First tortoise

[clairyfairy]

Hi all I'm Claire and my other half has just brought me my first tortoise. He/she is a 2014 hatched Hermanns and his name is Chewy.
He's living in a tortoise table which has a strip UV light and a basking lamp on a thermostat with a hide at the hot end and another at the cool end.
Obviously he has food and water available constantly. I've got some suitable plant seeds on the way so I can grow him the right weeds and flowers and in the mean time I'm feeding him on salad leaves and dandelions with calcium dust daily and nutrobal twice a week.

Am I doing all of this right? He's my first tortoise and I want the best for him.
Sorry for the over load of information!!

Thanks everyone, looking forward to getting to know you and your shelled friends!

 

[tortdad]

Welcome.

Post some pics so we can see your set up and tort.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Claire welcome to the TFO from AZ. Yes where are our Picts !

 

[clairyfairy]

This is the table


And this is Chewy

His table is a little bit bare at the moment decoration wise, I wasn't sure what type of enrichment he needed but I'm beginning to get a better idea after reading a few threads on here

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Claire and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and Chewy.
You're right, he needs a bit more interest in there, maybe some plants to liven it up.
Careful of those leads dangling on his substrate. This is a hazard.
It looks a bit dry to me.
What substrate are you using and what are those white bits I can see?
You may have to cover the top to lift the humidity.
Could you tell us the temps and humidity please ?
And he looks a really cute tort.
Have you read http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/ ?
Lots of good info here.
You've come to the right place.
Good luck.

 

[clairyfairy]

I can't really move the wires because they're the thermostat probe and my thermometer, his basking lamp would be at the wrong temperature if I move them. They are stuck to the bottom of the table with Velcro though so they can't move.
The substrate is ProRep Tortoise Life especially made for tortoises.
Basking area temp is 35 degrees c and ambient air temp is 25 degrees c.

 

[keepergale]

You should cover as much of your tortoise table as you can to increase the humidity level.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Claire!

We have a very good care sheet for Hermann's tortoises pinned at the top of our Hermanns section. Be sure to give it a read.

 

[clairyfairy]

Thank you

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Looks like you've received some of the same bad advice that everyone over there seems to get and it shows in your tortoises carapace. I'm not trying to be mean or hurt your feelings, but its important for you to know what is going on so you can fix the problems ASAP.

1. That substrate is a horrible idea, but it sure seems to have caught on over there across the pond. Encouraging a tortoise to eat its substrate to meet its calcium needs is a not a good idea any way you think about it.
2. You water bowl is not horrible, but it will work better if sunk into the substrate. Having to climb up and over that lip is enough to discourage your tortoise from drinking. I prefer terra cotta plant saucers.
3. Your tortoise is pyramiding. Pyramiding is caused by growth in conditions that are too dry. An opened topped enclosure with dry substrate and a hot bulb is too dry.
4. Its not good to use calcium supplementation every day. Too much can be harmful in that calcium interferes with the absorption of other important minerals and trace elements. Once or twice a week is plenty, especially since you are offering cuttlebone. Using a high fiber weedy diet helps too.
5. There is no need for your wires to be down where the tortoise can reach them. We all simply hang our thermostat probes on the side of the enclosure, just out of tortoise reach.

Please read these. They will offer much more detailed info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

Written for Russians, but the care is essentially the same:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[clairyfairy]

Thanks Tom I will take your comments on board.
What should I be using as a substrate then?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Coco coir, cypress mulch, orchid bark, a good quality topsoil or even yard dirt if you know it's safe are all better than what you have in there, in my opinion.

 

[clairyfairy]

Thank you

 

[Richabi]

Welcome Claire all comments seem harsh at the time but trust me these guys know what they are talking about I'm new into it to Toby is a 2014 to and I had to change everything in my table but it's well worth it i could see how much happier he was after doing all the changes if your from the UK pets at home sell orchid bark 20 liters for 14 pound and b and q sell terracotta dishes there for 1.50 good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions

 

[Richabi]

In regards to your cable problem perhaps you could drill a hole at substrate level and push it through

 

[clairyfairy]

I work in a garden centre so I'll be able to get all I need from there.
With respect I won't be buying a new water bowl. With this being my tortoise I know how much he uses it, I change the water every morning and evening and every time I change it there is soil in there so he is managing to get in and out of it just fine.

 

[clairyfairy]

I will be changing my substrate to top soil and will be spraying him with luke warm water like I do with my other reptiles

 

[Richabi]

OK just a suggestion be careful when your tortoise climbs out if the dish he don't tip onto his back because the sides are steep

 

[clairyfairy]

Thanks I'll put some more substrate around it to make it easier for him

 

[Richabi]

Cool and when he gets out watch when he gets out watch him do it to see how vertical he goes I suppose it's hard to see how steep it is from pics what other reptiles do you have