The Tortoise Table

Great to hear from you, and your outdoor enclosure looks super -- lots of room, different textures for them to walk on and around and a really nice hut. Just a few questions. When they go into their hut through the black flaps, is it soil or is there a paved floor as well? If there was a sudden thun...

That looks brilliant!! What a good designer of enclosures you are! There are lots of nice little areas to walk around and over to explore -- it's super. I can't quite tell how high the walls are, but just be sure that if he stands upright on his hind legs he can't get his claws over the top, because...

Nina wrote:
> Hi Sarah,
>
> That should be fine to plant in Teeny Titan's outdoor enclosure -- and it's
> a very pretty grass. I can't guarantee thought that he won't eat it to the
> ground in one go though!
>
> Nina

Hi Sarah,

That should be fine to plant in Teeny Titan's outdoor enclosure -- and it's a very pretty grass. I can't guarantee thought that he won't eat it to the ground in one go!

Nina

Oh dear, I just wrote a response and then it disappeared, so I'll try again. Thanks for getting back to me and for sending the photo. You mentioned that you measured the temperature below the light, but can you tell me what that temperature was, and did you measure it at different times of the day (...

Hi Mrsrutty, and welcome to The Tortoise Table! First of all, it's great that you have your tortoise in a table (and not a vivarium), and also that you are giving him baths, which will keep him well hydrated. Tortoises can go a long time without eating but they can dehydrate easily indoors under lig...

Yes, you can mix all of them, and you should aim for variety in the diet.

Nina

The correct temperature and light levels are essential, as are an appropriate indoor and outdoor enclosures and diet. However, advice will differ, depending on the species of tortoise you have or are thinking of buying. What species are you referring to?

Nina

Oh dear, I'm so sorry that your tortoise is so unwell! Your vet was right to change him from a vivarium into a table, and it's good to know that he rallied for a while. I'm glad you are seeing a specialist vet (I'm assuming that you are seeing the same vet that you saw before). We aren't vets, but w...

Sarah, that is a brilliant little outdoor enclosure -- so much interest and variety -- I'm sure he loves it, and you've done a great job. Did you have lots of sunshine today? We had loads here for the first time in ages, and mine were loving it outdoors (they've been quite grumpy stuck indoors for s...

Hi again, Emma. Sorry, I didn't see your P.S. when I wrote my message! If the sharp edges aren't rubbing or irritating him at all then I would leave them alone, and he will be fine. Sorry for all the advice about filing down -- if the sharp edges aren't bothering him then it's best to not interfere....

Hi Emma, I see what you mean -- those little pointed bits that stick out. I checked my two and they don't have such pointed bits (they have a tiny protrusion but it's rounded off). I would say that if you can't see any evidence that the sharp edge is rubbing on skin (head, neck) then I would leave i...

It sounds like your husbandry is spot on, Jessy, so it must be something else (and if his mouth looks pink when he yawns then that is good too). Have you tried hand feeding him something that he likes? We normally don't advise hand feeding because tortoises love to be hand fed, and if you do it too ...

Hi JessyRose and thanks for contacting us. Yes, it's quite a shock when you first see a male tortoise flash! :shock: Regarding chasing feet -- for some reason this is something that most tortoises do (I'm not sure why), and they are definitely more attracted to feet if you are barefoot and even more...

Hi Butimis, Welcome to The Tortoise Table, and congratulations on getting your Marginated tortoise -- they are a lovely species. Light levels and temperature are crucial for tortoises, so getting it right at the beginning is important. First of all here is a link to a care sheet for Marginateds: htt...

Lol, I'm always more stressed than she is when she lays eggs. If I remember correctly she was about 10 or 12 when she started laying eggs, and that was in 2014. Re hibernation -- yes you're lucky that Redfoots don't hibernate, but for species that do then it's really good for them and they come out ...

Hi Julia,
That's a shame, as it sounds like it would have been a great spot for your tortoise enclosure. Let us know how you get on, and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions or problems.

Nina

Hi Jools, This is a difficult one as Privet is toxic to all animals, including humans and tortoises, due to the fact that it contains terpenoid glycosides that can affect the digestive system, heart rate, etc. (although birds do safely eat the berries). All of the sources I've consulted mention only...

She gains weight fast in the weeks leading up to laying eggs, and on the day or two before she lays she gets irritable and butts Dolly if she comes close to her. Then she spends about half a day or a day sniffing the soil to see if it's suitable for digging, finally she starts digging the nest. She ...

Hi Pete, and welcome to The Tortoise Table -- and congratulations on welcoming Lemmy into your home. First of all, here is a link to a care sheet for Hermanns tortoises: https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/files/Hermanns%20care%20sheet%20January%202014New.pdf and I hope it's of some us...

Can you tell us what country you live in?

Nina

Hi Steve,

Sir Titus will be absolutely fine, and he can have a nice bath and lots of calcium when you get back (this could be the time when he learns how valuable your services are to him).

Have a lovely weekend (and I hope the weather is kind to you).

Nina

Doris and Dolly are Horsfield tortoises (so a small species, but with large personalities :) ). We had a couple of hours of sunshine yesterday, and it was 15C so I put them outside for an hour or so, until their shells started to feel cold. Today it's raining and only 11C. I sometimes think that the...

Hi TP,

Re your last question about getting rid of substrate -- it's fine to put on your garden or compost heap. I also save the little poos that I collect when I spot clean and put them on my garden too (lol, extra high quality fertilizer).

Nina

Hi Steve, It sounds like you and Titus have it all sorted -- absolutely perfect conditions, temperature, urates etc. -- he is one lucky tortoise! Would love to hear/see your plans for the outdoor enclosure. Just make sure that he can't dig under and out of any walls (so sink them in the ground), or ...