Search found 2003 matches

by Nina
18 Oct 2018, 07:56
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Vivs
Replies: 8
Views: 10147

Re: Vivs

Hi Char, That bright light is great -- the brighter the better! Think of the bright midday sun out in the desert or something. Bright lights are much more likely to encourage your tortoise to be active, so well done. The table you are looking at is fine. Like Lin says, it would help to know the size...
by Nina
18 Oct 2018, 07:32
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Noise
Replies: 26
Views: 38748

Re: Noise

Hi Laura, Tortoises do make sounds -- especially the males when they are mating -- and turtles use sound to communicate under water. Are the noises when she is at rest or when you disturb her? There is what many people call the 'hissing' sound that tortoises make when they are disturbed or frightene...
by Nina
17 Oct 2018, 20:48
Forum: Lost/Found Tortoises
Topic: Tortoise Missing in Bradford on Avon
Replies: 0
Views: 11542

Tortoise Missing in Bradford on Avon

In the Bradford on Avon area this lovely tortoise escaped from his enclosure last Wednesday and is still missing.
Please ring the below numbers if found :-
T.: 07491 659832 or 07803 501885
[attachment=0]Tortoise, Bradford on Avon (Copy).JPG[/attachment]
by Nina
17 Oct 2018, 08:54
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Mexican Clover Richardia Brasiliensis
Replies: 3
Views: 7972

Re: Mexican Clover Richardia Brasiliensis

And thank you so much for the compliments! You're right, we should have a section where people can introduce themselves, but unfortunately we don't, so you can introduce yourself in the post you write. It would be so super to see photos of gopher tortoises in your yard. I do envy you having a better...
by Nina
15 Oct 2018, 09:34
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Vivs
Replies: 8
Views: 10147

Re: Vivs

Hi Char, I did notice the red bulb, but didn't mention it because my post was so long already -- but it's good that you are getting an ordinary white light one. I thought it looked like Tortoise Life you have in there. It's a very good substrate, and I've used it in the past -- but it's also really ...
by Nina
14 Oct 2018, 23:03
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Mexican Clover Richardia Brasiliensis
Replies: 3
Views: 7972

Re: Mexican Clover Richardia Brasiliensis

Hi Pete, Oh I do envy you having gopher tortoises on your property -- how great is that! You are right that Richardia brasiliensis is in the same family as Field Madder (the Rubiaceae family), but it's a big family with over 600 genera in it (and, I think, about 10,000 species), including the Garden...
by Nina
14 Oct 2018, 22:35
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Vivs
Replies: 8
Views: 10147

Re: Vivs

Hi Char, and thanks for contacting us. Please don't despair -- you have done your best and followed what you assumed was expert advice, and you shouldn't be made to feel guilty or terrible. It is true that vivariums are not good environments for tortoises, but there are some little things that you c...
by Nina
14 Oct 2018, 12:24
Forum: Lost/Found Tortoises
Topic: Tortoise Lost near Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Replies: 0
Views: 13233

Tortoise Lost near Trowbridge, Wiltshire

MISSING
Lost in Studley Green Area (Trowbridge, Wiltshire)
If seen, please contact: 07551515639

[attachment=0]Lost tortoise.jpg[/attachment]
by Nina
08 Oct 2018, 22:25
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

Lovely to hear from you, Justine. I think that you and Andy are proving to be really excellent tortoise keepers, and Shelley is lucky to have found a home with you!

Nina
by Nina
08 Oct 2018, 12:33
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

That is such good news, Andrew! He actually has come around fairly quickly, as often it takes several weeks of manually putting them under the lamp before they will respond. I know you're not out of the woods yet, but it looks like he has definitely turned a corner. Do let us know how he gets on ove...
by Nina
06 Oct 2018, 18:27
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

It certainly seems like you are trying all the right things. Are you tempting him with the dandelion, etc. by holding it in your hand? I agree with Lin that a visit to the vet might be in order, and I think that the Origin Vet link that I gave in a previous email might be the way to go, as they are ...
by Nina
05 Oct 2018, 21:55
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

Hi Andrew, Well, he has lost nearly 10% of his body weight, which is the maximum that we would expect a tortoise to lose in hibernation, so I'm not sure I would hibernate him this year, because you don't know if his lack of appetite is because he wants to hibernate or because he is unwell in some wa...
by Nina
05 Oct 2018, 18:29
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

Oh my, you have one determined tortoise there. Can you reduce the size of your photos before posting them? If not, don't worry, as it sounds like you've got a good set-up. We had someone else recently whose tortoise was just sleeping most of the time and not eating at all, and after determined effor...
by Nina
05 Oct 2018, 10:50
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

