Search found 2003 matches

by Nina
01 Dec 2023, 20:53
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Wind down update (and some questions)
Replies: 4
Views: 14325

Re: Wind down update (and some questions)

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...
by Nina
27 Nov 2023, 10:11
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

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 ...
by Nina
25 Nov 2023, 14:26
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

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
[attachment=0]m_AAmbrosius3.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]m_AAmbrosius2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]m_AAmbrosius1.jpg[/attachment]
by Nina
25 Nov 2023, 14:14
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

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...
by Nina
23 Nov 2023, 12:19
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

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...
by Nina
22 Nov 2023, 22:04
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

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...
by Nina
22 Nov 2023, 16:53
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Wind down update
Replies: 5
Views: 9530

Re: Wind down update

Hi Emma,

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

Nina
by Nina
22 Nov 2023, 16:49
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

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...
by Nina
22 Nov 2023, 10:11
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

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...
by Nina
19 Nov 2023, 10:33
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Is the shell staring to pyramid?
Replies: 7
Views: 3144

Re: Is the shell staring to pyramid?

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...
by Nina
17 Nov 2023, 11:46
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

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...
by Nina
16 Nov 2023, 09:20
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena
Replies: 5
Views: 9582

Re: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena

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...
by Nina
15 Nov 2023, 20:33
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

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...
by Nina
15 Nov 2023, 16:36
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena
Replies: 5
Views: 9582

Re: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena

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...
by Nina
15 Nov 2023, 15:33
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena
Replies: 5
Views: 9582

Re: Regarding S. scoparium, S. pulchra, & verbena

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
by Nina
15 Nov 2023, 13:36
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: substrate query
Replies: 3
Views: 2094

Re: substrate query

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...
by Nina
13 Nov 2023, 22:39
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: A couple of concerns
Replies: 3
Views: 2089

Re: A couple of concerns

Sounds perfect -- happy hibernation!
Nina
[attachment=0]turtsdancing.gif[/attachment]
by Nina
13 Nov 2023, 19:13
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: A couple of concerns
Replies: 3
Views: 2089

Re: A couple of concerns

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...
by Nina
13 Nov 2023, 17:36
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

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...
by Nina
13 Nov 2023, 10:31
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

Good luck, Emma, and let us know how you get on. If you only got him on Saturday, it's very probably just a settling in period.

Cheers,
Nina
by Nina
13 Nov 2023, 10:29
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Is the shell staring to pyramid?
Replies: 7
Views: 3144

Re: Is the shell staring to pyramid?

When I got my Doris she had very visible pyramiding, but I tried hard and her subsequent growth has been pretty smooth, so although pyramiding doesn't go away, it shows up much less when the majority of the shell is smoother. I've attached a photo of Doris take when I got her in 2005, and also one o...
by Nina
12 Nov 2023, 22:30
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

Hi Emma, I'm so glad that you weren't put off by that long post of mine! :) It could well be that he is just settling in (how long have you had him?), or it could be lots of other things -- temperature, hibernation mode, etc. It might be that the temperature at the warm end of his enclosure is too w...
by Nina
12 Nov 2023, 19:34
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: New owner of Horsfield tortoise
Replies: 27
Views: 70972

Re: New owner of Horsfield tortoise

HI Emma and welcome to The Tortoise Table! Love the name Kimchi and I love Horsfields (but I'm a bit prejudiced there because I keep Horsfields and they are a species with a great personality. I've just re-read this message before posting and I do apologise for the length in advance!! His weight at ...
by Nina
12 Nov 2023, 13:37
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Is the shell staring to pyramid?
Replies: 7
Views: 3144

Re: Is the shell staring to pyramid?

Hi Amanda, Well, I think maybe it is starting to pyramid a little bit, but nothing terrible. Are you keeping a record of his growth? I can't remember now if we discussed this before, but you should be aiming for an average weight gain of about 1g - 3g per month, and if he is consistently gaining mor...
by Nina
12 Nov 2023, 12:12
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
Replies: 13
Views: 29545

Re: Russian Horsefield Weight

Hi Ambrosius and family, If your tortoise was a year old in May, then he is 18 months old, and 86g isn't underweight at all, so basically you're doing fine. In fact it's a teeny bit more than you would expect, so do be sure that he doesn't gain weight too quickly. As I mentioned earlier, aim for abo...