Your first tort

Hazel · 14-01-2009, 12:16 PM

Just wondering about everyone's first tort? what kind was it, how long ago was it, what made you decide to get a tort etc? Thought it might make an interesting thread

alicia · 14-01-2009, 12:30 PM

my first tortoise was when i was 13, i had wanted a tortoise from about 4 years old so when me and my mum moved off the isle of wight and had more room so i saved up my dinner money for it lol.

it was a horsefield from a pet shop, i called her diasy but i didn't have her very long.

i sold her as my sister kept on about how much money ive wasted because it doesn't do anything

also it was nearing hibernation and i think i felt i couldn't do anything right for her and it was too much responsibility.

i wish i had kept her

but she did go to some one on this site who i know looks after her.

after doing alot more reaserch and getting a job i decided i would like to try the tortoise keeping again, so i saved up my work money and got my leopard tortoise Bobby

alice. xx

Zen · 14-01-2009, 12:43 PM

Zen is my 1st tort who i got back in May last year. I really wanted to get 2 but hubby said one was plenty

, i fell in love with torts when they came into work, and enjoyed nursing them back to health, but because i was doing long hours it didnt feel right at that time.

Since then i gave up work to be a sahm and the rest is history!
On a good note though hubby really likes Zen and has said i can get another tort, (he is really fascinated by Zen) so i have been in contact with the person i got Zen from and she will contact me in the summer if she has any at that time, so very excited

!!! Will call the next one Buddha i think!!!

lindso3000 · 14-01-2009, 12:55 PM

My first tort is hector horsfield. I'd always wanted a tort and as a kid had a big interest in reptiles and dinosaurs (still have)
A tortoise is the closest I can get to a dinosaur and I love them!
Then I got George horsfield, then my redfoots, then rescued bowser horsfield!
Thankfully Joel loves them too

helen1 · 14-01-2009, 01:12 PM

My first tortoise...not as a child....was when I was 16 in 1968....he was my responsibility solely.
I still have him now......he is a magnificient male ibera weighing in at around 2.7kg....never been ill....never been a worry....

CJ · 14-01-2009, 01:44 PM

My first tortoise was Freda (very original!!

) when I was about 11, so that's about 30 years ago!! We had her for about 8 years but then she died in hibernation.

I'd always wanted another one, but could never justify spending the money needed to buy one and set up a home for it, until we moved house a couple of years ago! We had lots of money left over for doing up the house, but decided I could justify spending some of a tortoise!!

So we got Charlie the horsfield! Hmmm, then a few months later got another one, Ruby!! And now I'm thinking I might like another one!

ME SHELL · 14-01-2009, 03:09 PM

I had my first tort nearlly 30 years ago. Hid name was Peter unitl he laid eggs in the garden the we called her Sheila. I loved her to bits and I followed her everywhere crouched down low. I was only young but can still remember her pooing down my dress when I carried her into the house

She died in hibernation too. We did not know the things we do now about torts. I really wish I still had her. She definitely left an impression on me, but I resisted buying a tort until 4 years ago for my son. Who should I say quickly lost interest, but I haven't

TortMad · 14-01-2009, 07:46 PM

I got my first tortoise over 5 years ago, he came from a petshop who said he was 18 months old (don't they all)

Freddie is a horsfield tortoise and the start of my chelonia inspired madness

I had always wanted a tortoise from as far back as I could imagine, He would be a male and called Freddie and he is.

I never expected to have more than one, or find myself weed picking in the pouring rain, ah I left that bit out of my childhood fantasy lol

ME SHELL · 14-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Kelly forgot to say that is one gorgeous pic of Dandilion. He is stunning, even though he is poking his tongue out of me

Sylvia1 · 14-01-2009, 09:21 PM

My dad brought home my first 2 torts (Marginateds I now think) about 41 years ago when I was 10. I saved up my pocket money and eventually bought 2 more. I also bought a tiny little booklet on the care of tortoises which said to oil their shells with a little olive oil on cotton wool - available from chemists (which I did). I also used to feed them tomatoes (their favourite food). They were hibernated in packing cases in straw in an unheated shed. I couldn't wait for Spring when they would be up & about again. At that time, it was advised that you wipe the torts mouth with moistened cotton wool and if they wouldn't eat, put a couple drops of brandy in their mouth to stimulate!

I even had some eggs which I put in an old biscuit tin in the airing cupboard but sadly they didn't hatch! I eventually had to give them to friends of my Ex as we were moving to a house without a suitable garden. If only I still had them.........

I do cringe when I think what advice there was around at the time. For those interested, I remember their poo was really really 'loose', unlike my torts now.

