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  1. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Update : after two weeks of him not eating or drinking, freaking out and running away anytime anyone got near the enclosure, I removed the bark. He started eating at the next meal I offered, drank in his soak that evening, and stopped panicking when approached. He wasn't a normal tortoise to...
  2. W Shaw

    Enrichment Ideas?

    Mine will kick a lightweight ball around -- the light, brightly colored ones made for cats. He approaches it, looks it over, then gives it a nudge with one hand, then follows after it. Also, regarding food enrichment, it doesn't need to be a new item. It can be a favorite item offered in a...
  3. W Shaw

    Epic Enrichment Fail!

    Mine too on the radicchio! His favorite enrichment thing is when the raddichio head gets down to the stem and just a billiard ball sized clump he gets to have the whole thing to roll around and chew on.
  4. W Shaw

    Quotes.

    It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog.
  5. W Shaw

    Quotes.

    2 quotes for today: "Revenge costs resources and it's rarely politically useful." "The moment you let your enemy make you react emotionally, he wins."
  6. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    I get that you're touchy about people questioning your advice, but as I said on the other thread, I'm not going to be baited into an argument. You've had your say, and I'm fine with that.
  7. W Shaw

    Mazuri... How often?

    The sulcata at the university has it available all the time in winter, in addition to zucchini and some plants that are left at his height in the greenhouse. One of the herpetologists there gave me some to try. For my 5 inch Russian, he said soak 2 or three pellets and offer with each meal in...
  8. W Shaw

    Noob worry questions

    Found it! Thanks!
  9. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Sounds like a cool mix! I'm debating about mixing the existing bark with cypress to lighten it up, but hesitating for a practical non-tortoise reason: If I spend a bunch of money on cypress, mix it with the bark and he still can't burrow, then I'll be throwing out another batch of new...
  10. W Shaw

    Noob worry questions

    Not looking to argue with you on it. I know you like it for your tortoises. That's why I went with it. On the other hand I just wasted $50 on new substrate that will have to be dumped in the trash 3 days after I bought it, because it's impossible to burrow properly in. Just trying to save...
  11. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Thanks! I can put up with a mild odor as it's safe for Ronan to breathe when it's concentrated in a burrow.
  12. W Shaw

    Noob worry questions

    An FYI on the orchid bark -- I just switched to it, based on forum recommendations & my Russian is so miserable in it that I'm going to have to throw the whole lot of it away within 3 days of putting him in it. It's impossible to burrow properly in and Russians love to burrow, so if you have a...
  13. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Definitely! I probably wouldn't be quite so frustrated if I didn't feel so guilty about having done this to him, and knowing I can't fix it until at least tomorrow. I've blown lots of money on getting his bulbs right and stuff.... but I hate seeing him so unhappy. I'll order cypress today. I...
  14. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    [ Tried that but he hates going in hides. As long as he can burrow he won't use one. I bought reptibark, because I don't have access to bulk orchid bark. I don't have a house or yard, so I"m out of luck on that score. Unfortunately it'll be a couple of days until I can get something else...
  15. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Thanks! Maybe that'll be the answer. He loved the aspen. It was just too dry. No way to recoup the cost of the bark, but I can donate the spare bag to the university, I think. They have some snakes -- and a greenhouse that maybe has orchids in it.
  16. W Shaw

    tortoise soaking

    I just want to second the "Don't take offense" thing. Tom's been a HUGE help to me in the couple of months I've had Ronan and his advice has prevented me from making a lot of the beginner mistakes that get tortoises injured or killed. I'm SO grateful that I got his cautionary notes BEFORE...
  17. W Shaw

    I think I just made a $50 mistake

    Finally made the switch from aspen to orchid bark this weekend. At the last minute a couple of people said I wouldn't like it because it's not good for burrowing, but I'd been told by others that their torts burrow in it, and I'd already paid for the bark, so I put it in. The first thing I...
  18. W Shaw

    Repticarpet or natural substrate

    Mine wouldn't be happy on carpet. He loves to burrow.
  19. W Shaw

    Eating habits

    Yep! I get it! I end up second guessing every move I make with mine!
  20. W Shaw

    Eating habits

    I'm still new to having a tortoise. Only have one little rescue, and only had him since October. He's a russian. I don't know how old he is, but he's about 5 inches long. When I got him, he was on the verge of starvation because his meals were being limited. I think if your tortoise eats it...
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