Some chelonians belonging to a friend who has taken on a new interest in other pets
Hi black radi and sulcata! Collectors who have a hi yellow would usually like a hi-black to pair up with...

**pls note that this hi black Radi is hi dome as they usually are...

This post has been edited by Omegaminx: Mar 8 2009, 11:52 PM

Just two ends of a spectrum..extreme yellow and extreme black...most ppl prefer hi yellow (including me) but once you have got some nice hi yellow or s.h. yellow u tend to want an extreme black specimen to pair off but of course YMMV....

More poison below
Hi dome, when it grows bigger, it shld get more black with thinning of the radiating lines

Oddly enough, I have seen a few deformed carapace pattern, some even with extra scutes...the one u have seems as Sam mentioned fused...the areolae are stuck together as 1 clump...sad...but consider it unique as a consolation

If ur torts dont seem to be growing, pls think about parasites(internally) as they get it very easily...give them some fenbendazole for deworming or metronidazole for parasite infestation...

If u want to be more evidence based, u can consult a vet for diagnostics through faecal samples microscopy...

Also next train of thought is: enough calcium onot in your diet? They need high calcium and a Cal:phosphorus >2:1
meaning if you read the tortoisetrust articles(which I have most of them)..the higher the ratio the better...give them calcium carbonate supplement tablets crunched and sprinkled to their food twice a week. But bear in mind if they havent been eating those powder b4, they wont like it and will only eat a few bites..so starve them 1-2 days and then feed them..give them some sunlight for VitD3 synthesis and calcium absorbtion....I still have doubts as to how good those UVA/UVB artificial light can be but i do use them too...

Rmbr to weigh them now and 3-6 mths down the line to ensure weight gain. Failure to thrive is a paediatric term but I would use it for them in this context and it can end up like what experienced keepers say...dead suddenly...hope ur ST thrives!

Cheers

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Added on March 11, 2009, 12:57 amEven amongst stars, there are some very nice ones around..especially the hi yellow STs...even better if the hi yellow ST has very balanced and symmetrical pyramiding(collector's item!). My friend has got one like that but not for sale..very thick white-cream lines with balanced pyramiding. Note that ST are well known to have a genetic basis for pyramiding...some do pyramid even with Fife's moisture theory eventually if the genes predominate over environmental factors but then the pyramiding pattern will be symmetrical and balanced, turning them into a nice and unique looking tort which is healthy.

On the other hand, poor diet and too arid/dry an environment can also stimulate pyramiding but most tend to look ugly and deformed(flat and outta shape) with gross asymmetry and the tort is usually veering towards illness and the like.

Example of what a friend has but nfs...if anyone has this kind of ST, kindly update thru pm
Pls note it must be hi yellow/cream with balanced pyramiding...thin lines and deformed pyramids are not so collectible(as mentioned above).

This post has been edited by Omegaminx: Mar 11 2009, 12:59 AM

Yup, RNS...if sunbathing and your heat lamps don't seem to be doing the trick...perhaps you shld seek a vet review. It will likely need enrofloxacin(baytril)..try nasal route first unless your vet is pro at injecting. Other options to try would be using gentamicin-dexa eyedrops or co-use with the baytril for lasting effect..this is documented in one of chelonian sites. I do have something else that works as good as baytril...though you may want to try the standard approach first using the above info.

Cheers bro!

Quite nice star, well balanced pyramiding..lines a bit thin though...are all yor stars pyramided?

Don't feed them too much long beans or high protein diet if you want some to have smooth curvy carapace.

Also, rmbr they need a hideout with some moisture too...keep posting your other pics bro

Cheers