Thanks much --
2 things:
1)
I appreciate the help and will follow your advice when we move to the cold. This is why I research before I act, always.
I accidentally used the term estivate to describe brumate because it has not been relevant in our lives in this warm climate and I'd crossed the...
Hello! :)
I have seen great pics of winter habitats here but they range in intents and purposes and capacities -- from different regions and climates to different purposes (some keep the animal from estivating at all) and so I asked some specific questions precisely relevant to our intentions...
While I've been feeding mostly fresh grasses and foliage to my, now, two Sulcata (grassland) tortoises (one several inches and one 70 lbs.), I've tried them on dried products like Zoomed Grassland Tortoise Food as well as feed store T & A hay (tiny bits for the wee one). They never have taken to...
Hi Jay! :)
Disclaimer:
Don't trust me, trust someone ore experienced with actual, successful ownership long-term, I'm on month 4 or so (other reptiles not withstanding since grassland herbivore tortoises are so much different) , but...
Offhand I'm not seeing any immediate warnings about...
It's certainly true the main problem is habitat destruction which I must take partial responsibility in since I live here, whether any were destroyed (knowingly, legally, or not) directly because of my home or whether all the places I work and do business etc. and so on have been the said...
Florida Wildlife Commission responded today to several reports of what appeared to be a threatened and protected Florida Gopher tortoise, freshly caught, being sold.
This read on Craigslist, out of Ft. Meyers:
Tortoise $250
Tortoise Great for kids !
Does not bite
***Cant swim***
Extremely...
Oh, gosh, that's a great photo -- I can see the colors evolving
Thank you for your reply - I'm biting my lip wondering about his diet and care specifics (checking to see if you've ever commented on it) :)
There so many beautiful sulcatas' pictures, here, and I almost regretted mentioning his...
I have learned here.
Awesome, Will, it does seem our little buddies surprise us. Someone says, "Oh, never let them eat that" from reading up, but then there's some prime specimen somewhere raised on it. I am lucky to have your experience relayed to me. Wild gopher tortoises take up refuge on my...
In no way was I being sarcastic when I said I was glad I learned something in this, possibly multiple things, but namely that you can tell a urolith is oxylate-based by analyzing it. Some questions regarding stones lie hidden, metabolized away, leaving multiple possible answers. When you started...
I'm glad I learned something here-- that oxalate-based uroliths actually leave intact evidence in the stone that doesn't metabolize away before being deposited.
And I'm glad that I was able to bring to the table that uroliths, period, weren't unheard of.
It's a shame I caused the post to go...
The reason I was a little disappointed was I already respected you, enjoyed your posts, and this isn't an open YoutTube channel of millions, but a special interest group I wanted to become a member of, and I was more taken aback by your tone than your disagreeing with me. So I'm glad if we can...
I kind of feel emotionally gypped that my first handshake here was so aggressively confrontational.
I thought I was clear overall that this would be a hypothetical, boundry-pushing discussion, not a tried and true tutorial for newbies FAQ's.
Kind of ironic a little hypothetical...
I mistyped, I meant bladder stone, not kidney.
Excuse me profusely for that Will, but I believe that falls under calcium accretion (of the urinary tract) aka. urolith.
Show your well-regarded reptile vets the following link, one where they have developed specific procedures from regularly...
Greetings fellow tortophiles!
Peace with you and your "pet" or zookeepee.
While I realize the ultimate answer to this question will be:
"Just don't feed your tort too much food high in oxalic acid"
or,
"Just vary the diet like you're supposed to, some oalates are expected and normal",
as is the...
Get back on the horse :)
Sounds like you have a good attention to detail and now you'll be more vigilant than the next guy.
I can relate to a spoiled baby. The week I got it, it would not eat a single bite of anything green, so in desperation I gave it a few of those dubious, little fruity...
Wow, so much for the school of thought that you have to grow your sully slowly or he'll pyramid markedly! Obviously when proper species diet (& higher calcium/ lower phosphorus ratio), UVB/D3, and moisture (and exercise) are all correct they can, indeed, grow very rapidly and maintain a lovely...
Hi, I'm Jeff from Odessa (North/outside of Tampa Bay), Florida US.
I'm in love with Paul, a young sulcata tortoise you might be able to give me an age estimate for, presumed pampered along with its sibling by the local keeper, before me.
I'm astounded at their personalities particularly older...