This is Herbie who I have had for 17 months and who is kept on a table and I am pretty pleased with his shell but try my best to keep humidity reasonable, get him outside as much as possible and correct diet but have I just been "lucky" - maybe so far.
So it is probably alot more to do with modern husbandry methods creating the problems but still wonder if the pattern is set at a young age?Have I seen smooth tortoises captive bred and raised "incorrectly"? - It certainly appears that way on some of our for sale sites - tortoises raised on...
I am in the UK - what I find odd is that you have people who seem to do all of the "right things" but still have difficulty achieving smooth growth or can have 2 tortoises in the same conditions with different growth, then you have the tortoises who appear to have lived in bad conditions with...
At what age would tortoises normally have "pyramided" by if they are going to? Is there a point where the shell is "set" as smooth and would no longer pyramid despite poor diets/husbandry? I ask because it always amazes me the number of tortoises that you see on various websites for sale that...
Could it also be linked to a similar thing as "early socialization" in dogs. For example if a tortoise is regularly handled, bathed and moved around from a very young age it will be less bothered by it as it is what it has always been used to. Whereas an older tortoise who has received very...
Thanks, They did live together but there wasn't a problem with pestering as they are only 2 years old and got on o.k and she didn't hide away but just sat still more the last few days. I guess i could of gone for a more detailed post mortem but i guess i felt that it wasn't going to change the...
Hi everybody. I know i haven't been here for a bit due to lots going on with life in general but have been keeping up as much as possible.
Unfortunately I have bad news - Daisy died today. It was very unexpected, she had been a bit quieter for a few days and not really eating but nothing too...
I would just like to get some ideas on peoples opinions of hibernating tortoises. I realise as keepers we should try to keep things as close to nature as possible but then I start to think that realistically they don't live in wild conditions. In the wild tortoises hibernate due to weather...
Hi I posted a link to a petition people may wish to sign earlier but I had a message to say it had been moved but can't seem to find it anywhere - any ideas?
Here is a link to a petition people may wish to sign - it is fairly self explanatory (You may just need to scroll down to find the English translation!) Many thanks.http://chn.ge/1NddVL2
Thank you, I am not really worried but just wondered out of interest as the skin seems such a small area and obviously the shell is affected by lack of uv/calcium so wasn't sure if it could also be involved somehow. One of my tortoises "Herbie" is very good at multi-tasking and soaks up some...
Do tortoises only absorb uv light through their skin or can they absorb it through their shell as well? I am just wondering if the times they do not have head/legs out if they are getting any benefit. My two are prone to digging down a bit outside and sometimes only the top of their shell shows...
Thank you Tom - I will definitely bear that in mind and if my temperature readings look too high (because the lamp is coming on unnecessarily) then that will be my next option:)
Thank you. They will have a cold frame that leads into the shed when it is all finished so probably wont need thermostats etc and the microclimate evo is almost certainly unnecessary! I have digital thermometers that will record minimum and maximum temps during a day so think I will just order a...
Thanks - they have been out on nice days after warming up under basking lamp and when I am about but the problem I have is that I work so as you know it can be lovely in the morning but by luchtime completely different and I am then stuck in work worrying!! I am just concerned that as they are...
Hi. I have just finished building the outdoor enclosure for my spur thigh tortoises. They have a small shed approx. 4'Wx3'DX3'H - I am looking at putting a basking lamp in to warm them in the morning and for times when the Great BrItish weather is not so great!! I did consider just using a timer...
Have a look at the roundup website - they seem to imply it is safe for pets/wildlife etc. as soon as it is dry as it breaks down in soil and only affects the plant.
The wire I have is quite fine wire(like chicken wire)but I think 50mm holes (if that makes senseo_O) It would definitely keep cats...