External Rocks and plants

[sbwalker5]

Hi, I currently have 6 month old Douglas, in a tortoise box with very little other than a water dish and substrate (had him for 3 days now).

I know he needs some stimulation in there, such as rocks and logs, things to climb etc. But I can't seem to find much further info regarding these.

My girlfriend has mentioned that a friend with a tortoise, who says we shouldn't just bring in any old rocks or anything from the outside, and that they need to be specially treated or cleaned first. Is this true? If so, is the best bet just to go back to the reptile specialist where Douglas was bought from and see what they can offer?

I will be going to the reptile specialist tonight, but obviously it would be easier and cheaper to retrieve some natural obstacles from the wooded areas around us.

I'm also worried about a similar thing with foods. I currently have a few shop-bought greens (rocket, coriander, kale, mixed salad leaves), that I wash with water first. I was thinking that I could go outside to pick dandelions, or other plants, but wondered if that was safe? I wouldn't want to bring in any external bugs or parastites that aren't safe, especially as he is a baby? I live in the UK by the way.

Any advice is hugely appreciated...
Thanks

 

[sbwalker5]

Hi, I have had 6 month old Douglas for a few days now, and his current tortoise box is empty other than a water dish and substrate.

I know he needs some obstacles and points of interest, such as rocks and logs, but can't seem to find any info on what is safe and what isn't?

I will be going to the reptile specialist from where he was bought later, to see what they have, but it would also be much easier and cheaper to use rocks and logs that I could find outside in a wooded area near us. However I have heard that you can't just put any old rocks in, especially with a baby tortoise, that hasn't been specially treated or cleaned first? Is this true?

I wouldn't want to bring in anything that may contain bugs or parasites that aren't safe for him?

The same goes for plants for food.. Is it ok to bring in any of the recommended plant life from outdoors, and simply wash with water?

Any advice is hugely appreciated, ok very paranoid at the minute!
Thanks

 

[lisa127]

For now until you get something, find things in your home that you can use as temporary hides. Small boxes with holes cut in the sides, TV dinner trays with an entrance hole cut, etc. It is stressful to have nothing but a water dish in the enclosure. As for stuff from outside, I gather rocks from my yard all the time to use. I wash them and then I put them in a pot and boil them on the stovetop to disinfect them. I haven't used logs from outside yet, but I know people do. I have heard to bake them on low heat (225 degrees) for about a half hour to kill anything inside the wood.

 

[Jacqui]

Hi and welcome! I know many folks buy their rocks and wood, I myself use things I find. I don't remove anything from protected areas. I usually just wash things off, but you could do more sterilzing things to them. Like the rocks could be soaked in either vinegar or diluted clorox (and rinsed very well). Wood could be done that way to I guess, but you can also bake it in the oven on a low degree like you can do substrate.

Weeds are great foods to feed, just be sure they and the soil they are in, have not had any chemicals used on them. This includes fertilizers. Also that no animal treated with ivermectin type produts (heartworm and other wormers) have used the area as a bathroom. I also would not use weeds that grew right next to busy roadways. As always be sure the weeds are themselves "safe" type to feed.

 

[sbwalker5]

Excellent, thank you. I think I'll stick to shop bought plants until I learn to identify those in the wild!

As for the rocks, I also could source some Limestone and Slate rocks from work (I work as a school science technician). Which I assume would be good for him to have in there?

 

[Saleama]

I would avoid taking rocks from Stone Hinge, but as stated above, just give them a good cleaning. On a serious note, I would NOT take any thing found around more urban areas as these might have nasties on them from human stupidity or fertilizers and such. Anything you find on a trip to the woods or the beach should be ok with a good wash.

 

[Jacqui]

I would avoid taking rocks from Stone Hinge,

Some of those might just be a little too big to fit in your inside enclosure, too.