Hermany'sMum
New Member
Hello there!!
Newbie here, about 2 months ago a 45 year old tortoise came to stay with us. She is my father in law's tort and they both came to stay with us because my FIL needed some care after a long hospital stay. I think she settled in well because it's her old box and familiar faces were around all the time. She ate very well initially but it was also the few weeks we had really hot weather.
When my father in law went back home, he refused to take the tortoise back with him, after 45 years he'd had enough and was finding it difficult to keep bending down. My FIL is 87, fair enough so we now have her.
My garden is tiny, and north facing. That combined with a rubbish summer, she stopped eating much or coming out of her house. I used hot water bottles and warm baths (loves all of those things) and also brought her indoors on cold rainy days and used a heat lamp but nothing would make her eat much or get going out and about. Our garden had always been my pride, so I have no weeds to eat. I have bought some weed and grass seeds for next year now tho and accepted that my nice garden days are over!!!
So I started to take her to the church yard behind our house. She seems to love walking! She still wasn't eating many weeds there, but would nibble on some cabbage and rocket I'd take with me now and then. The walk became further and further, exploring outside the church and about 10 days ago I took her for a long walk (for a tortoise) down to a small field, about half a mile away or so. Well, this field was obviously the restaurant of choice because she spent 30 mins there just eating! It was an delight to watch and made me feel some relief that she may have enough food in her for hibernation now I knew where to take her.
Does anyone else walk their tortoise? We've been out and about nearly every day for the last few weeks and she knows the way from our garden now. I do get to hear some surprised cries of "she's walking a tortoise!" as we go for our rambles which makes me laugh and sometimes our cat comes with us too which must make things look even more strange! The cat took a long time to accept the new housemate and is still only just coming to terms with her so I am chuffed when the cat joins us.
I hope am doing the right thing (apart from making a rod for my own back) because she certainly seems to be happier. She's out her house now in the morning waiting for a bath and a walk about, showing more interest in life. I'm relieved that she's eating and keeping strong.
Newbie here, about 2 months ago a 45 year old tortoise came to stay with us. She is my father in law's tort and they both came to stay with us because my FIL needed some care after a long hospital stay. I think she settled in well because it's her old box and familiar faces were around all the time. She ate very well initially but it was also the few weeks we had really hot weather.
When my father in law went back home, he refused to take the tortoise back with him, after 45 years he'd had enough and was finding it difficult to keep bending down. My FIL is 87, fair enough so we now have her.
My garden is tiny, and north facing. That combined with a rubbish summer, she stopped eating much or coming out of her house. I used hot water bottles and warm baths (loves all of those things) and also brought her indoors on cold rainy days and used a heat lamp but nothing would make her eat much or get going out and about. Our garden had always been my pride, so I have no weeds to eat. I have bought some weed and grass seeds for next year now tho and accepted that my nice garden days are over!!!
So I started to take her to the church yard behind our house. She seems to love walking! She still wasn't eating many weeds there, but would nibble on some cabbage and rocket I'd take with me now and then. The walk became further and further, exploring outside the church and about 10 days ago I took her for a long walk (for a tortoise) down to a small field, about half a mile away or so. Well, this field was obviously the restaurant of choice because she spent 30 mins there just eating! It was an delight to watch and made me feel some relief that she may have enough food in her for hibernation now I knew where to take her.
Does anyone else walk their tortoise? We've been out and about nearly every day for the last few weeks and she knows the way from our garden now. I do get to hear some surprised cries of "she's walking a tortoise!" as we go for our rambles which makes me laugh and sometimes our cat comes with us too which must make things look even more strange! The cat took a long time to accept the new housemate and is still only just coming to terms with her so I am chuffed when the cat joins us.
I hope am doing the right thing (apart from making a rod for my own back) because she certainly seems to be happier. She's out her house now in the morning waiting for a bath and a walk about, showing more interest in life. I'm relieved that she's eating and keeping strong.