su Kada should buy pre-arrangement for a stable environment, this will help reduce the pressure on Su Kada, at the same time helping them to more quickly adapt to the new environment.


1, ventilation and humidity
First, the ventilation, ventilation and keeping me must maintain a good, or easily lead to disease. Therefore, keeping the two sides to punch me or with Shachuang or blinds, should not use the kind of sultry confined containers for keeping Su Kada, such as fish tank. Because it is desert tortoises, Su Kada keeping the humidity can not be too high, Su Kada general control of 40 percent to 50 percent within the scope of the most appropriate, should not exceed 70 percent.

2, temperature
For heating equipment, they will not keep me at the central, it should be kept at the end of me, so help to create a temperature gradient for the tortoises to choose a suitable temperature, low temperature and high temperature zone in the area of placing a Thermometer, this will help the temperature inside a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

If you use is at the bottom of heating equipment (heating pad), the high temperature zone thermometer must be placed in the heating pad at the bottom of the box, because the bottom will be higher than the temperature inside the air temperature, the temperature is the bottom Keeping the actual temperature, if too high will cause burns. Avoid holes should be placed in low temperature, because the tortoises rest, the temperature is too high they will dehydration.

It should be noted that some people will think that Su Kada is desert tortoises, so it is necessary to very high temperature, which is completely wrong! Su Kada in the wild because of the hottest time of day will be hiding in caves to escape the hot desert. So should control the temperature gradient between 23-30 degrees Celsius most appropriate. If keeping me a long time the temperature higher than 35 degrees centigrade, then there will be Antifeedant Su Kada, dehydration and even death, the young turtles in the most vulnerable.


3, other accessories
For a number of other decorative items here I suggest you not to place, if we need to do so, in your sulcata fully adapted to the environment after considering placing. Because these things (such as rockery stones, etc.) is likely to lead to tortoises overturned caused by suffocation, especially not adapt to the environment Su Kada. Some decorations may also with the tortoises harmful chemical substances, it should be set up to avoid redundant.

Feeding

1, the staple food
In the wild, Su Kada is the staple food of all kinds of weeds, grass and alfalfa grass, in their growth process, requires a large amount of high-fiber foods. In other words, you can put your cattle Su Kada when the same support, because their diet structure is very similar. Su Kada diet of 75 percent should be weeds, grass and alfalfa grass.

2, how to get grass
Su Kada require substantial forage for its growth to provide adequate fiber. You can buy from the pet market for forage (alfalfa grass), which is relatively safe practice. If you live in the relatively remote areas or rural areas, you can forage its own collection, but bearing in mind not to pluck the roadside weeds, because these weeds may be from automobile exhaust pollution. At the same time can not collect green belt area of weeds, because the grass here often with pesticides. In fact, there is a judgement whether the grass is a good way of pesticides is to see whether there is a grasshopper Caodui, such as insects, if Caodui, insects and more, you can rest assured collection. Collecting good grass regardless of whether the pesticide should be清水中浸泡at least two hours and then dried under the sun save. Grass should be stored in a dry ventilated place, even if they have a hay Wu Fang, as the main element of the fiber will not be lost. However, you may be at the Su Kada not accept hay, okay, sternly heart Dayton just a few hungry.
If you live in places not suitable acquisition can not buy or forage grass, you can try to grow their own. You can buy from the market on alfalfa grass seed, and then planted in the flower pots, and then flat on the window, pouring a water every day, this president very quickly weeds. Feeding, as long as you weed cutting off the top, not injury to the grassroots, so you have to enjoy the Su Kada countless fresh pasture!

