Search found 2005 matches
- 12 Nov 2023, 13:37
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Is the shell staring to pyramid?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3148
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...
- 12 Nov 2023, 12:12
- Forum: Diet and Nutrition
- Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
- Replies: 13
- Views: 29558
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...
- 11 Nov 2023, 17:52
- Forum: Diet and Nutrition
- Topic: Russian Horsefield Weight
- Replies: 13
- Views: 29558
Re: Russian Horsefield Weight
Hi Ambrosius and welcome to The Tortoise Table! It's difficult to put an exact number on how much he should weigh because tortoises are a bit like people -- some are just naturally bigger or smaller than others, and it also depends on much he weighed when he was hatched, but I would think that somew...
- 09 Nov 2023, 22:02
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: Tortoise on a swing
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2622
Re: Tortoise on a swing
So cute! And your table is looking great too.
Nina
Nina
- 08 Nov 2023, 22:50
- Forum: Questions about Plants
- Topic: Chellanthes distans
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1570
Re: Chellanthes distans
Hi and thanks for contacting us! I didn't know much about this species but have looked at the scientific literature and elsewhere, and I think it is not one to plant in a tortoise enclosure. It contains high levels of dangerous glycosides that affect cattle and sheep, among other animals. Here is so...
- 05 Nov 2023, 14:20
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Hibernation time....
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4400
Re: Hibernation time....
Thanks, Emma -- I'll look forward to hearing a great success story this year! Mine are in their first week of wind down, and I've got my fingers firmly crossed . . . . .
Nina
Nina
- 31 Oct 2023, 13:56
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: woodlice
- Replies: 10
- Views: 5607
Re: woodlice
Well, the fungus gnats aren't going to do the girls any harm, they're just a nuisance to people, but not harmful in any way (except to maybe very young seedlings of plants where they might nibble on the tender roots -- but to ordinary plants they do no harm). The thing is that unless you have an abs...
- 30 Oct 2023, 22:09
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: woodlice
- Replies: 10
- Views: 5607
Re: woodlice
Yes, I think the boiling water should help, but be sure you aren't left with a substrate that is too wet for tortoises -- especially if it gets cool or cold at night, because tortoises are fine with warm and wet but they really don't do well if it is cold and wet (you want the substrate to be no mor...
- 26 Oct 2023, 21:47
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Hibernation time....
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4400
Re: Hibernation time....
Honestly, Emma, you're doing really well, and I know it's scary (I get more stressed about my tortoises than I ever did about my son when he was growing up!), but you'll be fine. The thermometer I use is this one -- but there's no particular reason why I use that brand, and you can get similar ones ...
- 25 Oct 2023, 21:08
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Hibernation time....
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4400
Re: Hibernation time....
Hi Emma, Sorry to be a bit late in replying, but I wanted to read through the old posts, so that I can remember what happened last year. You did have a stressful time of it, didn't you! I think your winding down time sounds good. I can't remember now, but did I send you a copy of the little sheet th...
- 25 Oct 2023, 20:25
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Tortoise not eating for a long time
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2767
Re: Tortoise not eating for a long time
I do hope you're able to get Timmy eating again -- please let us know how it's going, and also if you want to chat about it (just contact me at nina@thetortoisetable.org.uk if you want to exchange numbers).
Nina
Nina
- 25 Oct 2023, 20:22
- Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
- Topic: Help ID this weed
- Replies: 7
- Views: 10103
Re: Help ID this weed
I do envy you having all that sunshine and UVB for your tortoises! We have to provide UVB lights because of our climate, but also we are so far north that the UVB that does reach us is not as strong as it is further south. Do you have your Hermanni yet? Are people breeding tortoises in Indonesia, or...
- 25 Oct 2023, 09:15
- Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
- Topic: Help ID this weed
- Replies: 7
- Views: 10103
Re: Help ID this weed
I think a tiny bit mixed in with other food would do no harm, as it is not super high in oxalates, but it is sometimes better to be cautious and avoid any problems. Oh my goodness, what gorgeous little tortoises Momon and Mimin are! And it looks like they are living in a wonderful environment too. W...
