The Tortoise Table

Hi Polly, Something just occurred to me. You mentioned that you are offering him Timothy grass. Is this Timothy grass or Timothy hay? In other words is it fresh or dried. It's often difficult to get youngsters to eat dried grass (although adults will happily eat it). Why not grow fresh grass yoursel...

Isn't he gorgeous -- and I can see that you've already fallen in love with him. Can't wait to see photos of him in his new little home that you've created.

Nina

Hi Polly, Thank goodness you turned that light off! I don't want to alarm you, but tortoises can die if they are in temperatures above about 36C or 38C for any length of time, so you did the right thing. That's the reason why an easily adjustable lamp height is such a help. Just looking forward, I c...

Isn't she absolutely gorgeous! Lol, and you've obviously fallen in love with her already. I'm so glad you're finding our website useful and please ask any and all the questions that occur to you -- that's what we're here for, and I always think that asking questions is one of the best ways to learn....

Hi Polly, That's a very nice table you've got there, so no problem with that. Yes, if it's too hot then that could cause him to be lethargic. You say the temperature under the lamp at the height of his shell is high, but could you tell me what that temperaturet is (that can make a huge difference)? ...

Tortoises do develop preferences, but there is a little technique that you could try. Pick some sowthistle leaves (or others that he likes) and cut them into pretty big pieces -- or leave them whole. Then cut the food you would like him to eat (campanula, evening primrose, etc.) into very tiny piece...

Aww, I love to hear about Boris -- he's such a character. It won't hurt for him to be outdoors if it dips to 9C, as long as he's able to warm up in the morning -- which you did -- so I think he's leading a charmed life. There's been a big discussion on the Tortoise Trust about 'long fibres' being so...

Looking great! You're certainly making fast progress. Do remember with the glass lid on your cold frame that in addition to becoming an oven inside if it's warm, that UVB doesn't pass through glass, so your tortoise won't get the benefits of the UVB from the sun when the glass lid is on. Having said...

Great to hear from you, and it sounds like Boris is doing very well outdoors, and he is acting exactly as tortoises do in the wild. I think it's fine to leave him outdoors all night, unless the temperature drops below about 12C (or it could even drop to 10C for just one night, but not more). As long...

Hi, and welcome from me too! I completely agree with Lin -- it sounds like a great idea to get her outdoors while the weather is good, and a table on your balcony will enable her to benefit from the natural UVB from the sun (which is far better than any artificial UVB we provide indoors). It would b...

Sounds great and that you've got it all in hand! Just a thought, as I've recently suggested this to someone else. I've had a fixed arm before and found them really infuriating because it makes it really difficult to raise and lower the bulb. For example, it's supposed to get really hot mid-week here...

Hi Nic, I'm sure Lin will be on soon, but I just wanted to say that I think you've created a lovely little table for your Horsfield! Lots of interest for him/her. Tortoises do get bored really quickly if they can see from one end of an area to the other end without obstruction, so you've made it rea...

Hi Polly and welcome to The Tortoise Table! And congratulations on welcoming your Leopard tortoise into your family. Energy levels and appetite are in great part determined by the temperature and brightness of light. Can you tell us how you are keeping him (a photo would be great)? What are you usin...

Hi Lenny, I'm so, so sorry to be so late in responding to your latest post! For some reason I wasn't notified of a new message coming in, and I should have been. Your lamp sounds fine, but the temperatures are what is important. What is the temperature directly below that lamp at the height of a tor...

Hi Thomas, The readings you are getting underthe light seem fine to me, and if it's too hot then he can always move away to a cooler area. I can't quite see your thermometer well enough, but is that button on it an 'In/Out' temp. button or is it a 'Max/Min' button. The Max/Min ones are good because ...

We've just received our certificate, and we are sponsoring Tho, an elongated tortoise (they are endangered in the wild), and we're really pleased! The money will be used not only for the upkeep of Tho, but to help train assistants to look after tortoises at the Zoo. They already used our website for...

Hi Thomas, Oh dear, it isn't easy finding a reason why your tortoise is a bit lethargic because you are doing everything right! Usually there is something that stands out a mile that should be corrected, but I can't find that here, as your husbandry sounds really good. There are a couple of tiny twe...

Oh gosh, how lovely to be in Florida and have gopher torts on your property! I do envy you. Actually I was born in Florida, but have lived in the UK for a very long time. I don't miss the hot humid summers there, but you do get a much higher quality UVB from the sun than we do this far north.

Nina

So sorry that I have only just seen this (our notification system seems to have gone down. I'm afraid that I am really no good at IDing fungi -- there are so many that look similar. I do have a fungi identification book, but it is for the UK, and your post is in the 'Plants from Outside the UK' sect...

Hi T123 (sorry, I don't know your name), and welcome to The Tortoise Table. First of all thanks so much for the detailed description and photos of your set-up -- it helps a lot! You've got a lovely little Horsfield there, and a nice set-up, so I'm hoping that with a few tweaks we can get the environ...

Hi Starsks, What colour is the rock -- I'll bet it's white. Tortoises do have a penchant for eating white rocks. Some people think that they mistake them for old snail shells that have been bleached white in the sun, and are a good source of calcium. The cuttlefish in the enclosure is good -- do the...

Hi Reece,
Just wondering how things are going and if he's any better.

Nina

Hi Lenny, It sounds like they are doing just fine and just settling in -- and well done for getting them a table and not a vivarium (big problems with vivariums and tortoises). Is your heat lamp one that gives off light and also UVB (not just UVA)? UVB is very important for tortoises, so if you have...

Hi Lenny and welcome to The Tortoise Table! Congratulations on welcoming Shelley and Albert into your home -- they are gorgeous and Horsfields are a great species of tortoise, with loads of personality. You might be interested to know that Horsfield doesn't have an 'e' in the middle of its name beca...

Hi Jess, Just to add to what Lin said -- yes, I think that a wardrobe is a great idea for a tortose table. You will want to line it with something that is waterproof (like pool liner, so that water etc. doesn't leak through and rot the wood. The photo that Lin sent you is of my table as it was being...