The Tortoise Table

I think it is much more likely that your allergic reaction is to something other than the tortoise. Is there anything else that could have triggered that reaction (change of detergent, a particular food that you might be allergic to)? I have just checked some veterinary handbooks and it seems that t...

Thank you much, Phil, and what a wonderful card -- I absolutely love it! Many happy wishes to you, your wife, and the incredible Shelly and Skippy, and I hope you all have a wonderful first Christmas together! It is such a pleasure corresponding with tortoise keepers like you, who want only the best...

Hi Emma, It's great to know that Penny is settling into her hibernation better than she did last time (they do like to keep us on our toes -- and anxious and stressed -- I think). Re opening the door -- just wafting it for 10 or 15 seconds is fine -- you just want a bit of an exchange of air, and I ...

Aren't they lovely! And super names too -- thanks for the photos.

Nina

Hi Abbey and Bubbles and sorry to be late in responding to your post. Congratulations on getting your little Horsfield, and I love the name Bubbles! It's a bit difficult for me to say what might be wrong with Bubbles, as it seems from what you described that you've got a good set-up and the temperat...

Whew! I'm glad i misread it! All is well then. Several days before you put her in (or sooner) it's always a good idea to put in some bottles of water (I fill the door of the fridge with them and put a couple on the shelves too). Once that mass of water reaches the right temperature, it helps to stab...

Emma25 wrote: Hi Emma, I think you're doing really well. The weight loss is fine, and the progressive reduction of light and heat sounds fine too. The plan after your return for putting her into the 10 degree room and then the utility room sounds fine (although if we have a warmer spell, I guess tho...

Hi Steve, My table is probably bigger than you want (it's 7' x 2'), but a general rule is to make the table as large as your space will allow, as tortoises like to have a large space to roam in. My table sits on top of a cabinet, where I keep all the electrics, spare bulbs, literature, etc., and it ...

Oops, I just noticed that I missed some photos that Ambrosius's family sent to me -- here are some more of the very handsome Ambrosius and his new home.

Nina
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Here for everyone to see is the absolutely adorable Ambrosius, and the great table that his new family got for him. Nina [attachment=0]m_Ambrosius0.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]m_Ambrosius table.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]m_Ambrosius table from above.jpg[/attachment][attachment=3]m_ambrosius tab...

Good luck and let us know how you get on. I would definitely consider a second level in your table (I have photos of mine being constructed if you're interested), and also make sure that whatever you have you will be able to raise and lower the heat/light lamp, and also provide for the possibility o...

Oh Stevie, I'm so sorry! Actually we always have some tortoises to rehome, and we advertise them on our Facebook page. No money can change hands -- we just want a tortoise to go to a good home, and I think you could provide one. Have a look at our FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/TheTortoiseTa...

Hi Emma,

How cute is that photo! It sounds like Penny is doing really well and is going to have a very successful hibernation.

Nina

It is exciting, isn't it! Thanks for the photos. The upstairs bedroom is fine (but I would take the bedding out of there, because if he wees on it, it can go mouldy). It will be fine as long as he decides to sleep there, but if he prefers sleeping elsewhere then it's sort of wasted. The area underne...

Hi Stevie, and welcome to the Tortoise Table! Many congratulations on getting Pearl (such a cute name for a really cute tortoise!). I put a link to a care sheet for Horsfields in that long email earlier in this thread, so do have a read of it and come back with any questions. I absolutely understand...

Hi Emma, Just the start of some pyramiding, and nothing to worry about as long as you maintain slow growth and ensure he has a low protein/high fibre diet with a good calcium supplement, and is well hydrated. Horsfields are such greedy tortoises that it is easy for them to overeat and grow too quick...

I love the name Ambrosius (does it come from the Greek, meaning immortal or divine?)! If your photos are too large, just send them to me at nina@thetortoisetable.org.uk and I'll reduce them in size and post them here for your. That's great that you've got him a table, and I hope he appreciates all t...

Hi Chris, Lol, I loved your post -- really made me smile on what is a dark, cold day here! And how satisfying to hear that proofreading saved your day when the term paper got deleted. I worked for an academic publisher for many years, and I'm a pretty obsessive proofreader too! Out of curiosity, whe...

i Ambrosius and family, Whew, I'm so glad that you aren't putting him in the vivarium, and I hope you are able to recover your costs by selling it. What's his name, by the way (it just occurred to me that his name might be Ambrosius and he is writing to me on behalf of you and your family). :) Re th...

Oh dear, this isn't my day, as I did loads of research (without many results) and wrote nearly a whole reply and then deleted it by accident! So I'll start again. Schizachyrium scoparium. As far as I can see this should be OK. I found one scientific study that showed the plant took up arsenic from i...

Hi and thanks for posting. I'm sorry to be so late in responding, but we've been inundated with questions via email from people at the moment and I'm a bit behind on my research. Hope to get back to you before the day is out.

Nina

Hi Emma, It does depend a bit on the species, but Horsfields like it pretty dry. The thing is that indoors the lights are very drying, and so it's recommended that the substrate be kept just the tiniest bit damp -- not at all wet. It should be that if you have some substrate in your hand, and clench...

Sounds perfect -- happy hibernation!
Nina
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Hi Emma, Good to hear from you! You can sometimes encourage a poo by soaking her, which you're doing anyway, and it sounds like you're doing a great job (15 - 20 minutes in nice warm water will often produce a poo, but I wouldn't worry too much if it doesn't happen, as at the end of her fasting peri...

Hi Ambrosius, I'm glad that you found the care sheet useful. I can't remember if it mentioned it, but please, please cancel your order for the vivarium if you can, as they are very bad environments for tortoises. I can point you to lots of articles on why vivariums are bad for tortoises (they are fi...