Thanks, Andrew. At least he is waking up in the morning -- my Horsfields haven't woken up by themselves for several weeks now, and I am having to wake them up each morning. That is usual for this time of year for mine, but as I'm not ready for them to go into hibernation yet I need to keep them up a...
by Nina
05 Oct 2018, 09:49
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Weight loss
Replies: 27
Views: 22848

Re: Weight loss

Hi Andy and welcome to The Tortoise Table! It is great that you changed your vivarium for a table, as that is a far better environment for your tortoise. You might well be right in thinking that he is thinking about hibernation, as most tortoises are doing that now. It is also possible that he is a ...
by Nina
28 Sep 2018, 10:03
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Help - dominating tortoise
Replies: 1
Views: 4641

Re: Help - dominating tortoise

Hi Kelly, I have just sent you an email by private mail with my phone number on it, as I think it would be much easier for us to just have a chat. Believe me, I have been in the exact position you are in, after I first got my tortoise, and I remember being in tears because I was begin given conflict...
by Nina
28 Sep 2018, 09:46
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Hibernate or Overwinter
Replies: 5
Views: 6050

Re: Hibernate or Overwinter

Hi Kelly I know it is really frustrating to be told not to panic -- but don't panic and don't lose heart! I can send you a good care sheet for Horsfields, but I think it might be a good idea if we had a chat on the phone (so much easier than lots of tooing and froing with posts). I will send you my ...
by Nina
27 Sep 2018, 21:39
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Hibernate or Overwinter
Replies: 5
Views: 6050

Re: Hibernate or Overwinter

Sorry, Kelly -- when I said that looking after tortoises wasn't as easy as people say, I meant that some people say it is easy and think that all you have to do with a tortoise is chuck it in the garden and it will tend to itself, and that isn't the case at all. But once you have all the right infor...
by Nina
27 Sep 2018, 19:01
Forum: General Tortoise Care
Topic: Hibernate or Overwinter
Replies: 5
Views: 6050

Re: Hibernate or Overwinter

Hi Kelly, I'm afraid I'm just about to go out, and maybe Lin will come in with more information, but here are my thoughts. 8 months is not too young to hibernate, but if you have only have them for a short time then I would overwinter them, as you won't know them well enough to be able to judge if t...
by Nina
25 Sep 2018, 19:19
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight
Replies: 5
Views: 15621

Re: Weight

Hi Kelly, Horsfields are a great species with big personalities (but then I'm a bit biased as I have Horsfields). They are a particularly interesting species where diet is concerned. In the wild, Horsfields live in countries where the winters are long and cold and the summers are very hot, and they ...
by Nina
25 Sep 2018, 17:13
Forum: Diet and Nutrition
Topic: Weight
Replies: 5
Views: 15621

Re: Weight

Hi Kelly, and congratulations on your tortoises! Can I ask what species they are? It's just that it is almost impossible for them to weigh 130g - 140g at 4 to 5 months of age, as most of the most commonly kept species will weigh between 15g - 25g at birth and so could not weigh as much as yours at 4...
by Nina
19 Sep 2018, 14:34
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Enclosure Location
Replies: 20
Views: 19522

Re: Enclosure Location

Aww, I was right -- they do have lovely names! Give Cassie and Rosie a tickle under the chin from me. It will be interesting to see if they do turn out to be female. You can incubate for females or males (sex is determined by the temperature in incubation), but it's not foolproof. My Doris was origi...
by Nina
19 Sep 2018, 13:18
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Enclosure Location
Replies: 20
Views: 19522

Re: Enclosure Location

It's looking great! And I love your designer lampshade for the UVB. Yes all UVB can damage the eyes if you look into it. That is why it is always advised to hang it above the tortoise (their eyelids protect their eyes like ours do), rather than on the inside of the table where the tortoise could loo...
by Nina
19 Sep 2018, 11:54
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Enclosure Location
Replies: 20
Views: 19522

Re: Enclosure Location

Hi Kelly, That's a nice little tortoise table that you have, and I think it has the potential to be a really good enclosure. Your idea for different textures for the tortoise to walk on is excellent. You could also put some good sized rocks in the table or other things so that the tortoises can't se...
by Nina
18 Sep 2018, 22:18
Forum: Enclosures
Topic: Enclosure Location
Replies: 20
Views: 19522

Re: Enclosure Location

Hi Kelly, What lovely little tortoises! And it looks like you are making a nice home for them. It's really important to know the temperature in your table, and I use one of those digital fridge thermometers -- the kind with a display unit and then a long cord with a probe on the end. You can suspend...