Dear tortoise lovers,
my name is Leonie, I am a 36 year old mommy and live in sweet rainy Germany together with an arc of pets.
I have four hermanni tortoises (eastern sub species, boettgeri) and, since 6 weeks, a baby sulcata.
First I have to excuse my English... I understand quite a lot but I think I do a lot of grammar mistakes; I've only had one year English at school and that was loooong ago - sorry!
It took a while until I was able to live my dream of a sulcata tortoise: Now, finally, I live in a big house with a nice garden and two empty garages that could be a good winter house for my sulcata.
My first experience was, I am afraid, not a good one: I bought my little Sulcata from a trader in my region. Two days later was clear: The baby which we called "Mikesh McMau" was sick, really sick.
I took him to the vet, a specialist for reptiles with the focus on tortoises. The little sulcata was affected by (with?) parasites, had an infection that was treated with antibiotics, and, the bottom side of his carapax was too soft.
Before the purchase I informed myself about what these little tortoises need and I think I did not make many mistakes that could have caused the problems Mikesh had. The vet also said Mikesh must have been sick at the time I got him.
Now, six weeks later, the little guy feels much better: He does no longer hide from sunlight, he walks around and eats. His most favourite food are maulberry leaves - I wonder how much such a little creature can eat.
Unfortunately the sorrow doesn't end: Mikesh does not increase in weight and size.
Here in Germany we have a specialist for sulcatas who is very experienced with handling those little guys. He wrote an article about known issues of growth problems with sulcatas. There are said to be 5 year old sulcatas with a weight of only 300 grams. Mostly those animals doesn't survive the first years of their lifes and I fear, my baby could have this problem :-( I can't tell you how many tears we have cried. All we can do is to care about the little one and make his life as nice as it can be.
Our vet does not believe in growth problems of any kind but I have heared about it that often that it is hard for me not to believe...
We do not know exactly how old Mikesh is: We only know he must be older than six months, but how old exactly is unknown. At the moment he only weighs 58 grams...
At the moment I think about buying a second sulcata. My vet says a second tortoise of the same species could help Mikesh eat better. I have heared several meanings about it: Some people say it is a great idea some others say the opposite. What about you? I would be very happy to hear what you think about it!
Last but not least I want to show you a picture of my little boy (or girl - we decided for boy at the moment and wait for the surprise having breakfast:
Thank you very much for your patience with me and my English!
Greetings,
Leonie
my name is Leonie, I am a 36 year old mommy and live in sweet rainy Germany together with an arc of pets.
I have four hermanni tortoises (eastern sub species, boettgeri) and, since 6 weeks, a baby sulcata.
First I have to excuse my English... I understand quite a lot but I think I do a lot of grammar mistakes; I've only had one year English at school and that was loooong ago - sorry!
It took a while until I was able to live my dream of a sulcata tortoise: Now, finally, I live in a big house with a nice garden and two empty garages that could be a good winter house for my sulcata.
My first experience was, I am afraid, not a good one: I bought my little Sulcata from a trader in my region. Two days later was clear: The baby which we called "Mikesh McMau" was sick, really sick.
I took him to the vet, a specialist for reptiles with the focus on tortoises. The little sulcata was affected by (with?) parasites, had an infection that was treated with antibiotics, and, the bottom side of his carapax was too soft.
Before the purchase I informed myself about what these little tortoises need and I think I did not make many mistakes that could have caused the problems Mikesh had. The vet also said Mikesh must have been sick at the time I got him.
Now, six weeks later, the little guy feels much better: He does no longer hide from sunlight, he walks around and eats. His most favourite food are maulberry leaves - I wonder how much such a little creature can eat.
Unfortunately the sorrow doesn't end: Mikesh does not increase in weight and size.
Here in Germany we have a specialist for sulcatas who is very experienced with handling those little guys. He wrote an article about known issues of growth problems with sulcatas. There are said to be 5 year old sulcatas with a weight of only 300 grams. Mostly those animals doesn't survive the first years of their lifes and I fear, my baby could have this problem :-( I can't tell you how many tears we have cried. All we can do is to care about the little one and make his life as nice as it can be.
Our vet does not believe in growth problems of any kind but I have heared about it that often that it is hard for me not to believe...
We do not know exactly how old Mikesh is: We only know he must be older than six months, but how old exactly is unknown. At the moment he only weighs 58 grams...
At the moment I think about buying a second sulcata. My vet says a second tortoise of the same species could help Mikesh eat better. I have heared several meanings about it: Some people say it is a great idea some others say the opposite. What about you? I would be very happy to hear what you think about it!
Last but not least I want to show you a picture of my little boy (or girl - we decided for boy at the moment and wait for the surprise having breakfast:
Thank you very much for your patience with me and my English!
Greetings,
Leonie