Search found 2024 matches
- 06 Feb 2019, 20:55
- Forum: Rehoming
- Topic: REHOMED: Spiff -- Hermann's Tortoise
- Replies: 5
- Views: 7240
Re: Spiff -- Hermann's Tortoise needs a new home
Hi Sian. Great to hear from you (by the way, did you ever sort out the dust problem that you asked about a while ago?). We've had a good handful of applications (mostly through our Facebook page) from some experienced tortoise keepers, but we are always open to a new keeper rehoming a tortoise. If y...
- 05 Feb 2019, 23:08
- Forum: Rehoming
- Topic: REHOMED: Spiff -- Hermann's Tortoise
- Replies: 5
- Views: 7240
REHOMED: Spiff -- Hermann's Tortoise
Spiff is still hibernating, but sadly her owner passed away a short while ago and she is needing a special forever home, preferably in the Nottingham area or with someone who is willing to travel there for collection. She is an elderly Testudo hermanni boettgeri -- her exact age is unknown, but she ...
- 05 Feb 2019, 08:03
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Horsefield tortoise weight gain!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 12529
Re: Horsefield tortoise weight gain!
Hi Sam, Well, I must say that this little tortoise has been very lucky to find a home with you, and I think you are going to be a great tortoise keeper! He is really young, isn't he (what's his name by the way?), and I think that he does sound a bit light for his length (are you measuring it accordi...
- 04 Feb 2019, 22:18
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Horsefield tortoise weight gain!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 12529
Re: Horsefield tortoise weight gain!
Hi Sam, First of all, many congratulations on taking on this poorly tortoise, and getting him seen to by a vet also. It does sound like he had a terrible start in life, and he is lucky to have found a home with you. 7g is a lot to gain in a month, but then he was almost certainly underweight after s...
- 04 Feb 2019, 10:47
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Horsfield tortoise care
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9485
Re: Horsfield tortoise care
It sounds to me like you have a good set-up (so that is a great relief, as many people are badly advised when they first get a tortoise). 35C is a little too hot, but because he can wander away from it then he does have the freedom to regulate his temperature, which is important. Can you possibly ra...
- 03 Feb 2019, 19:16
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Horsfield tortoise care
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9485
Re: Horsfield tortoise care
Hi Mrs (sorry, I don't know your name), and welcome to The Tortoise Table -- and congratulations on getting your little Horsfield. I keep Horsfields, and they are a great species with lots of personality. Do you know how old your tortoise is? If he really is a baby then they do sleep a lot, but he s...
- 23 Jan 2019, 22:10
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: First time hibernating marginated
- Replies: 10
- Views: 15370
Re: First time hibernating marginated
And thanks so much from me too for your kind words, Steph -- it was lovely to read tha!. It sounds to me like he will be fine, and that is great that he took a drink (whew!). I think 8 weeks should be fine, especially in view of the wee it's probably wise not to hibernate him for much longer. Don't ...
- 23 Jan 2019, 20:31
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: First time hibernating marginated
- Replies: 10
- Views: 15370
Re: First time hibernating marginated
Hi Steph, I think they do that on purpose, just to stress us out! As Lin says, you can't not leave him in there for a full hibernation, but as he has only been in for a day or two you can take him out and see if you can get him to drink -- and then put him back in. If you weigh him just before offer...
- 22 Jan 2019, 12:37
- Forum: UK Plant Identification
- Topic: Plant identification please
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4789
Re: Plant identification please
For the second plant, I also think it might be sorrel, but not sure. You can taste the leaves though, and if they have a tangy, slightly sour taste (a bit like unripe green apple) then it is sorrel, and that tangy taste is because of the oxalic acid in it (which is what makes it a no feed for your t...
- 05 Jan 2019, 22:07
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Female - male mating behaviour!!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11710
Re: Female - male mating behaviour!!
Ha, ha, the thought of you scampering around your garden in your crocs, tryng to escape the amorous attentions of Tortilla, has really made my day. It might be wise to prepare your neighbours in advance for the sexual mayhem that is going to be taking place in your garden this summer! Happy New Year...
- 05 Jan 2019, 11:38
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Female - male mating behaviour!!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11710
Re: Female - male mating behaviour!!
I also meant to say that it is well known that tortoises will mate with old trainers, rubber balls etc. At the risk of getting your new year off to a shocking start, here is a video of a male tortoise trying to mate with a rubber ball. Sorry if it is offputting, but it's also kind of educational to ...
- 05 Jan 2019, 11:25
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Female - male mating behaviour!!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11710
Re: Female - male mating behaviour!!
Thanks so much for the kind thoughts, Heather, and Happy New Year to you too! For information (sorry, I've come in late on this thread), my Dolly (who is definitely female) mounts and 'mates' with Doris each year after they wake up from hibernation. She is relentless in doing tis and sometimes she d...
- 03 Jan 2019, 14:56
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Growth ongoing?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4302
Re: Growth ongoing?
