Hi everyone,
We're excited to be here! I managed to rescue an approximately 2.5 year old Horsefield tortoise last week. I'm completely new to tortoises, but I've been researching like mad, so I will hopefully do a better job than his previous owners. I have a couple of questions.
Firstly, he's got diarrhoea, and his urates often look more like water, and often doesn't wait for his bath before going. I've been bathing him every morning, hoping to keep him hydrated and encourage regular movements. What else can I do? How worried should I be?
Secondly, he's not eating well. I have researched what's good and what's not to feed him, so I'm certain I'm not inadvertently poisoning him. I didn't want to feed him the same stuff as the previous owners as I noticed that he had diarrhoea when I went to collect him. The only things that he will really eat are different varieties of (safe) yellow flowers, and then only when fed by hand. What else can I do? Or will he settle down in time?
Thirdly, his hind legs seem quite weak. Will they get stronger the more UVB and calcium he gets?
Lastly, he still doesn't have a name, so looking for insipration, I'm trying to work out which of the three species he might be. Unfortunately, due to poor husbandry (I assume), his shell formation isn't marvellous. So, while I've tried to identify him using the comparisons of round/elongated shell seen from above, and slightly domed/flat shell seen from the side, I am still in the dark! I believe Horsefieldii Horsefiedii are the most commonly imported to the UK, so that might have a bearing. Is it possible he's a cross between subspecies? Does anyone have any other tips that might help me, like markings, etc?
Thanks so much for all your wonderful replies in advance!
We're excited to be here! I managed to rescue an approximately 2.5 year old Horsefield tortoise last week. I'm completely new to tortoises, but I've been researching like mad, so I will hopefully do a better job than his previous owners. I have a couple of questions.
Firstly, he's got diarrhoea, and his urates often look more like water, and often doesn't wait for his bath before going. I've been bathing him every morning, hoping to keep him hydrated and encourage regular movements. What else can I do? How worried should I be?
Secondly, he's not eating well. I have researched what's good and what's not to feed him, so I'm certain I'm not inadvertently poisoning him. I didn't want to feed him the same stuff as the previous owners as I noticed that he had diarrhoea when I went to collect him. The only things that he will really eat are different varieties of (safe) yellow flowers, and then only when fed by hand. What else can I do? Or will he settle down in time?
Thirdly, his hind legs seem quite weak. Will they get stronger the more UVB and calcium he gets?
Lastly, he still doesn't have a name, so looking for insipration, I'm trying to work out which of the three species he might be. Unfortunately, due to poor husbandry (I assume), his shell formation isn't marvellous. So, while I've tried to identify him using the comparisons of round/elongated shell seen from above, and slightly domed/flat shell seen from the side, I am still in the dark! I believe Horsefieldii Horsefiedii are the most commonly imported to the UK, so that might have a bearing. Is it possible he's a cross between subspecies? Does anyone have any other tips that might help me, like markings, etc?
Thanks so much for all your wonderful replies in advance!