14-01-2009, 12:16 PM	#1
Hazel Member Juvenile Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 853	Your first tort Just wondering about everyone's first tort? what kind was it, how long ago was it, what made you decide to get a tort etc? Thought it might make an interesting thread __________________

14-01-2009, 12:30 PM	#2
alicia Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: waterlooville, Hampshire Posts: 2,328	my first tortoise was when i was 13, i had wanted a tortoise from about 4 years old so when me and my mum moved off the isle of wight and had more room so i saved up my dinner money for it lol. it was a horsefield from a pet shop, i called her diasy but i didn't have her very long. i sold her as my sister kept on about how much money ive wasted because it doesn't do anything also it was nearing hibernation and i think i felt i couldn't do anything right for her and it was too much responsibility. i wish i had kept her but she did go to some one on this site who i know looks after her. after doing alot more reaserch and getting a job i decided i would like to try the tortoise keeping again, so i saved up my work money and got my leopard tortoise Bobby alice. xx __________________ 0.0.2 graeca ibera

14-01-2009, 12:43 PM	#3
Zen Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Banbury Oxfordshire Posts: 2,623	Zen is my 1st tort who i got back in May last year. I really wanted to get 2 but hubby said one was plenty , i fell in love with torts when they came into work, and enjoyed nursing them back to health, but because i was doing long hours it didnt feel right at that time. Since then i gave up work to be a sahm and the rest is history! On a good note though hubby really likes Zen and has said i can get another tort, (he is really fascinated by Zen) so i have been in contact with the person i got Zen from and she will contact me in the summer if she has any at that time, so very excited!!! Will call the next one Buddha i think!!! __________________ Rachael & Zen (THB) 'Show gratitude to every living thing'

14-01-2009, 12:55 PM	#4
lindso3000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cumbria Posts: 2,675	My first tort is hector horsfield. I'd always wanted a tort and as a kid had a big interest in reptiles and dinosaurs (still have) A tortoise is the closest I can get to a dinosaur and I love them! Then I got George horsfield, then my redfoots, then rescued bowser horsfield! Thankfully Joel loves them too Last edited by lindso3000; 14-01-2009 at 12:59 PM.

14-01-2009, 01:12 PM	#5
helen1 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NORTH WEST Posts: 1,977	My first tortoise...not as a child....was when I was 16 in 1968....he was my responsibility solely. I still have him now......he is a magnificient male ibera weighing in at around 2.7kg....never been ill....never been a worry.... __________________ I CARE FOR TORTS

14-01-2009, 01:44 PM	#6
CJ Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,280	My first tortoise was Freda (very original!!) when I was about 11, so that's about 30 years ago!! We had her for about 8 years but then she died in hibernation. I'd always wanted another one, but could never justify spending the money needed to buy one and set up a home for it, until we moved house a couple of years ago! We had lots of money left over for doing up the house, but decided I could justify spending some of a tortoise!! So we got Charlie the horsfield! Hmmm, then a few months later got another one, Ruby!! And now I'm thinking I might like another one!

14-01-2009, 03:09 PM	#7
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	I had my first tort nearlly 30 years ago. Hid name was Peter unitl he laid eggs in the garden the we called her Sheila. I loved her to bits and I followed her everywhere crouched down low. I was only young but can still remember her pooing down my dress when I carried her into the house She died in hibernation too. We did not know the things we do now about torts. I really wish I still had her. She definitely left an impression on me, but I resisted buying a tort until 4 years ago for my son. Who should I say quickly lost interest, but I haven't

14-01-2009, 07:46 PM	#8
TortMad Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2,639	I got my first tortoise over 5 years ago, he came from a petshop who said he was 18 months old (don't they all) Freddie is a horsfield tortoise and the start of my chelonia inspired madness I had always wanted a tortoise from as far back as I could imagine, He would be a male and called Freddie and he is. I never expected to have more than one, or find myself weed picking in the pouring rain, ah I left that bit out of my childhood fantasy lol __________________ Lea 2.1.0 testudo horsfeldii 0.2.0 testudo graeca ibera 2.0.0 geochelone pardalis babcocki http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/

14-01-2009, 07:50 PM	#9
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	Kelly forgot to say that is one gorgeous pic of Dandilion. He is stunning, even though he is poking his tongue out of me

14-01-2009, 09:21 PM	#10
Sylvia1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Somerset Posts: 2,465	My dad brought home my first 2 torts (Marginateds I now think) about 41 years ago when I was 10. I saved up my pocket money and eventually bought 2 more. I also bought a tiny little booklet on the care of tortoises which said to oil their shells with a little olive oil on cotton wool - available from chemists (which I did). I also used to feed them tomatoes (their favourite food). They were hibernated in packing cases in straw in an unheated shed. I couldn't wait for Spring when they would be up & about again. At that time, it was advised that you wipe the torts mouth with moistened cotton wool and if they wouldn't eat, put a couple drops of brandy in their mouth to stimulate! I even had some eggs which I put in an old biscuit tin in the airing cupboard but sadly they didn't hatch! I eventually had to give them to friends of my Ex as we were moving to a house without a suitable garden. If only I still had them......... I do cringe when I think what advice there was around at the time. For those interested, I remember their poo was really really 'loose', unlike my torts now. __________________ Sylvia 3 hermanns, 2 leopards, 2 german shepherds, 5 cats, 3 tropical tanks Last edited by Sylvia1; 14-01-2009 at 10:34 PM.

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