3, auxiliary food
Su Kada of the remaining 25 percent is eating all kinds of vegetables or plant leaves. For example, mustard greens, green cabbage, watercress, You Maicai, the first grass, grape leaves and dandelion, and so on. At the same time careful not to feed beet, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, corn, beans teeth, tomatoes and various beans and any high-protein plant. Fruit should not feeding, you can feed cactus instead. Would also like to note that no food should ensure that no pesticides and other chemicals by the pollution. Feeding also to dried leaves, the above should not have too much moisture, not easy Laxi.
<br> 4, food intake
Su Kada food for the growth is very important, must be careful not to over-feeding Su Kada, especially the young turtles, or very easy for the back-long phenomenon. The birth of the young turtles within six months, the daily feeding volume should not exceed 1 / 4 cup (about a cup of 250 ml capacity), rather less than more. Within six months to one year in the Su Kada feeding of 1 / 2 cup about a year or so Su Kada daily food intake should be controlled at about 1 cup, followed by gradual increase with the growth of food intake. Do not eat it gave the number of how many, because they seem to have unlimited appetite, the consequences of doing so is likely to grow too fast because the body and bones, unable to keep up with crustaceans, the last of a series of problems. In short, control of food intake to make them slow and steady growth is the key to raising good Su Kada.r><br> Propagation
Sulcata tortoises are large, generally keeping the family environment to breed, there is no relevant domestic breeding success of the report. Although Su Kada of wild resources are scarce, but in the United States and other countries have large breeding success of those large-scale breeding grounds is through the wild to breed the large Su Kada.r> General Su Kada of sexual maturity in more than 20 years, individual male to mature earlier than females, adult females than males to the individual, generally on the 1 / 3 around. Su Kada adult male and female long tail rough fine short tail; male and female and male depression Fujia have a flat stomach; male cavity of the crash yields and further away from the end of Fujia female from a close. In the wild, Su Kada generally carried out in the 9-10 month mating, usually after the rainy season, 3-4 in the coming year to lay eggs. At this time, the male Su Kada will become very hot, and they will impact through the body to rival for territory and females. In the process of mating, the male will chase the female, Raoquan around it, in the final趴female insert the end of mating. Wait until spring next year, the female will be digging holes and Su Kada birth to 15-30 pieces of egg, and then buried. After three months around the incubator (temperature of 27-30 degrees), small turtles Pokeerchu. Chuke just a small turtle with a yolk will, take care not Nongpo, the self-absorption until it can swap yolk after a normal feeding.

Disease
Here are some tortoises common diseases and treatment methods. As human understanding of the reptile is still not comprehensive, some treatment is limited to the early or mid-term illness, even cure some diseases will be brought to you by turtles or incomplete permanent sequelae. Therefore, as far as possible to your turtle to create a healthy environment, disease prevention is the best way to remember prevention is better than cure forever!

1, stones
Stone is the first place because it is very easy Su Kada suffering from a stone tortoises, in particular the larvae. The initial patients can still be cured, but if in the latter part of the development, the need for surgical treatment, but the domestic lack of expertise related to surgery, no more professional veterinary reptiles, so the actual cure almost zero probability.

Stone simply said that the turtle in calcium precipitation caused by the accumulation of disease. If you found the turtle suddenly decreased appetite, lethargy at the same time excretion difficulties can not even discharge, it is likely that the stones.

Early treatment is to strengthen Paozao while increasing the water temperature. The water temperature can be raised to 35-37 degrees, Paozao 1-2 times a day, not more than one hour each time. If symptoms lighter, stone turtle to be discharged in vitro. Paozao If not, we must choose drug treatment, the most commonly used drug is "Jin Qiancao particle compound," a day of mixed food to feed 20 of the drug. If the stone site shallow, you can try using a small turtle Erwa exploration into the discharge hole, and slowly out of stone will be set aside if the deeper parts stones can be opened Cypriot road into the drainage hole turtles to help Paishi.
<br> Treatment of these turtles will be harmed, so we should be careful not to let in peacetime keeping the ambient temperature is too high, too dry, more Paozao, a good record of Pai acid cycle, while not feeding high-protein or high-acid foods, calcium Not too much too often, the combination of calcium to the foot of UVB radiation, and so on. This is the stone to prevent the most effective way.

2, cold
Turtles and would like a cold, many reasons, such as: too big temperature difference between day and night, Paozao not wiped away, restaurants unreasonable lead to decreased immunity, the sun is too small, and so on. The main symptoms of flu for the runny nose, lethargy, loss of appetite, and so on. Generally flu is not a very serious disease, but if not receive timely treatment, the Festival is likely to become pneumonia, stomatitis, or even fatal!
For mild symptoms, we must first check keeping the environment, adjust unreasonable environment (see "Environment Section"), while keeping me raise the temperature to 28-32 degrees. Add to Paoshui, vitamins (such as effervescent tablets) to enhance the physical turtles, reptiles at the same time added for a comprehensive vitamin. If no improvement in symptoms after one week, we should turn to drug treatment. General optional oxytetracycline, depending on dose and the weight of the tortoise (based on per kg turtle of the 40 mg), once every two days until the withdrawal symptoms disappeared.

