I can truly feel the love in this forum & thread! Thank you so much for you advice everyone! I'm like a sponge, i soak it all up!

  • UPDATE: For about the last two hours I was cleaning out Rues tank, I took out the cocoa dirt & moss and replaced it with paper towels on bottom with Newpapers on top. I was a bit scared to put newspaper in there at first but after researching the forums say its alright. I also MADE him a hide. I took two smaller mailing boxes I had and taped them together, I will have to post pictures later. It's about half the length of the tank. I put it on the back wall, its narrow about the same as his log; just taller for him to coil up and not raise it. I have one small opening facing out to the front of the tank, and one opening on the left side by his water dish. I left the right side closed off so he could be 100% in the hide not next to any opening if he so pleases. I think it will be much better for him because his log was just to small i felt bad every time I would see him in, and its all raised up and what not ha.
  • After all the input from everyone I do plan on feeding him a prekilled or f/t rat! The place where I bought little Rue was a local store called The Retile Emporium, the chick that owns it has been there for quit some time now! I will ask her for a prekilled rat, or I will make my boyfriend kill the rat before feeding it... Which leads to a whole mother question. What is the best way to go about that? I know he wouldn't mind doing that for rue though LOL


Orion
  • He is very, very docile it blew my mind watching him feed. He's a turtle most of the time... except feeding time, he's quick as lighting!
  • Thank you on the f/t advice I will add it to the knowledge bank and try to feed him f/t or prekilled friday!



SAUZO
Funny story actually! When I brought my sweet Rue home I put the box he was packaged up in on the bed and opened it. I left it open while I set up his tank, next thing I look over and just his little head is popping out to say "hello, what are ya doin " Melted my heart. Also when i lay him on my chest while watching TV he likes to have just his nose outside of the blanket. Your Rosey sounds just as sweet!


  • I've been good about not handling Rue in his shed, except for just changing the linen the his tank just now. He's so cute sometimes it's so dang hard. His belly is bright pink though, so I know I better just leave him be.
  • You stated that I should only feed him 2-3 weeks, right now he is loafed shape (I will also need to add better pictures of his actual loaf!) The lady I bought him from she said she feeds him on a 7-10 day range. Her exact words being "He has a very healthy appetite) I just want to make sure how I wean him is fair, health wise. If I even need to wean him at all. I'm very open to the idea of 2-3 weeks if that is what best for him (thank you for shedding light on that)
  • As far as his cage goes, right now he is 55 gallon tank. I was pondering 180 gallon tank because of the options it is the most affordable thing. Though I am no cheapie when it comes to my fur/scale babies, cages/tanks/etc I have learned are VERY expensive. I looked at the pvc cages and ooooooo they are amazing! But so is the price, almost had a heart attack. I'm almost tempted in bugging my boyfriend to make me a custom one, I feel it might save me some money and give Rue what he needs/wants. Win win.


ArtGecko
  • When I said he wouldn't use his water dish when I moved it to the warm side I meant, he wouldn't soak in it, he wouldn't drink any of it. Nothing. I change the water daily also. As soon as I moved it back (I'm not kidding) he hopped into it. I do love the idea of a large on the warm side, and the smaller on the cool.
  • When he lays in that weird position (the only position so far that weirds me out) he is still alert, no zombie at all. Other than that, he STARES at me while in his tank. Also very creepy.
  • As far as the cages, I posted above ^ in respond to suazo. If i make an at home cage/tank what are the basics. I would make sure it is the BEST for Rue not mu budget. I can't spend and arm on a custom built preorder tank, but I'm willing to make one! (And when I say me, I mean my boyfriend)
  • The rat I purchase right now are from the local reptile store. No petsmart, no petco, no co-op nothing or that sorts. I will see what she has available but I promise I will look into your advice of distributors as well.
  • My poor Rue only had the one half log around the middle. It has the butt end, I mean just an inch on the heating pad, the rest of it is not under the lamp. He loved it, spend a lot of time in it... it was just so small dang it. But as I stated above I made a new hide that we shall see how he likes it.


Amazon Shopping List for this week Thursday or Friday (thank god I get paid this week LOL)
  • Herpstat
  • Hydrogram (non dial)
  • Repti-Carpet (I never never used this but I like the look and the idea that I can wash and reuse. Opinions?)
  • More cocoa dirt
  • Moss
  • Vines/Branches
  • Extra Larger half log
  • Extra log water dish
  • F/T (local reptile store)


Any other suggestions?

Thank you so much for all your advice, I feel sweet little Rue will have a better quality of life because of it all.