stars advice please

[flower79]

Hi there, am totally new to the tortoise world,but have been doing months of research and have decided I want my first baby to be a star. Before I get my set up and such sorted any advice would be gratefully appreciated as to what is going to keep my baby happy and healthy. Thank you in advance for any help offered.

[EJ]

Here's some good websites to start that I trust for some good advice.

http://startortoises.net/profile.html

http://www.startortoiseuk.co.uk/

One of the best sites... startortoise.com... seems to be down but give it a try.

This doesn't help you a great deal but this is my friend giving you a beautiful shot of a WC animal and its natural habitat.

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/w...-tortoise.html

Originally Posted by flower79

Hi there, am totally new to the tortoise world,but have been doing months of research and have decided I want my first baby to be a star. Before I get my set up and such sorted any advice would be gratefully appreciated as to what is going to keep my baby happy and healthy. Thank you in advance for any help offered.

[flower79]

thank you very much for the help, will have a good look at those sites and no doubt learn more. xx

[indian star]

jerry fife book excellent,

the best tort of all is a star!

[Torterra]

First, thanks Ed for sharing the links, the discovery channel video is great, you realise after looking at it even more how they must have humid environment.
I will also say that Jerry Fife book on Star tortoises is 'industry standard' and you can buy it from Amazon USA, it is well worth the money.
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Tortoises...0025138&sr=8-3

[EJ]

Don't take that video out of context. The habitat they inhabit seems to be very similar to the North Africal Leopard tortoise in that they seem to have periods of heavy rain followed by periods of little to no rain at all.

Jerry Fife lives in the Pheonix, AZ area and I'm pretty sure his tortoises are maintained outdoors... desert habitat but I'm also pretty sure he provides heated and humid hides.

Originally Posted by Torterra

First, thanks Ed for sharing the links, the discovery channel video is great, you realise after looking at it even more how they must have humid environment.
I will also say that Jerry Fife book on Star tortoises is 'industry standard' and you can buy it from Amazon USA, it is well worth the money.
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Tortoises...0025138&sr=8-3

[Torterra]

Originally Posted by EJ

Don't take that video out of context. The habitat they inhabit seems to be very similar to the North Africal Leopard tortoise in that they seem to have periods of heavy rain followed by periods of little to no rain at all.

Jerry Fife lives in the Pheonix, AZ area and I'm pretty sure his tortoises are maintained outdoors... desert habitat but I'm also pretty sure he provides heated and humid hides.

Indeed, I know for sure if it is too dry they can stay inside their hides for days ans possible (I havent tried it) weeks on end. Then is you spray heavily and soak the soil they will come out as if nothing happend, bisy looking for food.
One thing they will suffer from is cold and wet.

[EJ]

That kind of behavior is typical for most reptiles.

I don't know if you know what 'road cruisin'' is but it involves drivinging roads at night looking for reptiles. Right after a rain is the best time. With diurnal reptiles it's the same thing.

Stars can be delicate.

Originally Posted by Torterra

Indeed, I know for sure if it is too dry they can stay inside their hides for days ans possible (I havent tried it) weeks on end. Then is you spray heavily and soak the soil they will come out as if nothing happend, bisy looking for food.
One thing they will suffer from is cold and wet.