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- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 206
I have always been amazed by the color of desert tortoise eyes. What a stunner!
Patsy Tortoise - Adopted full grown in 1962
- Thread starter Amber White
- Start date
Amber White
New Member
Ciri!
I very much appreciate that you took the time to respond and help me with your take on all this- I'm going to stick with what has worked. Your links are great. As this was my first posting I am so happily encouraged by the feedback I received from just today. I feel like I've entered a good community and can't wait to learn more. Thank you. <3
Amber White
New Member
Yep, will do on the prep. Thanks! She does enjoy her soaks. Her eyes are the only real gateway to let me know when she's enjoying something.
Beautiful tort....one close to my heart. I would wonder though? Where was the tort left to live at prior to you? Back yard? That tortoise has eaten more than lettuce....with those clear bright eyes, healthy skin tone and color....now, if you mean lettuce like romaine, red leaf, green leaf and other types of lettuce then okay perhaps....lol....Also, I would try to mimic exactly what has been the torts housing and food and all because it is working wonderfully...and I would not mess with anything--don't try to work all of the "new" things on an old tort...that tort is cared for well and should continue business as usual....just my take.
I'm in complete agreement with Angela on this one.
This tortoise did not survive and thrive on lettuce for this many decades. If it lived in a back yard, I guarantee it ate lots of grass, weeds, flowers and leaves, in addition to the lettuce it was intentionally fed. The fruit and broccoli you are feeding now are not good for her. They don't need "treats" and sugary fruit is bad for their intestinal flora and fauna. Broccoli is okay in small amounts once in a great while, but not as a regular food. The leaves from all the squash plants are great though. In this thread is a list of stuff to feed them. I typed this up for sulcatas, but the diet is similar, just less emphasis on the grass.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
Having those burrows over all those years eliminated the temperature extremes that this tortoise is now exposed to. Its one main reason why she has survived for so long. Living on a balcony is not a good situation for this tortoise, no matter how much you love her. Perhaps you could construct an above ground "burrow" for her on the balcony until you figure something else out. There are many ways to do this. You might even need to build an insulated box and add some heat on a thermostat to hold off the night chills, and give her a place to escape the daytime highs. This is what her former burrows did for her.
Vets are just people. If they keep, raise and breed their own torts, they sometimes have a clue. Most of the time, sadly, they don't have a clue. 70 degrees is much too warm for hibernation, it is not okay, and your tortoise could die at that temperature with no food all winter long. 45-55 is ideal for this species, and short spells into the low 60s shouldn't be a major issue, but consistent or regular high 60's or 70, is too high. In an apartment, where you are, temps are regularly going to be in the high 60 ad 70s over winter there. This is where a fridge, set to the correct temperature and closely monitored, is very beneficial in our weird warm winter weather here.
I hate changing things up on a long established tortoise like this. I also say, "Don't mess with success". Going from a backyard to a balcony could be a fatal mistake if things are not handled carefully and correctly. It is obvious that you love this tortoise tremendously, and that is awesome, but please be careful you don't kill it with kindness and good intentions while not providing it with what it needs to thrive and survive.
We are happy to try and help.
This tortoise did not survive and thrive on lettuce for this many decades. If it lived in a back yard, I guarantee it ate lots of grass, weeds, flowers and leaves, in addition to the lettuce it was intentionally fed. The fruit and broccoli you are feeding now are not good for her. They don't need "treats" and sugary fruit is bad for their intestinal flora and fauna. Broccoli is okay in small amounts once in a great while, but not as a regular food. The leaves from all the squash plants are great though. In this thread is a list of stuff to feed them. I typed this up for sulcatas, but the diet is similar, just less emphasis on the grass.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
Having those burrows over all those years eliminated the temperature extremes that this tortoise is now exposed to. Its one main reason why she has survived for so long. Living on a balcony is not a good situation for this tortoise, no matter how much you love her. Perhaps you could construct an above ground "burrow" for her on the balcony until you figure something else out. There are many ways to do this. You might even need to build an insulated box and add some heat on a thermostat to hold off the night chills, and give her a place to escape the daytime highs. This is what her former burrows did for her.
Vets are just people. If they keep, raise and breed their own torts, they sometimes have a clue. Most of the time, sadly, they don't have a clue. 70 degrees is much too warm for hibernation, it is not okay, and your tortoise could die at that temperature with no food all winter long. 45-55 is ideal for this species, and short spells into the low 60s shouldn't be a major issue, but consistent or regular high 60's or 70, is too high. In an apartment, where you are, temps are regularly going to be in the high 60 ad 70s over winter there. This is where a fridge, set to the correct temperature and closely monitored, is very beneficial in our weird warm winter weather here.
I hate changing things up on a long established tortoise like this. I also say, "Don't mess with success". Going from a backyard to a balcony could be a fatal mistake if things are not handled carefully and correctly. It is obvious that you love this tortoise tremendously, and that is awesome, but please be careful you don't kill it with kindness and good intentions while not providing it with what it needs to thrive and survive.
We are happy to try and help.
Prairie Mom
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2014
- Messages
- 4,339
Hi Amber White,
So, I'm guessing the tortoise is named "Patsy"? -If so, I love it! She is A-MAZZZZING! Can I be the first to THANK YOU for using that cute rearend leg photo as your GRAVATAR!? Please post regularly, just so I can smile and check out that rear!
I really liked Ciri, Ascot, and Tom's posts. I'm a fan of Tom's suggestion to build an above ground burrow from an insulated box etc and hope you'll consider investigating a way to add heat in there for her to sleep during the cooler nights. Also, recently, a new member posted photos of the balcony they set up for their tortoise. -I've never forgotten it and thought I would bring it to your attention. I'll post a link to the thread here, in hopes that it may inspire you to have some creative fun with your amazing tortoise. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hey.101276/
Good luck and keep us posted!
So, I'm guessing the tortoise is named "Patsy"? -If so, I love it! She is A-MAZZZZING! Can I be the first to THANK YOU for using that cute rearend leg photo as your GRAVATAR!?
Please post regularly, just so I can smile and check out that rear!I really liked Ciri, Ascot, and Tom's posts. I'm a fan of Tom's suggestion to build an above ground burrow from an insulated box etc and hope you'll consider investigating a way to add heat in there for her to sleep during the cooler nights. Also, recently, a new member posted photos of the balcony they set up for their tortoise. -I've never forgotten it and thought I would bring it to your attention. I'll post a link to the thread here, in hopes that it may inspire you to have some creative fun with your amazing tortoise. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hey.101276/
Good luck and keep us posted!
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