The Tortoise Table

Hi TortugaViking and welcome to The Tortoise Table -- and many congratulations in getting your new Horsfield tortoise (no 'e' in Horsfield though, as the species is named after a 19th Century naturalist called Thomas Horsfield -- but don't worry as everyone makes that same mistake). It could well be...

I'm in a rush to go out, but just to check -- the Exo Terra bulb probably does have UVA, but I thought it was UVB you wanted? If he is going to be indoors for a long time then you definitely need a UVB bulb and UVA is NOT the same at all. To measure in feet or in inches, if your enclosure is square ...

Hi, As far as I know there is only one type of UVB (I wonder if the sources you read have confused UVB with UVA?). There are lights that produce different strengths of UVB though, and it's usually best to get the highest strength, although if your tortoise is going to be outdoors a lot then that doe...

Heather, that sounds great! But why are you leaving us in suspense -- we want photos!!!

Nina

That's excellent news! Yes, his poop was probably moist because of all the succulents, but that is normal. And great news that he is eating grass now too. He is turning out to be a very clever little tortoise, and picking the right diet for himself.

Nina

That pond will make a perfect tortoise enclosure -- looking forward to seeing photos of it!

Nina

Hi and thanks for contacting us. Before I answer your question, I ought to say that some spam was included at the end of your message, and I have deleted as much as I could (it had to do with captchas), but I couldn't delete a link that was at the very end of your post and would warn all people read...

I think you should hire yourself out as a designer of tortoise enclosures -- if that's only the beginning I can't wait to see what the permanent one looks like -- everything we've seen you do is stylish as well as a good environment for tortoises. Thanks for the photos!

Ha, ha -- he was definitely attempting the great escape! What a lovely afternoon it was for tortoises, and I hear tomorrow is supposed to be good too. They really come into their own outside, don't they? Thanks for the super photos.

Nina

Living the good life, I'd say!

Nina

Ha, ha -- that often happens. I would let it grow on a bit and see what happens, as whatever it is I have a feeling that it isn't anything super toxic.

Nina

It's looking really good, and I like the fact that Speedy is heading straight for her new lounging area. I have a half flower pot like that, and my Doris goes into it to chill out towards the end of the day, but Dolly completely ignores it. They do have strong preferences!

Nina

Oh wow, I can't tell you how much of a help it is for you to send your photos in that way (numbered and labelled). It makes it so much easier for us to refer to them when we are replying (instead of having to say "the photo with the child's bike in the upper left-hand corner -- not the one of t...

Hi, I'm not quite clear on how the whelping box is used. Is that her pen and you put some substrate in it? If so then can't she just climb on the side that is lower than the other sides? Or are you turning it upside down and it becomes a shelter, with the lower side becoming a sort of doorway (you m...

I thought they would love the prickly pear. Mine love it and at the end of eating a pad their mouths and faces are covered in that sticky sap -- bit like a child eating a chocolate bar! Did you decide to take the glochids and spines off or did you leave them on? I think we should probably do an entr...

Hi Pete, Smilax doesn't really grow in the UK, but I've had a look at the scientific literature, and I think I might proceed with a bit of caution on this one. First of all there are nearly 300 species of Smilax, and I don't know which ones you have. All the usual sites say that there is nothing tox...

Hi Pete, I was born in Florida (Miami), and lived near Chicago for most of my life in the States -- but have lived in the UK for many, many years, and believe me our climate is not the greatest for tortoises -- but they do seem to manage and thrive with good care. Where are your relatives from? Both...

That should be fine then, as it is the level of UV that would naturally occur in his native habitat, so no need to provide more.
Nina

I agree with Lin -- she really is a lovely tortoise, with a surprisingly smooth shell for one who had such a difficult time before you rescued her. You've done a really super job, and thanks too for specifying what type of home she should go to -- that will help in terms of people knowing if it is a...

I'm afraid I don't know what the UV index should be for a tortoise. In the UK our UV is much weaker than it is nearer to te equator, and we have to have supplemental UVB in the form of special UVB lights if they have to be indoors for any time. Do you live in one of the counries where Angulate torto...

Aww, so you've had him since nearly when he hatched and that's great. Keep a record of his weight, and that will enable you to monitor his growth easily. It sounds like he is doing fine with you!

Nina

He looks very happy! with his plate straight from Tortoise Masterchef: The Professionals! And you have now joined the ranks of the crazy people seen walking up and down verges and country lanes, carrying carrier bags and picking weeds. LOL, if your neighbours and passers by give you funny looks you ...

Yes, those are not good at all -- sort of the same as feeding lots of chocolate to a toddler -- they will love it, become addicted, and want to eat it all the time. As she hasn't been having the pellets much since she has been with you, I would modify the advice in our article. Rather than starting ...

It could well be because she is new, but it is very likely that she is just being stubborn. Tortoises fed on a diet of pellets, or 'junk food' like lettuce or fruit often refuse to eat anything else. It's a really common problem and we have an article on how to get them to eat a healthier diet: http...

It's hard to say, as I don't know how much he weighed when he hatched -- but as he is only two weeks old, that seems fine to me. Just out of curiosity, do you know for sure that he is two weeks old (i.e. did you see him hatch)? If so that would be very exciting -- to have known him since the moment ...