Horsfield Shell

[june-thomson]

My 4 year old male Freddies shell appears to be slightly indented on both sides at the back not sure if this is something to worry about? He appears healthy and is active and eating ok?
[attachment=0]4D76C5FF-3912-436A-98CB-8EABF0A0B1C4.jpeg[/attachment]

[Nina]

Hi June,
I think I see what you mean, and that looks perfectly fine to me, so no worries. If you want to send a photo of his underside as well, I can double check (and/or a photo taken from the back, looking at the rear of his shell).

Nina

[june-thomson]

Hi Nina here are the other photos requested [attachment=0]728249EB-4366-4E7E-9529-4BCA6787ED32.jpeg[/attachment][attachment=1]A0CA8DA7-1A9B-4A6E-B299-1EE63721CEB4.jpeg[/attachment]

[Nina]

Many thanks, and his shell looks absolutely fine to me -- and those slight indents are normal. He very definitely is male! Are you sure that he is only four years old -- it's just that they don't usually look so definitely male at 4, and he seems a very good size for 4 as well. I guess he is just a big strong boy!

Nina

[june-thomson]

That’s great has put my mind at rest he was tiny when I first got him at Xmas time 3 years ago and my daughter was told he was around 6 months old when we got him then I have friends with tortoises too and they always say how big he is I have never hibernated him either so not sure if that has anything to do with it? He does like his food though he is such a cutie

[Nina]

Hi June,

He definitely is a cutie, and not hibernating him could well be why he has grown so much, although it might also be genetic. Actually Horsfields are known for being very greedy, and they can grow too quickly and develop shell deformities and possibly metabolic bone disease, so most keepers of Horsfields have to monitor their food intake. The reason for this is that in the wild Horsfields live in areas that have long cold winters (so they hibernate a long time) and very hot summers (when they aestivate, which is a bit like hibernation, except in the heat). It's estimated that in the wild they are actually only awake for about three months of the year, and during that time they only actively eat for about 20 hours. So they are sort of programmed to 'eat for England' if you know what I mean, and of course when they are with us they are provided with lovely amounts of food all year round, and that can cause them to grow too quickly -- it usually starts out by their shells becoming a big bumpy instead of staying nice and smooth.

The best way to monitor growth is to keep a record of Freddie's weight. We have a Observation Records booklet that you can download for free, or we could send it to you free if you send us a stamped self-addressed A5 envelope (let me know if you need the address). There is a link to it on this page:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tort ... measuring/ . Or you can just keep a record yourself.
We generally say that a tortoise the size of Freddie should gain between 1g - 4g per month. That's only an average and some months he might gain more and some less, but it's a kind of guide to growth.

Nina

[june-thomson]

Hi Nina do you have the address where I can send for an observation booklet as I am having issues printing this and I might be brave next winter and try and hibernate him for a short period thanks June

[Nina]

Hi June,

Actually things have changed a bit since my last email, and we have decided that we do need, if possible, to cover the costs of printing and posting the new booklet, so we're going to charge £2 (including postage) for it. However, I am really more than happy to make good on my offer to you of sending you a free one. so just send a self-addressed, stamped A5 envelope to:
The Tortoise Table
c/o 2 Calcot Close
Headington
Oxford OX3 8PX
and I'll get it straight into the post for you.
When you get ready to hibernate him, contact us a month or two before hand, and we'll send you links to lots of information on how to prepare him for hibernation and the different methods of hibernation.

Cheers,
Nina

[june-thomson]

Hi Nina I finally managed to get the observation booklet printed and will start weighing Freddie regularly now and will be in touch later about hibernation information thanks again June

[Nina]

That's great, June! I haven't tried yet to print it out, so I'm glad to know that the facility works.

Nina