Introducing the Delightful Miss Aurora

tlcwrites · 31-05-2016, 02:32 PM

Aurora came home with me on Monday, and is now in what is at least her fourth home. She's previously lived in a care home and with my father, and a couple of other places at least. On occasion, I'd talked to him and his wife about my taking Rory on, and over the weekend, they finally acquiesed and allowed me to bring her on the 2.5 hour journey to her new home. :love:

In many ways, it was inevitable that I would end up with Aurora sooner or later. In truth, I'd expected that I would inherit her much later. However, dad and stepmum are working towards a pet-free house (except for a fish tank), so when I said I'd take her on again, they practically jumped at the chance.

The reason I say "inevitable" is because out of their four kids, I'm the absolute animal nut. They know I'm willing to do all the research necessary to give Aurora a safe and happy life. Even though I've never owned reptiles before, they know I'm committed.

I'm enjoying doing the research necessary to help Aurora out. I know her beak's a bit long, so I'm in the process of trying to find a nearby tortoise-savvy vet. I know rabbits - my first love - are classified as "exotics" but there's rabbits and then there's reptiles. I know her beak's currently a wee bit long, but hopefully she'll get a thorough MOT from a vet who knows what they're doing asap and that'll include a beak trim.

In the meantime, she's enjoying her new tortoise table - and especially the heat mat! She's usually hiding in her bedroom area as a consequence. But she does also enjoy her food - her favourites seem to be dandelion flower and plantain at the moment. It's a joy to be able to expand her feeding repertoire to things my dad was unaware of.

Whilst I do love Miss Aurora, I also know that she has a strong preference for men! She's more likely to respond to my OH than she is to me. If she does respond to me, it's to hiss!

Anyhow, I suppose that's enough waffling for now, I guess I better introduce her with pictures:

emma_mcraf · 01-06-2016, 02:35 PM

It's lovely to see Aurora and good luck with finding an exotic specialist vet. Once you have one, it's good to know you have them should you need advice or treatment.

Do you know if Aurora has been offered cuttlefish before? It's a great way of keeping the beak trim once you've had it trimmed back. Perhaps after watching the vet you'll feel confident about trimming yourself next time, but hopefully cuttlefish will help to maintain it.

You must thrilled to have her home with you.

tlcwrites · 01-06-2016, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emma_mcraf

It's lovely to see Aurora and good luck with finding an exotic specialist vet. Once you have one, it's good to know you have them should you need advice or treatment.

Do you know if Aurora has been offered cuttlefish before? It's a great way of keeping the beak trim once you've had it trimmed back. Perhaps after watching the vet you'll feel confident about trimming yourself next time, but hopefully cuttlefish will help to maintain it.

You must thrilled to have her home with you.

I'm unaware if she's been offered it before, but I will certainly offer it to her in the future if it'll help.

I can now trim my rabbits' claws, so hopefully trimming her beak will be no more difficult (or hopefully easier!) than that.

But thank you.

Jan W · 01-06-2016, 07:52 PM

She is lovely and her beak certainly makes her look very unique at the moment. I was very tentative when I did my 2 and Gordon gave me some good advice, mainly to get on with it and do in one go as it does not hurt them, just like a nail. I had started off by just doing the tiniest trim. It will be easier once you have seen it done. It was much much easier than trimming my dogs claws.

How old is she?

She is very lucky to be home with you.

CherryBrandy · 01-06-2016, 09:12 PM

how lovely. If you can do rabbits you will be fine with beaks Im sure. Like Jan go slow, bit of at a time from the bottom up looks like best. Men' s Nail clippers as they are large. And she is pretty white so Im thinking if she has been in a viv or ideally tortoise table if not outside then she is down on her vit D so a good UVB and UV A light will help.

I would recommend getting good vet advice on the beak before progressing though as it may be the flexi in the beak at that length (and shape at bottom) could crack up the middle, just in case as a precaution. Nice tortoise though. good home for her it sounds CB

tlcwrites · 02-06-2016, 11:59 AM

I've managed to get some cuttlefish for Aurora today and offered it to her.

Thanks for the advice re: beak and colouring everyone. I have some specialist claw cutters for the rabbits and guinea pigs - would this work for cutting her beak? I'm still taking her to a vet for the first time though. I'm not 100% sure, but I think one of my regular vets has some exotics training, so I want to touch base with them before looking further afield.

When we got her, she was originally in a viv, but my dad had bought her a tortoise table. She's in it now and the viv has been retired (and probably will be donated to charity.) She has a UVA/UVB bulb (I think; I'll check) in her new tortoise table and we're regularly dragging her out of her room to get under the bulb. She prefers her heat pad in the bedroom though. When the weather's better than it is right now, we'll let her have some outdoors time in the run we have for her, but bring her in at night.

Stellanne · 02-06-2016, 04:56 PM

I rehomed a couple of torts with long beaks and found that by letting them feed off a slate/stone and offering cuttlefish bone they very soon wore down. Also I think offering food they have to bite and offer a bit of resistant is a good way of keeping a torts beak the correct length. X x x xhugs x x x

Jan W · 02-06-2016, 06:45 PM

Large nail clippers worked well for me.

CherryBrandy · 02-06-2016, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcwrites

I've managed to get some cuttlefish for Aurora today and offered it to her.

Thanks for the advice re: beak and colouring everyone. I have some specialist claw cutters for the rabbits and guinea pigs - would this work for cutting her beak? I'm still taking her to a vet for the first time though. I'm not 100% sure, but I think one of my regular vets has some exotics training, so I want to touch base with them before looking further afield.

