Before/After TFO

[Laurie]

With all the recent talk, I just wanted to show off a little bit of what the great members of TFO have done for me and my tortoise. This is my first tortoise, and this is how he was kept when he first came home

This is how he lives after TFO. I believe he is much happier and healthier

[video=youtube]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f11cu9uXx8&sns=em [/video]

I would like to thank all the members here for sharing their experience, knowledge and time.

 

[wellington]

Yes he looks very happy. He is right at home. Good job.

 

[drgnfly2265]

I love the second pic! It looks like he is really enjoying that sun

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Glad to see your little guy is doing so well. Plus he doesn't have to worry about a big, scary cat crouching above him.

 

[lynnedit]

What a contrast! He really looks happy in his new home. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Tom]

I think you have failed, like everyone else, and your tortoise is miserable and suffering horribly...


BAHhahahaaa HAHAHAAAAAHHAHAHhaaa... I couldn't even get it out with a straight face...

Hey your first set up wasn't all that bad...

Laurie, I think you are an EXCELLENT tortoise keeper and your tortoises will reward you with years of enjoyment and good health. Thanks for sharing your awesome pics and video.

 

[Jacqui]

Since I love playing Devil's advocate and it's one of those mornings, I hope Laurie will allow me to use her thread to point out something if I may. Also Laurie while I know these points are not true, I am trying to show what a new person might see comparing your two setups okay? I am NOT saying it's true, just basing on what I can see. Understand?

The after TFO pictures show some major lacks to my mind. While I see sunshine with it being very hot right now where I live, I wonder about heat and too much sun. Looks like the only shade will be where the boards block the sun and that is pretty limited. Then there is the hide, but how large is it really? Especially if that is the only real place he has to go to to get out of the sun.

I guess once more especially with all that sunshine, he doesn't need water. Atleast in the before TFO days he had a water dish.

Are you guys understanding what I am saying? A new person to the forum (especially one who has not read the evolution of this enclosure) could think that maybe in this case the tortoise is maybe not so hugely better off then before. Really look at what is in those pictures (or not in them), not what you know she may actually have in that enclosure.

Once more sorry Laurie for using you and your thread as an example. I do honestly think your tortoise is better cared for now then before, but your before wasn't that bad either.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Nice!

 

[CactusVinnie]

Jacqui,
You are a quite good devil's advocate .
Even it was in full sun, it is a Horsfield. Those creatures digg a lot and manage to escape direct sun even when no feature is present- I don't suggest not to provide them in your enclosure, since if the ground is too hard to digg, the only way to survive is compromised. In captivity we have to make things easier to compensate the lack of variety in both housing and feeding.
But... some of mines prefer to digg a small hide by themselves, at the base of a small Festuca clump, and use it instead of the shaded corner and hides I provided them!! That on 35*C heat and very dry!
Laurie seems to provide the best for the tortoise- the ground looks diggable but not too sandy, and the hide is also covered, so isolated by the ravages of heat.

And... an indoor enclosure is, in my opinion, for that species, the WORSE situation for longterm. Just for emergencies. Not for keeping a Testudo...

Laurie, what is your location?

 

[Jacqui]

My Russians too dig, so I am aware of that trait. One reason why I personally dislike it, when folks put wire under their outdoor enclosures. I can't really think of any tortoise for whom I think permanent indoor living is the best or most ideal situation.

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

What a phenomenal job on your part!!! Since you received so much help on this forum I suggest that you have to build us all replicas of your outdoor enclosure. I guess since I came up with the idea I have to go first so I guess I'll take ten of those.

 

[Vishnu2]

What a phenomenal job on your part!!! Since you received so much help on this forum I suggest that you have to build us all replicas of your outdoor enclosure. I guess since I came up with the idea I have to go first so I guess I'll take ten of those.

Lol. Can I take one of your 10? Just for a little while?

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I think you have done an awesome job. He looks so happy. I actually like his orange furry friend in pic one myself. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

What a phenomenal job on your part!!! Since you received so much help on this forum I suggest that you have to build us all replicas of your outdoor enclosure. I guess since I came up with the idea I have to go first so I guess I'll take ten of those.

Lol. Can I take one of your 10? Just for a little while?

NO!!! I just got a smokin deal off this Cameroon King and I need to put the tortoises somewhere.

 

[Vishnu2]

What a phenomenal job on your part!!! Since you received so much help on this forum I suggest that you have to build us all replicas of your outdoor enclosure. I guess since I came up with the idea I have to go first so I guess I'll take ten of those.

Lol. Can I take one of your 10? Just for a little while?

NO!!! I just got a smokin deal off this Cameroon King and I need to put the tortoises somewhere.

I just wanted to BORROW one. Sheesh. Greedy.

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

What a phenomenal job on your part!!! Since you received so much help on this forum I suggest that you have to build us all replicas of your outdoor enclosure. I guess since I came up with the idea I have to go first so I guess I'll take ten of those.

Lol. Can I take one of your 10? Just for a little while?

NO!!! I just got a smokin deal off this Cameroon King and I need to put the tortoises somewhere.

I just wanted to BORROW one. Sheesh. Greedy.

 

[pam]

Great job

 

[clare n]

love it

 

[Tom]

It's the toadstools that complete it. Just makes it perfect.

 

[Jacqui]

Sad thing is, I have a few of those toadstools too.

 

[Laurie]

Thanks for all the positive feedback! Jacqui, next time I will try to get the whole 8'x 8' enclosure with all it's accompiaments in the pics 

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Jacqui,
You are a quite good devil's advocate .
Even it was in full sun, it is a Horsfield. Those creatures digg a lot and manage to escape direct sun even when no feature is present- I don't suggest not to provide them in your enclosure, since if the ground is too hard to digg, the only way to survive is compromised. In captivity we have to make things easier to compensate the lack of variety in both housing and feeding.
But... some of mines prefer to digg a small hide by themselves, at the base of a small Festuca clump, and use it instead of the shaded corner and hides I provided them!! That on 35*C heat and very dry!
Laurie seems to provide the best for the tortoise- the ground looks diggable but not too sandy, and the hide is also covered, so isolated by the ravages of heat.

And... an indoor enclosure is, in my opinion, for that species, the WORSE situation for longterm. Just for emergencies. Not for keeping a Testudo...

Laurie, what is your location?

I am in Saratoga county New York, it's just north of Albany

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It's the toadstools that complete it. Just makes it perfect.

I buy one toadstool everytime I go to Lowes