NEW HATCHLING

MORNING ALL; HOW COLD IS IT ! AND SO SUDDENLY..I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEW HATCHLINGS... FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ONE OR 2 EVERY YEAR FROM ME YOU WILL ALREADY BE SETTLED INTO A ROUTINE AND HAVE IRONED OUT ANY LITTLE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE HAD..FOR THOSE JUST STARTING OUT IT CAN BE A PRETTY DAUNTING TASK TAKING CARE OF SUCH A TINY CREATURE.WELL, DON'T BE WORRIED THEY ARE MUCH HARDIER THAN YOU THINK AND IN THE WILD WOULD HAVE TO WALK MILES EVERY DAY IN THE HOPE OF FINDING FOOD AND SHELTER. WE GIVE THEM EVERY THING THEY NEED AND MUCH MORE BESIDES. WHAT I WANT TO EXPLAIN IS, THEIR METABOLISM BEING A REPTILE IS MUCH SLOWER THAN A MAMMELS SO IT IS FINE IF THEY ARE FED EVERY OTHER DAY . IF YOU DO GIVE THEM TOO MUCH FOOD IN THE EARLY STAGES IT CAN CAUSE PYRAMIDING OF THE CARAPACE.YOU WANT A SLOW STEADY GROWTH SO THAT THE SHELL STAYS NICE AND SMOOTH. IF YOU CANNOT BRING YOURSELF TO NOT FEED FOR A DAY THEN YOU CAN GIVE LAMBS LETTUCE OR SIMILAR AS IT'S CONTENTS IS MOSTLY WATER. FEEDING ONCE A DAY AS WELL IS THE CORRECT WAY; YOU MUST REMEMBER EVEN THOUGH YOUR BABY WAS BORN IN THIS COUNTRY IT WILL STILL BE INBRED IN IT TO EAT ANY FOOD IT FINDS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT FIND ANY MORE FOR A FEW DAYS, IT WON'T KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE FED EVERY DAY!  SO, ONCE A DAY ONLY AND TRY THE EVERY OTHER DAY WITH A LITTLE LETTUCE IF YOU MUST. LOTS OF LIMESTONE FLOUR FOR HEALTHY BONES AND CARAPACE.PUT YOUR LITTLE ONE  ON THE LAWN EVERY DAY FOR A BREATH OF FRESH AIR DON'T WORRY IF IT IS COLD YOU WILL BE HELPING TO HARDEN IT OFF FOR OUR CLIMATE. EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE CLOUDY THE SUNS RAYS WILL STILL BE GETTING THROUGH. REGULAR BATHS ARE SO GOOD TO HELP KEEP THEM HYDRATED AND ALSO TO KEEP THE BOWELS MOVING. I HAD A WONDERFUL EMAIL THE OTHER DAY FROM ONE OF MY BUYERS WHO GOES CAMPING TWICE A YEAR AND TAKES HER 2 LITTLE ONES WITH HER, THIS YEAR THEY HAVE BEEN TO DEVON AND NORFOLK !! AND CHRISTMAS THEY ARE GOING TO SCOTLAND !!! SO HAVE HATCHING CAN TRAVEL....UNTIL NEXT TIME....