Introducing...

Loubylou

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2014
Messages
2
Hi, I'm Jamie and although I'm not new to tortoise care I am new to ownership and I consider myself very novice!

In our family we have had a Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise called Winston for approx 10 years. We think she is a girl. She has lived with my parents but recently she has come to live with me as their dogs pester her and she has not been very happy. She arrived last night.

She hasn't always had the best life, she was abducted from our garden one year when something got into her run and carried her away. Somehow miraculously we were reunited with her over a year later. We didn't have the best advice when we got her and she has been kept in incorrect enclosures with the wrong lights and various other things so I do not think she is as healthy as she could be.

Over the years I have gradually improved her living by persistent research and just turning up at parents with new presents for her! She has a lovely tortoise table with the correct lighting (MVA bulb I think it's called) on a soil/sand/limestone mixed substrate, alternative days calci-dust and nutrobal, and I have managed to chuck away all of the premade pets-at-home tortoise food and she only has fresh veg. I have very recently learnt about soaking her and I soaked her this morning for what is probably the firs time in her life (don't shoot me- she hasn't actually been under my care I have just been trying to improve her living from a distance) which the thoroughly enjoyed and she is now tucking into some leafy greens looking very smug.

I worry about my animals and want all my animals to have the best care they can. I have a specialist exotics vet that I use for my small animals and I intend on going for a check up ASAP. She is not very big and I think she is quite underweight although she seems chirpy in herself I don't think it will hurt to give her a general MOT. I am also aware I don't have access to a garden but when she has come to visit in the past (for holidays) she has enjoyed running free range around my flat (and I think that this is better for her than access to a garden with dogs that pester her incessantly) if I have overlooked anything I would really appreciate advice and guidance (but don't be too mean as I know that her life has not been what it should but she is only 'mine' from today and I had tried my best in the past!!)

I look forward to speaking to people, learning more about tortoise care and making life better for Winnie!
 

Grandpa Turtle 144

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Messages
10,878
Hello Jamie welcome to the TFO from AZ .get rid of the sand in the substrait . And let us see Picts of the tort and the enclosure . We can help more with Picts . And don't forget torts taste test everything . So your tort maybe tasting the fuss from your carpet and unlike a cat the tort cannt cough up fur balls ( carpet fuss )or lamp cords , and torts don't walk around anything they are little bulldozers so they may get hurt . They need outside eat weeds and to get UV light . But please I know you love your tort as I love mine . So have a great tort day . And good luck !


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum
 

bouaboua

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
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Dec 7, 2013
Messages
11,809
Location (City and/or State)
San Jose CA
Hello and Welcome to the forum. Grandpa did provided some good information.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
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Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Welcome to the Forum, Jamie!

When you've become proficient at posting on our Forum, I'd love to see pictures of your tortoise
 

Loubylou

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2014
Messages
2
Thanks for advice! We have a very very short pile carpet, our furniture is all on legs and our cables are all out of the way as we have had to small mammal proof the room before for my other pets. However, I will consider this and keep a track of her when she is out. I physically don't have access to a garden as we live in an upstairs flat without even communal gardens. My OH and I have spoken about possibly taking the tortoise to work (2 miles up the road) to a run in the school gardens (we are teachers) through the day in the summer, but don't know if this would be too stressful for her to do on a daily basis. The only other option would be to rehome her elsewhere but a)I don't want to do this b) I probably couldn't do this as she is not officially mine, she would have to go back to my parents if I didn't want her.

Substrate was 70% sterilised loam and 30% play sand as I read online was recommended? Is this wrong? I have just put in shop bought tortoise substrate which is basically loam and sand with limestone in it premixed again was what I read was recommended?

I will definitely try and work out some pictures!
 
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