Hi guys! So Crowley is 9.5 years old and we just found out he was a girl while at the vet for a serious tail injury a few weeks ago. We also learned that she is gravid! She has definitely been gravid before (I may have been in serious denial about feeling little eggs inside her, I was like no, that’s just poop) so she has always reabsorbed. However she has an injury where her tail well, came off. A decent length of it. She has scale loss and it looks rough, but worry not, we are now under the care of a very reputable reptile vet. She gets betadine soaks, antibiotic shots, metacam, and Silver Sulfadiazine. She is healing well, eating well, but it is a slow process and we will know in a few weeks if amputation is the route to go. But that’s not what this is about! The point is, she has a very, very open wound.
So she is gravid. I don’t think she will lay as she never has before, but she is clearly restless. I want to make her comfortable, as well as make sure she doesn’t injure her tail further or get stressed. Her terrarium (about 42” by 24”, all proper lighting and temps) is now almost completely empty except for a basking rock & brick covered with paper towels. Her substrate at the moment is paper towel for sanitary reasons but it’s covering her typical slate.
I need to build a lay box that is just as sanitary! No loose substrate obviously, although I know that would be ideal minus injury. I have shredded up paper towels and placed them in the corners and she shows no interest, so I think I need to put an actual box in there. So please, I need some advice! And maybe some reassurance haha.
1. Does the box need to be covered or more like a tray? I’m thinking of making a makeshift cave out of a box and filling that with paper towels, but of course I’m all worried about her tail scraping along the walls as she tries to get out.
2. I’ve read some places that it should be damp? This would likely be a breeding ground for bacteria in her scenario, right?
3. How can I make this box more appealing? I worry she won’t realize what it’s for and continue to restlessly run around
4. Do y’all have another suggestion aside from paper towel? The vet suggested newspaper but.. I want something a little cleaner.
5. Is there any other way I can support her to make her more comfortable? She is getting extra calcium (no d3, t5 HO 5.0 UVB is why) and bugs (nutrigrubs, waxworms, dubia) and cabbage/bok choy/strawberry/bell pepper/etc salads. I plan on going to the store for more staple-like greens but I am out right now. Would she like warmer temps? Cooler? Certain vitamins she needs more right now besides calcium?
6. How about temps for the lay box? Should I put it on the cool side or the warm side?
7. Dimensions y’all recommend? Do they prefer smaller boxes or nice spacious ones?
8. Do I like, stick her in there? I want her to be able to leave, right? Like a little mouse hole? I don’t want her to panic. She’s a panicker.
That’s all I can think of now. I’m sorry if I’m making a big deal out of something small, I just feel like I’m in a difficult position with her tail injury. Please help me figure out this situation. I really appreciate everything y’all do!!!
So she is gravid. I don’t think she will lay as she never has before, but she is clearly restless. I want to make her comfortable, as well as make sure she doesn’t injure her tail further or get stressed. Her terrarium (about 42” by 24”, all proper lighting and temps) is now almost completely empty except for a basking rock & brick covered with paper towels. Her substrate at the moment is paper towel for sanitary reasons but it’s covering her typical slate.
I need to build a lay box that is just as sanitary! No loose substrate obviously, although I know that would be ideal minus injury. I have shredded up paper towels and placed them in the corners and she shows no interest, so I think I need to put an actual box in there. So please, I need some advice! And maybe some reassurance haha.
1. Does the box need to be covered or more like a tray? I’m thinking of making a makeshift cave out of a box and filling that with paper towels, but of course I’m all worried about her tail scraping along the walls as she tries to get out.
2. I’ve read some places that it should be damp? This would likely be a breeding ground for bacteria in her scenario, right?
3. How can I make this box more appealing? I worry she won’t realize what it’s for and continue to restlessly run around
4. Do y’all have another suggestion aside from paper towel? The vet suggested newspaper but.. I want something a little cleaner.
5. Is there any other way I can support her to make her more comfortable? She is getting extra calcium (no d3, t5 HO 5.0 UVB is why) and bugs (nutrigrubs, waxworms, dubia) and cabbage/bok choy/strawberry/bell pepper/etc salads. I plan on going to the store for more staple-like greens but I am out right now. Would she like warmer temps? Cooler? Certain vitamins she needs more right now besides calcium?
6. How about temps for the lay box? Should I put it on the cool side or the warm side?
7. Dimensions y’all recommend? Do they prefer smaller boxes or nice spacious ones?
8. Do I like, stick her in there? I want her to be able to leave, right? Like a little mouse hole? I don’t want her to panic. She’s a panicker.
That’s all I can think of now. I’m sorry if I’m making a big deal out of something small, I just feel like I’m in a difficult position with her tail injury. Please help me figure out this situation. I really appreciate everything y’all do!!!