Hi Heather, I'm on shaky ground here as I'm not absolutely sure, but as far as I know tortoises just keep growing until they reach their optimum size (and they do have an optimum size). A lot of factors determine when they stop growing (diet, climatic conditions, etc), so some will stop growing soon...
- 30 Dec 2018, 00:16
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Hibernation
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6495
Re: Hibernation
Hi Catherine,
Your plan is good, but 17c is really warm for the end of wind down. Can you close the door of the room and open the window to try and get the temperature lower? That should slow him down. Good luck and happy hibernation.
Nina
Your plan is good, but 17c is really warm for the end of wind down. Can you close the door of the room and open the window to try and get the temperature lower? That should slow him down. Good luck and happy hibernation.
Nina
- 28 Dec 2018, 13:16
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Hibernation
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6495
Re: Hibernation
Hi Catyherine, Horsfields are often slow to settle into hibernation (mine move around in their boxes and have their eyes open for a week or more after being put into the fridge (which is very disconcerting!). I think yours will be fine. How cold is your un-heated part of the house? For a five-year o...
- 24 Dec 2018, 05:34
- Forum: Questions about Plants
- Topic: Amelanchier spp.
- Replies: 6
- Views: 10442
Re: Amelanchier spp.
Hi,
I'm writing this from Uganda, where my signal is limited, but just to say I'm surprised we don't have Amelanchier in the database, as it's a common garden tree/shrub, and I have one in my front garden, so we can easily get photos. We'll write an entry when I get back.
Nina
I'm writing this from Uganda, where my signal is limited, but just to say I'm surprised we don't have Amelanchier in the database, as it's a common garden tree/shrub, and I have one in my front garden, so we can easily get photos. We'll write an entry when I get back.
Nina
- 11 Dec 2018, 19:29
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Biting tortoise
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5370
Re: Biting tortoise
Sorry, just about to board my plane, but yes, a couple f hours in a viv won't be terrible. Sorry, have o go, so maybe Linn can come n with more advice.
Nina
Nina
- 11 Dec 2018, 17:56
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Biting tortoise
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5370
Re: Biting tortoise
Hi Dot, I really sympathise with you, but this is a really common problem with all species if one male and one female are kept together. Male tortoises are relentless in their pursuit of females and will stress them out by biting and by ramming their shells. The standard advice for keeping males and...
- 11 Dec 2018, 09:35
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Hibernation
- Replies: 5
- Views: 8177
Re: Hibernation
GlAd your fridge seems to be working well, Karon. I think that weighing every two or three weeks should be fine, and it will mean less disturbance for them. And of course it will help to keep temperatures stable (although the temps will fluctuate a bit when you open the door for a few seconds each d...
- 06 Dec 2018, 08:15
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Hibernation problems
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5562
Re: Hibernation problems
Many thanks for the update, and fingers crossed that the new fridge works well. Have you detected any weight gain in Ty since you've been bathing him (to see if he has actually taken on some water in the baths)? Yes, I find hibernation extremely frustrating and for some reason my fridge -- which wor...
- 04 Dec 2018, 12:26
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Hibernation problems
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5562
Re: Hibernation problems
Hi and great to hear from you (although maybe not under such stressful circumstances!). Re Ty. As I'm sure you know, if a tortoise wees in hibernation you need to wake him up as he is in danger of dehydrating, and once you properly wake up a hibernating tortoise you can't put them back. The reason f...
- 25 Nov 2018, 14:36
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Plastron
- Replies: 16
- Views: 21784
Re: Plastron
Whew, glad that he's exploring again! Don't worry -- he will dig. Tortoises are wary of changes, but he will get used to it and I'm sure will dig in -- probably in his sleeping area, but maybe elsewhere too. Are you happy with the new substrate? I think it is much easier for spot cleaning than bark,...
- 25 Nov 2018, 12:55
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Ideal weight for hibernating my Hermann
- Replies: 5
- Views: 8345
Re: Ideal weight for hibernating my Hermann
Hi Natacha, I think you're probably right in not hibernating her this year, but I'm surprised that someone at Evolution Reptiles told you to wait until she weighed 400g. Evolution Reptiles are a really good store and they give good advice (in fact I was in there yesterday getting some stuff), but re...
- 25 Nov 2018, 10:44
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Ideal weight for hibernating my Hermann
- Replies: 5
- Views: 8345
Re: Ideal weight for hibernating my Hermann
Hi Shelby, Oh dear, I just wrote a reply and it disappeared so I'll try and recreate it! I do think you are right to be concerned, because your tortoise seems to have lost about 14% of her body weight in 8 days and that is a lot. Do you have a record of what she weighed, say, a month or two before y...
- 22 Nov 2018, 11:21
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Plastron
- Replies: 16
- Views: 21784
Re: Plastron
Aww, bless -- and he looks so sweet in his bath. It might take him a bit of time to get used to the sand/soil, but believe me he will like it eventualy and it is much closer to what he would have in the wild, and what he would dig in. Young tortoises, and all tortoises at this time of year do sleep ...