[TessaRuth]

Thank you both very much for your advice. I guess I'm just nervous as I take animal care very seriously and this is all new to me. You have reassured me and I feel more confident now. I have tried to upload a photo but cannot find the 'photos' button to do so. I've had a look at his shell and there's a quite large, 2mm, white line just above the bottom line of scutes. There are finer lines around the others further up his body. Other than that, his eyes are bright and he's very active. I don't think he got much exercise in his previous home but we put him in the garden for an hour a day, which I think he likes. He ate part of a dandelion leaf for the first time today. I've been weighing him daily as I've been so worried and he lost 5g in the first week but has now put this back on so that's encouraging. Sandy, I see you're in Kent. I'm in East Sussex. Do you know a good specialist reptile vet? I want to get him checked out before he hibernates. Also, roughly which month do you hibernate yours? I'm just trying t plan ahead! Thank you both so much again and I'll try to figure out the photo! Tessa