Search found 2003 matches

by Nina
27 Sep 2020, 11:09
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 13
Views: 14447

Re: Weight loss

Hi Nic, So sorry, but for some reason I'm not receiving all the notifications of posting and missed your last 3! Re the black lips -- if he has just eaten something moist or had a drink then it does go darker around the mouth -- but in any case I don't think it's a problem. Do you want to send a clo...
by Nina
27 Sep 2020, 11:05
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Another nervous new owner
Replies: 17
Views: 9881

Re: Another nervous new owner

Hi Lottie, Do you know which ProRep food you've got? They do a range and some are lower protein/higher fibre (which is good) than others. It's really good to grow your own food though. What herbs are you growing (there are quite a lot of herbs that torts don't like so much, but if you can grow them ...
by Nina
27 Sep 2020, 10:39
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Liner and sleeping area!
Replies: 7
Views: 6011

Re: Liner and sleeping area!

Hi Claire, So sorry that I somehow missed your latest post. That heat source sounds safe, so that's fine (it's just that if they sit on top of it then it can be dangerous), but do you know how warm it gets inside that sleeping area at night? Tortoises do like a drop in temperature at night, as that ...
by Nina
25 Sep 2020, 22:17
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Another nervous new owner
Replies: 17
Views: 9881

Re: Another nervous new owner

Hi Lottie, I think you are sorting out things very nicely! If you decide to get the UVB tube, get one that is close to being as long as the table if possible (a 3' one seems about right). This means that there will be a good spread of UVB everywhere, You will also need a reflector. This is a curved ...
by Nina
25 Sep 2020, 19:29
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Another nervous new owner
Replies: 17
Views: 9881

Re: Another nervous new owner

Hi Lottie, Regarding Boris's palace :D -- the measurements you've given will be OK for a while, because he is so small, but as he grows he will need more space, so maybe that is something to think about in the future if you can't do it now. Will you have an outside area where he can go when the weat...
by Nina
25 Sep 2020, 13:30
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Another nervous new owner
Replies: 17
Views: 9881

Re: Another nervous new owner

Hi Lottie, Hurrah -- he is here! And here's a link to a good care sheet for him: https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/files/Hermanns%20care%20sheet%20January%202014New.pdf Regarding his new table -- do remember that it should be as big as possible in the space you can allow. Even if you...
by Nina
25 Sep 2020, 10:06
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Liner and sleeping area!
Replies: 7
Views: 6011

Re: Liner and sleeping area!

Hi Claire, The sort answer is 'yes' it probably does need a liner. I don't know what your wood has been coated with, but repeated spilling of water from the bowl and wee could soak into the wood and make it harder to clean. Most people use a soft plastic heavy sheeting of some sort, like pool liner ...
by Nina
25 Sep 2020, 09:52
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Another nervous new owner
Replies: 17
Views: 9881

Re: Another nervous new owner

Hi Lottie, Welcome to The Tortoise Table, and many congratulations on welcoming Boris into your home. How exciting for you, and what a lovely little tortoise he is! Identifying species isn't my strongest point, but someone will come on here soon and let you know. In the meantime, it will say on his ...
by Nina
24 Sep 2020, 18:46
Forum: UK Plant Identification
Topic: Any idea on this please?
Replies: 5
Views: 7188

Re: Any idea on this please?

So sorry that we missed your original post on 15 September! I've had a good look and I think that if it is Nyger (Guizotia abyssinica) is probably fine for tortoises (although to be on the safe side I wouldn't feed a lot of it). Is the pot under or near a bird feeder? The seed shouldn't germinate as...
by Nina
23 Sep 2020, 19:48
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Nervous new owner.
Replies: 10
Views: 7484

Re: Nervous new owner.

Excellent!

Nina


eeclaire80 wrote:
> Ahh wee Dolly looks so cute climbing up!
>
> Yes, I measured flat along level with the base of his shell.
>
> C x
by Nina
23 Sep 2020, 18:49
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Nervous new owner.
Replies: 10
Views: 7484

Re: Nervous new owner.

No description of tortoise activity is boring! :D That sounds about right to me, but Just to check -- are you measuring his SCL (Straight Carapace Length)? It's the length measured along thet bottom rather than over the top of the shell, which you are probably doing, but thought I'd just check. Here...
by Nina
23 Sep 2020, 18:07
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Ideas for Low-Light, Indoor, Russian Tort Plants
Replies: 17
Views: 39755

Re: Ideas for Low-Light, Indoor, Russian Tort Plants

Just an additional post to follow on from our discussion of Campanula. This article covers how to grow, care and propagate them, various varieties and sub-species, etc. Very useful; https://happydiyhome.com/campanula/

Nina
by Nina
23 Sep 2020, 18:00
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Nervous new owner.
Replies: 10
Views: 7484

Re: Nervous new owner.

