bathing? - Page 3

Kirkie · 04-01-2009, 01:47 PM

Well said Mr D! It is shameful the way some sellers operate. Tortoises are by no means easy but they should be enjoyed

Good choice of tortoise too, Hermanns rock

alotoffluff · 04-01-2009, 02:06 PM

I too bought from the dreaded pet shop, but have learnt very quickly to ignore all the advise they gave me! I was never told about bathing, heat temps, the right diet etc,, instead i was told to feed lettuce and green veg and to keep the light on all night!
It just goes to show that pet shop owners need educating!

MrD · 04-01-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alotoffluff

I too bought from the dreaded pet shop, but have learnt very quickly to ignore all the advise they gave me! I was never told about bathing, heat temps, the right diet etc,, instead i was told to feed lettuce and green veg and to keep the light on all night!
It just goes to show that pet shop owners need educating!

Thanks alotoffluff, I am glad to see that I am not the only one!!

alotoffluff · 04-01-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrD

Thanks alotoffluff, I am glad to see that I am not the only one!!

Nah, i thought i was dfoing the right thing by buying from a pet shop. then i joined this site and slapped my own wrist!!!

Ozric Jonathan · 04-01-2009, 06:08 PM

Hi Mr.D! I would agree that it's irresponsible for anyone to claim that tortoises are really easy to keep (at least in our climate). Sadly the shops have a vested interest in saying this but no real interest in the longer term health or wellbeing of the tortoise.

These tortoises found their way to someone who took the trouble to look into their needs. Many of us started with a tortoise bought in haste or from someone who didn't know the first thing, so you are in good company!

alotoffluff · 04-01-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

Hi Mr.D! I would agree that it's irresponsible for anyone to claim that tortoises are really easy to keep (at least in our climate). Sadly the shops have a vested interest in saying this but no real interest in the longer term health or wellbeing of the tortoise.

These tortoises found their way to someone who took the trouble to look into their needs. Many of us started with a tortoise bought in haste or from someone who didn't know the first thing, so you are in good company!

Well said, couldnt have put it better myself!

MrD · 05-01-2009, 12:55 AM

Thank you very much all for your comments. It is reassuring to know that people have been where I am now, having only owned my two Hermanns for about 5 months now.
I am hoping to post some pics of my torts and their housing to make sure they look ok, and their housing set-up. I know I am panicking as there are so many varying books and websites with advice, and I am trying to find the best info possible, so that I don't make mistakes!

I think I should have somehow made this it's own thread... but being a newbie I have absolutely no idea how I would even start to go about that!! ha ha

Steph37 · 14-06-2009, 08:36 PM

One of my Hermanns is a real 'water baby'-he loves his 'paddling pool' and will put his head under for ages to drink(it's not deep-it's a struggle to get his head right under) but also he loves to come out in the rain if it's warm too.

Does anyone else find that a bath makes them randy???!!

sandra31 · 15-06-2009, 09:07 PM

i must be quite lucky then, i have seen my tort drink loads of times, either in his inside enclosure and his outside enclosure. i must admit he wasnt a great fan of his daily baths at first, but now he is fine and will sit in his bath quite happily for 15- 20 mins. Timmy is 7 months old now, and will go to his water dish if he needs it. i see him yesterday afternoon having a little drink while he was out side. next time i will have my camera handy!
just persist with the daily baths and keep an eye on him if he is hiding in his shell while in the water, they do drink while there head is under the water.
i have the water level about chin level and maybe top him up if the water gets a bit cold. once he has his bath he is ready for his breakfast!
you could start with small amounts of water in the bath and every day make it a bit deeper untill he/she get used to it.

abee_fell_ · 16-06-2009, 09:50 PM

Lots of good bathing tips. I've been bathing mine, Wednesday, Monday and Friday so far (well the week I've had them!), but only for about 5 mins or so as they're trying to get out, waters going cold and I start to panic about them putting their heads under for too long, so is it safe to apply these tips to my Horsfield babies? Or do they need a longer/shorter period in the bath.