When we got her, she was originally in a viv, but my dad had bought her a tortoise table. She's in it now and the viv has been retired (and probably will be donated to charity.) She has a UVA/UVB bulb (I think; I'll check) in her new tortoise table and we're regularly dragging her out of her room to get under the bulb. She prefers her heat pad in the bedroom though. When the weather's better than it is right now, we'll let her have some outdoors time in the run we have for her, but bring her in at night.

That's super you are taking v good care of her. I would steer clear of rabbit claw cutters as these I believe are more 'round'. Flat nail clippers are good and supplement with the slate and cuttlefish to keep it trim is ideal. CB

tlcwrites · 08-06-2016, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the advice. We've been actively putting her under the lamp during the day to make sure she's getting enough light. She has some cuttlefish now too.

Aurora's booked in for a health check and beak trim a week today. I'm also at the vet's today because I rescued my 9th rabbit. Sigh.

31-05-2016, 02:32 PM	#1
tlcwrites Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	Introducing the Delightful Miss Aurora Aurora came home with me on Monday, and is now in what is at least her fourth home. She's previously lived in a care home and with my father, and a couple of other places at least. On occasion, I'd talked to him and his wife about my taking Rory on, and over the weekend, they finally acquiesed and allowed me to bring her on the 2.5 hour journey to her new home. :love: In many ways, it was inevitable that I would end up with Aurora sooner or later. In truth, I'd expected that I would inherit her much later. However, dad and stepmum are working towards a pet-free house (except for a fish tank), so when I said I'd take her on again, they practically jumped at the chance. The reason I say "inevitable" is because out of their four kids, I'm the absolute animal nut. They know I'm willing to do all the research necessary to give Aurora a safe and happy life. Even though I've never owned reptiles before, they know I'm committed. I'm enjoying doing the research necessary to help Aurora out. I know her beak's a bit long, so I'm in the process of trying to find a nearby tortoise-savvy vet. I know rabbits - my first love - are classified as "exotics" but there's rabbits and then there's reptiles. I know her beak's currently a wee bit long, but hopefully she'll get a thorough MOT from a vet who knows what they're doing asap and that'll include a beak trim. In the meantime, she's enjoying her new tortoise table - and especially the heat mat! She's usually hiding in her bedroom area as a consequence. But she does also enjoy her food - her favourites seem to be dandelion flower and plantain at the moment. It's a joy to be able to expand her feeding repertoire to things my dad was unaware of. Whilst I do love Miss Aurora, I also know that she has a strong preference for men! She's more likely to respond to my OH than she is to me. If she does respond to me, it's to hiss! Anyhow, I suppose that's enough waffling for now, I guess I better introduce her with pictures:

01-06-2016, 02:35 PM	#2
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	It's lovely to see Aurora and good luck with finding an exotic specialist vet. Once you have one, it's good to know you have them should you need advice or treatment. Do you know if Aurora has been offered cuttlefish before? It's a great way of keeping the beak trim once you've had it trimmed back. Perhaps after watching the vet you'll feel confident about trimming yourself next time, but hopefully cuttlefish will help to maintain it. You must thrilled to have her home with you. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

01-06-2016, 07:52 PM	#4
Jan W Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,400	She is lovely and her beak certainly makes her look very unique at the moment. I was very tentative when I did my 2 and Gordon gave me some good advice, mainly to get on with it and do in one go as it does not hurt them, just like a nail. I had started off by just doing the tiniest trim. It will be easier once you have seen it done. It was much much easier than trimming my dogs claws. How old is she? She is very lucky to be home with you. __________________ Jan Horsfields - Bertie & Beatrice

01-06-2016, 09:12 PM	#5
CherryBrandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SE England Posts: 4,262	how lovely. If you can do rabbits you will be fine with beaks Im sure. Like Jan go slow, bit of at a time from the bottom up looks like best. Men' s Nail clippers as they are large. And she is pretty white so Im thinking if she has been in a viv or ideally tortoise table if not outside then she is down on her vit D so a good UVB and UV A light will help. I would recommend getting good vet advice on the beak before progressing though as it may be the flexi in the beak at that length (and shape at bottom) could crack up the middle, just in case as a precaution. Nice tortoise though. good home for her it sounds CB __________________ Horsfields, Spur Thighed, & Marginata

02-06-2016, 06:45 PM	#8
Jan W Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,400	Trimming beak Large nail clippers worked well for me. __________________ Jan Horsfields - Bertie & Beatrice

02-06-2016, 11:59 AM	#6
tlcwrites Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	I've managed to get some cuttlefish for Aurora today and offered it to her. Thanks for the advice re: beak and colouring everyone. I have some specialist claw cutters for the rabbits and guinea pigs - would this work for cutting her beak? I'm still taking her to a vet for the first time though. I'm not 100% sure, but I think one of my regular vets has some exotics training, so I want to touch base with them before looking further afield. When we got her, she was originally in a viv, but my dad had bought her a tortoise table. She's in it now and the viv has been retired (and probably will be donated to charity.) She has a UVA/UVB bulb (I think; I'll check) in her new tortoise table and we're regularly dragging her out of her room to get under the bulb. She prefers her heat pad in the bedroom though. When the weather's better than it is right now, we'll let her have some outdoors time in the run we have for her, but bring her in at night.

02-06-2016, 04:56 PM	#7
Stellanne Member Hatchling Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 686	I rehomed a couple of torts with long beaks and found that by letting them feed off a slate/stone and offering cuttlefish bone they very soon wore down. Also I think offering food they have to bite and offer a bit of resistant is a good way of keeping a torts beak the correct length. X x x xhugs x x x

08-06-2016, 12:23 PM	#10
tlcwrites Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 17	Thanks for the advice. We've been actively putting her under the lamp during the day to make sure she's getting enough light. She has some cuttlefish now too. Aurora's booked in for a health check and beak trim a week today. I'm also at the vet's today because I rescued my 9th rabbit. Sigh.

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