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Post by choco on Aug 3, 2010 20:50:34 GMT
I've now lost a second tiger, and a third is displaying the same "symptoms" and refusing to eat. I think it's likely that he will die too. The fourth, however, seems to be strong and healthy and eats regularly. I'm desperately hoping that I won't lose all four of them. It's really depressing because they all seemed to be doing so well - they were all active, eating, putting on weight, repairing shell damage etc, then suddenly they get lethargic, stop eating, and die after a few days I wish that I knew what's wrong or what I can do to help. I've just given the tank a total clean-out with boiling water, brand new substrate etc. I know it's not necessarily good to make the tank completely spotless but I want to be sure that it's not some illness or parasite that's hanging around the tank.
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Post by choco on Aug 4, 2010 1:01:38 GMT
I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about the sick tiger, so I got up to check on him and he looked absolutely awful. I don't know if he would even have lasted til morning, but I couldn't go back to bed and leave him suffering all night, so I've put him in the freezer He looked terrible, same thing as with the 2nd tiger who died yesterday - his body seemed to be kind of puffy and swollen, his eyestalks looked swollen and he seemed to be having trouble with poking his head out from his body. He looked all kind of furled up. He didn't want to move and would just sort of occasionally move his head side to side a little. He really did look like he was suffering, there was no way I could leave him in that state for any longer. So just one tiger left now. He seems OK at the moment but I'll be keeping a very close eye on him - making sure he's been eating, daily warm baths etc. If he seems to get sick and starts to decline like the others have, I will have to put him in the freezer - I don't want to watch another lovely tiger slowly suffer and die I just hope that if it is some kind of illness or parasite, then cleaning out the tank earlier on will have got rid of it, and that he hasn't already caught it... he has been a healthy and lively little guy so far, so I can only hope that he'll survive and pull through.
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Post by AlienSnail on Aug 4, 2010 9:10:11 GMT
A swollen body sounds like it may have been retaining water, which may indicate a blocked gut. It can be a reaction to certain food. I have had fulica die from body swelling after eating sead-based meals, even though they were prepared properly. I have also had snails die after coming to me in a healthy-looking state when I have changed their normal diet from nutrient-poor food to a varied and nutrient-rich diet. It may have been coincidence with the food, I don't know, but they ate well at first and appeared to be thriving, then lost condition and died. It could also be a parasite blocking their gut, or something else entirely. Either way it's very sad indeed, and you have done your very best. You did a fantastic job of nursing the rescued margies back to health. Other people have also had many losses with Brixton rescues too. The very best of luck with the remaining Tiger. Huggles xxx
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Post by choco on Aug 7, 2010 1:04:08 GMT
The last remaining tiger hasn't wanted to eat for a couple of days now I've tried various things including his favourite sweetcorn and sweet potato, plus mushy foods like soaked algae sticks and oats with honey, but he doesn't want to eat at the moment He has eaten and pooped out some calcium though - no idea if that's a good sign or not. He's had a warm bath in water that's got reptile vitamin drops in, tonight, to try and get him to absorb some nutrients if possible. I'll keep trying to tempt him with nice food and see if I can persuade him to eat over the next few days. He still looks OK, he hasn't got all sickly-looking like the others did yet, and he seems happy to move around the tank, so maybe he's just not hungry Will just have to see how it goes. Poor old tigers...
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Post by stixandsnailsyork on Aug 7, 2010 8:48:35 GMT
Awww Choco, i hope he pulls through for you. x
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Post by AlienSnail on Aug 7, 2010 9:39:01 GMT
Ooooh. Hope he's just having a rest.... xx
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Post by choco on Aug 10, 2010 1:14:48 GMT
He still hasn't eaten. He's been in his log cave asleep.
Woke him up just now and discovered that he's pooped out a load of calcium. I don't understand why he seems to be eating the calcium and not food?? I've just ordered some of Dusk's limestone flour with added spirulina to put in his calcium bowl - maybe he'll be willing to eat that and get some nutrition into him.
He's having a bath in water with added vitamin drops atm, and he's got more fresh food to see if he might want to eat.
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Post by choco on Aug 10, 2010 11:04:42 GMT
I put some pieces of sweet potato in his calcium bowl and he ate a small piece!!
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eric2
Juvenile
Posts: 122
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Post by eric2 on Aug 10, 2010 12:51:56 GMT
snails can go weeks without eating i wouldnt worry too much just make sure he always has fresh food in there incase he gets hungry hope he is well and keep us informed of his progress
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Post by crossless on Aug 10, 2010 14:58:23 GMT
I kept one snail that lost loads of weight because heat wave I kept him sleeping on food plate and one moment I noticed he can't resist smell of basil and he started to eat again.
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Post by choco on Aug 10, 2010 15:33:32 GMT
snails can go weeks without eating i wouldnt worry too much just make sure he always has fresh food in there incase he gets hungry hope he is well and keep us informed of his progress Yeah, it's not so much the fact that he hasn't eaten in a few days that concerns me, but that the other snails who died all stopped eating and then very quickly sickened and died. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be too worried - but I'm concerned that him not eating may be a sign of impending decline.
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Post by muddydragon on Aug 10, 2010 16:16:26 GMT
well if he's eating calcium he'll probably pull through fine. if i'ld been food starved for ages i'ld probably stuff myself silly then spend days not eating anything to recover! best of luck!
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Post by choco on Aug 12, 2010 9:43:08 GMT
He's now eaten some of Dusk's limestone/spirulina mix, and he's had a small bit of butternut squash too I'm hopeful!
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Post by AlienSnail on Aug 12, 2010 11:50:38 GMT
He's now eaten some of Dusk's limestone/spirulina mix, and he's had a small bit of butternut squash too I'm hopeful! Ah that's hopeful!
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Post by muddydragon on Aug 12, 2010 17:50:31 GMT
fingers crossed!
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