05-07-2006, 05:48 PM | #1 |
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Egg
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Can anyone help ID Mr Tortoise please?
We have inherited this tortoise and have no idea of anything about him except its a male!
How can we tell his age - roughly!?! We are very new at this tortoise business! (This is our first!) I think he might be a Horsfield but that is only by the couple of little books I have recently bought. Then looking at Archie's shell it is similar - but then so are some species! Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
05-07-2006, 05:56 PM | #2 |
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Hi Kiwiana
Your tortoise is a mediterranean spurthighed tortoise (testudo graeca graeca ) possibly of morrocan origin Darren |
05-07-2006, 06:00 PM | #3 |
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Incubating
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Welcome to tortoise keeping and welcome to the forum. Male Graecas are the best! So much personality. I have 3 of them and they are adorable.
You'll learn all you need to know about him from here and the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ( xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) Stick around on the forum as you will need advice on hibernation if this is your first time. Dont listen to the old lady down the road types who will tell you to put him in the airing cupboard! Claire |
05-07-2006, 08:00 PM | #4 |
Junior Member
Egg
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Wow! Many thanks for the prompt reply. We have sore fingers from searching the internet for ALL information on him.
Unsure what to feed him and how old he is and what weight he should be? Also worried about his shell colour - is this diet related or is he OK? Thanks once again for the replies. Helen |
05-07-2006, 08:07 PM | #5 |
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His shell loks fine too me normal colouration. He should be on a diet of weeds. Go to the home page and click on edible weeds to find some commonly found tortoise friendly weeds http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/
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Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group |
05-07-2006, 08:49 PM | #6 |
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She looks fine, but it did cross my mind that maybe he's been oiled in prvious years..
I have just rehomed a tortiose and the old lady oiled him regular, i just GENTLY agitated it with plain warm water and a toohbrush, the dirt that came out was amazing, and his shell ground colour is a lot better Darren |
05-07-2006, 09:36 PM | #7 |
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06-07-2006, 07:32 AM | #8 |
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Thanks Darren
That answers my question, and my learn for the day<g>.
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07-07-2006, 06:11 AM | #9 |
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Egg
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A good way to clean tortoise shells of any build up of dirt and oils is a toothbrush and some baking soda.
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They say there is more to life than tortoises, "they" have never had a tortoise. |
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