Minerals for my princess
Posted: 19 Aug 2020, 23:23
Greetings,
Re; Jemima (Horsfield, 3yrs old).
SORRY a few questions of which I'd be grateful for some help with. Alot of Jemimas equipment was purchased in a rush as I rehomed her. So I understand now through research it's not the best of which my final question leads too.
1) Jemima is put outside in her pen when its warm. Its currently on very patchy grass with visible soil. I've spoken about being concerned if its rained and was reassured by Nina warm and DAMP is ok.
However we've had a SOAKING in the last 24 hours and wondered would she be ok out tomorrow if the ground is WET?? The pens moveable so it could go on the patio, obviously I'd check the slabs aren't hot as its given 23°..would this be preferable??
2) I've been looking to switch up my minerals for Jemima. I've been using up what her last owner sent with her. I've been giving her a calcium dust everyday and a mineral dust every 3rd day...I've just looked on your advice section and you mentioned a VITAMIN!! So could you please outline what I should be providing and how often, as i feel I've messed up!!
3) I'm looking to hibernate Jemima this winter. I appreciate I've only had her since May..but i just KNOW she's going to be a devil to keep awake. Could you let me know where I can get the best advice about this, I think it was mentioned you might be able to advise me??
4) Are tortoises clever or CRAFTY (I know the answer already). I mistakenly fed her a leaf through her willow wall the other morning, so the next morning she was sat with her beady eye glaring through the crack....waiting for another leaf. I didnt indulge her as it's my biggest fear her demanding to be hand fed ..but the CHEEK!!
4) WARNING (this is a brain leak)..My main quandry atm is would my money be better invested in a larger hand made table for her eg. multi levelled/ grander..she's currently in a vivexotic one what she came in. Or would a permanent heated/UVB concoction outdoors be better??
Here's my argument/s I know bigger the better is preferable for Horsfields but sometimes I feel her current one is wasted as she's like a shelled SLOTH. I've just redone her tables interior with more bark, stones, live plants of which she ate x2 in 2 days..it has enlivened her a little....but I dont think she'll ever fulfill her natural tortoise instincts, she'd rather dream about them.
I put her outside with that many things to do in her pen and she insists on walking her plantpot to her preferred end and plonking inside it for most of the day. Then like clockwork in the last 30 mins before I fetch her she sticks her head under one end of it to feign entrapment, of which is impossible as she's checked constantly!!
[attachment=0]Snapchat-833293264.jpg[/attachment]
I've never seen any evidence of a dig or a scratch when outside...so would she even be happy permanantly outside?? Is it even possible seeing as I lie awake at night worrying over damp grass??
I know Jemima likes people, and she loves people to talk to her. She's not a painfully shy tortoise, I handle her gently everyday. So I worry if she was outside shed miss the human contact...
SORRY for the rambling but sometimes I feel like I have the female Victor Meldrew of tortoises. ...but I love her immensely and will keep trying my best.
Re; Jemima (Horsfield, 3yrs old).
SORRY a few questions of which I'd be grateful for some help with. Alot of Jemimas equipment was purchased in a rush as I rehomed her. So I understand now through research it's not the best of which my final question leads too.
1) Jemima is put outside in her pen when its warm. Its currently on very patchy grass with visible soil. I've spoken about being concerned if its rained and was reassured by Nina warm and DAMP is ok.
However we've had a SOAKING in the last 24 hours and wondered would she be ok out tomorrow if the ground is WET?? The pens moveable so it could go on the patio, obviously I'd check the slabs aren't hot as its given 23°..would this be preferable??
2) I've been looking to switch up my minerals for Jemima. I've been using up what her last owner sent with her. I've been giving her a calcium dust everyday and a mineral dust every 3rd day...I've just looked on your advice section and you mentioned a VITAMIN!! So could you please outline what I should be providing and how often, as i feel I've messed up!!
3) I'm looking to hibernate Jemima this winter. I appreciate I've only had her since May..but i just KNOW she's going to be a devil to keep awake. Could you let me know where I can get the best advice about this, I think it was mentioned you might be able to advise me??
4) Are tortoises clever or CRAFTY (I know the answer already). I mistakenly fed her a leaf through her willow wall the other morning, so the next morning she was sat with her beady eye glaring through the crack....waiting for another leaf. I didnt indulge her as it's my biggest fear her demanding to be hand fed ..but the CHEEK!!
4) WARNING (this is a brain leak)..My main quandry atm is would my money be better invested in a larger hand made table for her eg. multi levelled/ grander..she's currently in a vivexotic one what she came in. Or would a permanent heated/UVB concoction outdoors be better??
Here's my argument/s I know bigger the better is preferable for Horsfields but sometimes I feel her current one is wasted as she's like a shelled SLOTH. I've just redone her tables interior with more bark, stones, live plants of which she ate x2 in 2 days..it has enlivened her a little....but I dont think she'll ever fulfill her natural tortoise instincts, she'd rather dream about them.
I put her outside with that many things to do in her pen and she insists on walking her plantpot to her preferred end and plonking inside it for most of the day. Then like clockwork in the last 30 mins before I fetch her she sticks her head under one end of it to feign entrapment, of which is impossible as she's checked constantly!!
[attachment=0]Snapchat-833293264.jpg[/attachment]
I've never seen any evidence of a dig or a scratch when outside...so would she even be happy permanantly outside?? Is it even possible seeing as I lie awake at night worrying over damp grass??
I know Jemima likes people, and she loves people to talk to her. She's not a painfully shy tortoise, I handle her gently everyday. So I worry if she was outside shed miss the human contact...
SORRY for the rambling but sometimes I feel like I have the female Victor Meldrew of tortoises. ...but I love her immensely and will keep trying my best.