- 24 Oct 2023, 17:59
- Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
- Topic: Help ID this weed
- Replies: 7
- Views: 10103
Re: Help ID this weed
Hi Anjarys, and welcome to The Tortoise Table. I've had a look at the scientific literature on limnophila aromatica, and it seems to be non-toxic, but it does contain oxalates (although the levels of oxalates in it aren't super high). We usually recommend avoiding all plants with oxalates as they bi...
- 23 Oct 2023, 22:06
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: woodlice
- Replies: 10
- Views: 5607
Re: woodlice
Such an interesting experiment -- looking forward to the results!
Nina
Nina
- 22 Oct 2023, 22:16
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: woodlice
- Replies: 10
- Views: 5607
Re: woodlice
The only downside I can think of is that tortoises will eat them (well, mine will anyway). If my Doris sees a woodlouse in her outdoor enclosure she practically leap up in the air and pounces on it (but that could just be mine). Mine torts also eat slugs, which is horrible, and really they should st...
- 22 Oct 2023, 11:08
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Tortoise not eating for a long time
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2767
Re: Tortoise not eating for a long time
Hi Julie, Thanks so much for getting back to me, and including the photo of Timmy's set-up. Well, the fact that he is a Horsfield explains a lot. My tortoises are also Horsfields, and they are known to have a very strong hibernation instinct (stronger than some other species), so it can be really di...
- 21 Oct 2023, 16:59
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Tortoise not eating for a long time
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2767
Re: Tortoise not eating for a long time
Hi and welcome to The Tortoise Table (sorry, I don't know your name). I can understand your worry, but It's a common problem for tortoises to eat less as the days grow shorter, and it's something that we all experience. However, Timmy should have been eating better throughout the year and especially...
- 20 Oct 2023, 09:54
- Forum: General Tortoise Care
- Topic: Tortoise Rescue
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2785
Re: Tortoise Rescue
OMG -- those are some of the worst that I've seen! Where did you find those photos, Phil?
Nina
Nina
- 10 Oct 2023, 10:26
- Forum: Diet and Nutrition
- Topic: Rain or Filtered Water
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3240
Re: Rain or Filtered Water
I'm afraid I know nothing about water filters, but I've just looked up 4 stage filters, and I guess it would be very good if it filtered out lead, etc. from the water (don't know if there are beneficial things that it would filter out too though). Rain water should be perfectly fine, and I think you...
- 10 Oct 2023, 10:22
- Forum: Mediterranean Species
- Topic: Bed Time
- Replies: 13
- Views: 8152
Re: Bed Time
Here's a photo of Doris and Dolly taken a few years ago, alongside a 'topiary' tortoise that I made from bits and pieces in my shed and some succulents from the garden.
Nina
[attachment=0]IMG_5903 [Desktop Resolution].JPG[/attachment]
Nina
[attachment=0]IMG_5903 [Desktop Resolution].JPG[/attachment]
- 09 Oct 2023, 19:02
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: Outside run finished for this year
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5115
Re: Outside run finished for this year
That looks like a good deal! I just looked up Fungus Gnats on the Royal Horticultural Society website and here is what they say: https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/fungus-gnats It's encouraging that they recommend the yellow sticky paper too.
Nina
Nina
- 09 Oct 2023, 17:09
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: Outside run finished for this year
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5115
Re: Outside run finished for this year
Has your sticky paper caught any yet?
Nina
Nina
- 09 Oct 2023, 09:12
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: Outside run finished for this year
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5115
Re: Outside run finished for this year
Are you sure that they aren't fungas gnats and not fruit flies? Where are they? If they are around the plants in your tortoise table or any other potted plants indoors then they are almost certainly fungas gnats (really tiny little black things -- they are even smaller than fruit flies). They are ha...
- 08 Oct 2023, 22:27
- Forum: Enclosures
- Topic: Outside run finished for this year
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5115
Re: Outside run finished for this year
How super is that! I absolutely love your flyover -- and I can see that the tortoises love it too. It's sometimes hard to convince people that tortoises get bored and lethargic when they aren't in stimulating environments, but you've created a great looking enclosure with all sorts of interest, and ...