3, enteritis
Enteritis is unclean food or feed intake after the sudden temperature drop caused indigestion caused. Laxi for the main symptoms, vomiting, swelling and sometimes anus stick with excrement, and so on. The main treatment keeping me in order to maintain temperature stability, not high Mandrax Mandrax low, and maintain Shipen and clean drinking water and avoid water large food. Drug treatment options oxytetracycline (20 mg per kg turtle) or berberine (10 mg per kg turtle) treatment, once a day, a week of the general will be able to recover.

4, parasites
Parasite in vitro
Mainly seen in the backyard or wild turtles. In vitro parasites, mainly through bite the skin attached to the turtles use the blood of a living turtle. Are usually visible to the naked eye, Chen Shui-bian is the major types of ticks, fleas, ticks, mites, and so on. Yong Niezai treatment can be removed on the worm from the turtles, and then iodine for disinfection, to kill eggs.

The body of parasites
Turtles in food intake, while intake of parasite eggs may be leading to infection. So whether you look more healthy turtles, should be regular insecticide, the general in each of them once. In insecticide before you should first determine whether the robust physique of the turtles, the turtles weak constitution should first enhance its constitution in order to insecticide. The parasites have in common: roundworm, tapeworm, coccidia, nematodes, and trypanosomiasis, Trichomonas, Diaozhong insects, blood cluster insects, worms and other spine head.
The most effective insecticide is the most economic is the GlaxoSmithKline drug-intestinal worm has. 5-10cm of the amount of turtles each 1 / 8 ,10-20 cm of the amount of turtles each 1 / 6, 20 cm above the amount of each individual 1 / 4. Insecticide generally twice as a treatment for a week interval. Is to prise open mouth directly into tablets, pills or volume can also be induced in leaves in its Fuxia.
r> 5, a Black
Black is due to a general squeeze transit or internal injuries caused by the lack of UVB in keeping medium and long-term result of the disease. The main symptoms are crustaceans surface grey or red patch, squeezing hands feeling soft, and exudative Xueshui with smell.
Treatment:
Consumers have used drugs to the affected area of the knife and crustaceans Lanrou removed, and then use iodine or 1% -2% hydrogen peroxide cleaning the wound, the last smear chlortetracycline eye ointment. Every 2-3 days to repeat the above steps. ORIGINAL: A longer treatment time, the general in more than a month, it should be noted during the treatment of the wound to keep dry, it is not appropriate Paoshui.

Other

Polyculture problems
Some people like polyculture tortoises, in fact, this is very inappropriate, because the tortoises are the general sense of territory, so polyculture inevitably cause strife. At the same time between the tortoises may also be spread among a number of diseases (especially wild individual), so do not carry out any tortoises polyculture.

Paoshui
To raise good tortoises, Paoshui is very important, because Paoshui help tortoises of gastrointestinal motility, help digestion, increased surface humidity. At the same time Paoshui tortoises will also stimulate the excretion, regularly regularly Paoshui tortoises can cultivate the habit of excretion in the water. The Su Kada, Paoshui must pay attention to when the water temperature and keeping the temperature difference can not be too much, keeping me should be slightly higher than the temperature. The depth of water in general slightly Fujia not have to, not too deep, because Su Kada swimming is very poor, water is too deep to cause choking water, and sometimes even lead to suffocation! Paoshui time control in about half an hour, generally wait until after defecation can Su Kada. If you have a row when Suka Da Paoshui acid in the case, it must be good record of the row acid cycle, the General Su Kada Pai acid cycle for 1-4 days, if not long row Su Kada acid (such as More than one week), it is necessary to guard against the patients. Larvae Su Kada at least two days a bubble of water, can be reduced to one year after the 2-3 times a week, adult individual week 1-2 it. In fact Paoshui has many advantages, so do not mean to you tortoises more bubble water. Paoshui in the end, the turtles will be wiped away with a towel Add to keep me, the benefits of doing so is to prevent the turtle cold.

Add nutrition
For the healthy growth of your Su Kada, in addition to a reasonable amount of food structure and feeding, proper nutrition is also very important to add. Mainly vitamin and calcium supplement, it is necessary to choose a dedicated reptile nutritional additives. Usually twice a week added, vitamins and Gaifen a 2:1 ratio, that is, two tsp vitamins and a tsp Gaifen, they will be evenly spread in food feeding. Calcium must also pay attention to UVB radiation or radiation without blocking the sun, not because of calcium precipitation in the stone, which is often fatal!