The Tortoise Table

Hi Jasmine, Hmm, this is a difficult question, and as it seems you are planning to travel after Brexit (if that ever happens), it might get more complicated. I found this on the European Union site: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm and while reptiles aren'...

Just to say that a new home has now been found for Jim, and many, many thanks to all the people who have applied to take him on. We had some excellent applications, and please do apply again if another suitable tortoise comes up for rehoming.

Nina, Lin and the TTT team

Jim is a 7 year old Horsfield who is very friendly, lives in Fife and has woken early from hibernation. Sadly he he cannot go back to his owners due to ill health, so he is in short-term care with a caring family member who would like Jim to go to an experienced tortoise owner and give him the life ...

Always glad to be of help!

Nina

Oops, thanks Lin -- I should have included a link to our entry. Sorry, Keith, I just assumed you'd seen our entry and that's why you bought the plant. In any case, pot those little plugs up and keep them warm and they'll grow into good sized plants that you can plant out when the weather is a bit wa...

Hi Keith, Planting out time all depends on where you live. Callibrachoa is hardy to zones 9-11, which means that it can take some frost, but not a lot. To be safe in the UK, if you have frost tender plants they shouldn't be planted out until the end of May (when all danger of frost is past), but wit...

So sorry that it has taken us so long to reply to your latest message (yesterday was a bit hectic and I somehow missed it when I got I got in last night). Your first two photos are of Purple Deadnettle, which is edible and here is our entry for it: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/...

That's great and thanks so much for the update -- and we'll be looking to add Penbode Vets to our list.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or problems -- that's what we're here for.

Nina

Hi and welcome to The Tortoise Table, Just an extra tip from me, to add to what Lin has said. If you plant the sedum in your tortoise's enclosure they will disappear in a flash, and all your hard work will be gone in an afternoon. Tortoises love succulents like sedum, and you do need to be careful a...

Hiya Silverwings, and welcome from me too. It's great that you have taken on this little tortoise, and it sounds like you know what you're doing. Just to add to all the good information that Lin has given you, and to give you a very rough idea, we usually aim at an average growth rate of between 1g ...

Hi Laura, Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that you might have to rehome Vera! Vera seems like an old friend to me after all the corrrespondence we've had, and I know that you have always given him the best of care. If we can support you in any way to keep him, let us know, but if you need to rehome th...

Spiff's owner has now selected on of the applicants to give Spiff her forever home, and she has asked us to thank all of the people who applied to rehome her. The standard of applications was incredibly high, so the decision wasn't an easy one. Many thanks to all of you who showed interest and who o...

Hi and many thanks for posting that photo. Is this the food that you said was called Dandelion pellets? If so that is interesting because there are no dandelions in it (so false advertising maybe)! The main constituents are oats, beetroot and corn (maize), all of which are too high in starch/carbohy...

Hi Renee, We do have an article about indoor enclosure here: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tortoise-care/enclosures/indoor-housing/#.XGBUgLjgq9t The main thing is to make a table as large as space will allow because they get bored in small spaces. And you can make a second level in a table so ...

Also, we are based in the UK and can only rehome wthin Great Britain. In the United States I have found this site that might be able to help you (although I don't know anything about them):
http://www.tortoise.com/need-a-rescue.html
Good luck!

Nina

Hi A, and welcome to The Tortoise Table! First of all congratulations on doing your research before you get your tortoise (so many people don't research well enough and have lots of problems afterwards). That is lovely of your grandfather to offer you a tortoise as a graduation present -- they truly...

We've now received sufficient applications to rehome Spiff. Many of the applications were of very high calibre, and so we request that no more are sent. We will post updates and let you know when a new home is found, and thanks so much for your interest.

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...