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!
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!