Aww, bless -- that is a good weight, and he obviously hasn't been growing too fast. He looked bigger to me in the photo, but there wasn't anything to measure him against, so maybe what I thought looked bumpy is just his hatchling shell and there is nothing to worry about. When he does wee, you will ...
by Nina
23 Sep 2020, 14:50
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Nervous new owner.
Replies: 10
Views: 7484

Re: Nervous new owner.

Hi Claire, He's a lovely little chappy, and thanks for the photos! The calcium block might be OK, but I think that sometimes it is too hard for little tortoises to bite, and they don't lick. You can try a cuttlefish bone (the sort that people buy for budgies). Some tortoises won't eat them until the...
by Nina
22 Sep 2020, 18:52
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Nervous new owner.
Replies: 10
Views: 7484

Re: Nervous new owner.

Hi Beeclair and welcome to The Tortoise Table (and many congratulations on getting Floyd)! I know it's all very confusing at the beginning (lol and it can be confusing later on too), but that's what we're here for, so if you have any questions or problems, ask away. First of all, here is a link to a...
by Nina
22 Sep 2020, 13:19
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 13
Views: 14447

Re: Weight loss

Have just heard back from them. They are currently offering a 10% discount to TTT people, so just type in TTT at checkout. Here is what they said in addition: There is the option at checkout on postage (sort their own postage and their own pot where we don’t send anything out, and the usual 1st clas...
by Nina
22 Sep 2020, 11:37
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 13
Views: 14447

Re: Weight loss

Hi Nic, I think I was in the middle of writing a response but forgot to send. Anyway, you can have a poo test done at a vet (can't remember now if you have a good one), or VetExotics (Reptiland) https://www.vetexotics.co.uk/ offer a 10% discount to people who type in TTT at checkout. Not sure how th...
by Nina
21 Sep 2020, 22:17
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 13
Views: 14447

Re: Weight loss

Hi Nic, Waking him is part of it, but there is more you can do (although it can be really difficult with some tortoises). Here's a link to our article on overwintering your tortoise. Have a read and see if there is anything that you think you can do to help him. I don't think that going outside is g...
by Nina
21 Sep 2020, 13:34
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Outdoor enclosure
Replies: 8
Views: 6601

Re: Outdoor enclosure

Yup, definitely a Horsfield. Here's a new care sheet for you: https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/files/Horsfield%20Care%20Sheet%20January%202014New.pdf The care will be pretty much the same, the only difference being that Horsfields are known for having a stronger hibernation instinct...
by Nina
20 Sep 2020, 19:02
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 13
Views: 14447

Re: Weight loss

I can see why it is worrying you. It's amazing how much weighing just before a poo or just after a poo can make a difference (at least a gram or two), but the fact that he hasn't really gained any weight since he has been with you is concerning, so let's review everything and see what we can do to m...
by Nina
20 Sep 2020, 18:17
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Outdoor enclosure
Replies: 8
Views: 6601

Re: Outdoor enclosure

Well that would fit in, because although Hermann's have to have an Article 10 certificate, because they are listed in Annex A on CITES, Horsfields are listed in Annex B and don't need a certificate. Let's wait for tomorrow and see what happens. I'll be out all morning but will be back mid-afternoon....
by Nina
20 Sep 2020, 17:03
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Outdoor enclosure
Replies: 8
Views: 6601

Re: Outdoor enclosure

Hi Cheryl, Your first post in the other thread said you'd acquired a Hermann's and I didn't question that, but at the end of that thread you posted a photo of him, and by that time I'd sort of forgot about the species and didn't really pick up on it -- so sorry for that. I'm almost 100% sure that he...
by Nina
20 Sep 2020, 14:34
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Outdoor enclosure
Replies: 8
Views: 6601

Re: Outdoor enclosure

Cheryl, that looks absolutely brilliant!! You've done a super job and I can't think of anything to add -- you've broken up the sight lines well, put lots of little objects of interest in there, areas of light and shade, and the lid will prevent predators from coming in and him climbing out. The only...
by Nina
18 Sep 2020, 10:23
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New Owner - Hibernation Q
Replies: 4
Views: 4138

Re: New Owner - Hibernation Q

Hi Kelly, There is so much misinformation out there. Although the vents do help a bit, the main problem with vivariums arise because tortoises are ectothermic, which means they regulate their body temperature based on the temperature of the air around them, and they need to move from warm to cool ar...
by Nina
17 Sep 2020, 13:46
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New Owner - Hibernation Q
Replies: 4
Views: 4138

Re: New Owner - Hibernation Q

Hi Kelly, and welcome to The Tortoise Table (and many congratulations on getting Spud -- great name too!). I can tell that you are all already in love with Spud and are doing your best to give him (or her) a good home. Russian tortoises have -- as you have already discovered -- great personalities, ...