Marcushorsfield
New Member
Hi. I am having issue and worried about my horsefield. I got her 2 years ago cc 5 years old from someone who sent her to me with an led lightbulb and the smallest coffee table sized wooden box. That first few months we got the right bulb and substrate etc and kept her inside. She lived under the lamp all day and barely ate. I bathed her most days. During that 1st few months we built an outside place for her (about 6ftx6ft, but she also gets the garden when I'm home). I'd put her out in the sun in the day and bring her into her box at night in the house. After the 1st year when the weather improved she moved outside and was such a happy tort, she then stayed out at night too during the summer. I didn't think I'd ever see her like that (could be a he I actually don't know). Then late Sept she went into hibernation herself. I know someone with a horsefield who said hers had done the same, so I put her in her box and put her in the garage with straw etc. I checked her every few weeks (to see if her limbs were loose or not). When the weather brightened up I took advice from this lady with a horsefield and as she had moved about the box I brought her back to the garden to do the sun in the day box at night thing I had done. I bathed her in warm water to hydrate her as I wasn't expecting her to wake and eat immediately but wanted to get the juices flowing as it were. Anyway, the weather turned again and she's basically not awake properly. She only drinks when I bath her, I have not seen her eat a thing yet. It's been 4 weeks. I've now dug out a slightly bigger thing so that I can get the light on her (I bought the one I had again which is a uva/b and heat in on which I see is not recommended now) and she can have a cooler area. I am fully aware that this enclosure is not suitable for her. I'm treating it like a hospital bed until I know what's wrong (advice from here hopefully and a visit to the vet). I have a fabulous set up that she thrived in before which I want to get her back into, but this d**n British weather is like early spring still and no light! She is so lathargic, lying with her limbs all out. She does go in her shell but not like she was. I thought that was because she woke from hibernation and trusted me 😔.
Please do not give me abuse. I am here for help. I have read some of the sheets and still need some help. When I've posted in other forums in the past I have had very little help and 'read this' attitude only, which doesn't help me when I'm desperate and confused.
A worried tort mummy x
Please do not give me abuse. I am here for help. I have read some of the sheets and still need some help. When I've posted in other forums in the past I have had very little help and 'read this' attitude only, which doesn't help me when I'm desperate and confused.
A worried tort mummy x