Also, reading through about pet shop bought torts, I visted my local pet shop not long ago to mooch for dog toys, and picked up their care sheet for Horsfields, and some numpty had put the temp requirements as 80-85c!!!!! I think they meant faranheit, however my temperature conversions are not so hot (pardon the pun) but my goodness, how many fried Horsfields could there be out there because of this wrong information?! Obviously I notified someone which worked there, they seemed quite embarressed, so they should be!!

04-01-2009, 06:08 PM	#25
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi Mr.D! I would agree that it's irresponsible for anyone to claim that tortoises are really easy to keep (at least in our climate). Sadly the shops have a vested interest in saying this but no real interest in the longer term health or wellbeing of the tortoise. These tortoises found their way to someone who took the trouble to look into their needs. Many of us started with a tortoise bought in haste or from someone who didn't know the first thing, so you are in good company! __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

04-01-2009, 01:47 PM	#21
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Well said Mr D! It is shameful the way some sellers operate. Tortoises are by no means easy but they should be enjoyed Good choice of tortoise too, Hermanns rock

04-01-2009, 02:06 PM	#22
alotoffluff Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greenwich, london, previously born and brought up in Kent! Posts: 2,127	I too bought from the dreaded pet shop, but have learnt very quickly to ignore all the advise they gave me! I was never told about bathing, heat temps, the right diet etc,, instead i was told to feed lettuce and green veg and to keep the light on all night! It just goes to show that pet shop owners need educating!

05-01-2009, 12:55 AM	#27
MrD Member Hatched Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 415	Thank you very much all for your comments. It is reassuring to know that people have been where I am now, having only owned my two Hermanns for about 5 months now. I am hoping to post some pics of my torts and their housing to make sure they look ok, and their housing set-up. I know I am panicking as there are so many varying books and websites with advice, and I am trying to find the best info possible, so that I don't make mistakes! I think I should have somehow made this it's own thread... but being a newbie I have absolutely no idea how I would even start to go about that!! ha ha

14-06-2009, 08:36 PM	#28
Steph37 Member Hatched Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 361	One of my Hermanns is a real 'water baby'-he loves his 'paddling pool' and will put his head under for ages to drink(it's not deep-it's a struggle to get his head right under) but also he loves to come out in the rain if it's warm too. Does anyone else find that a bath makes them randy???!!

15-06-2009, 09:07 PM	#29
sandra31 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Essex Posts: 25	i must be quite lucky then, i have seen my tort drink loads of times, either in his inside enclosure and his outside enclosure. i must admit he wasnt a great fan of his daily baths at first, but now he is fine and will sit in his bath quite happily for 15- 20 mins. Timmy is 7 months old now, and will go to his water dish if he needs it. i see him yesterday afternoon having a little drink while he was out side. next time i will have my camera handy! just persist with the daily baths and keep an eye on him if he is hiding in his shell while in the water, they do drink while there head is under the water. i have the water level about chin level and maybe top him up if the water gets a bit cold. once he has his bath he is ready for his breakfast! you could start with small amounts of water in the bath and every day make it a bit deeper untill he/she get used to it.

16-06-2009, 09:50 PM	#30
abee_fell_ Member Hatched Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wombourne, near Wolverhampton Posts: 274	Lots of good bathing tips. I've been bathing mine, Wednesday, Monday and Friday so far (well the week I've had them!), but only for about 5 mins or so as they're trying to get out, waters going cold and I start to panic about them putting their heads under for too long, so is it safe to apply these tips to my Horsfield babies? Or do they need a longer/shorter period in the bath. Also, reading through about pet shop bought torts, I visted my local pet shop not long ago to mooch for dog toys, and picked up their care sheet for Horsfields, and some numpty had put the temp requirements as 80-85c!!!!! I think they meant faranheit, however my temperature conversions are not so hot (pardon the pun) but my goodness, how many fried Horsfields could there be out there because of this wrong information?! Obviously I notified someone which worked there, they seemed quite embarressed, so they should be!!

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