Hello

[Easter Bunny]

I've just rehomed a male TGG who's 40 years plus, not sure of his age. But Some people think he is about 60 years old. He is such a lovely little character. xx

[yuna1971]

Welcome and welcome to Joe...what a fabulous pic of him above, such a handsome tort.
Beautiful smooth shell...and a wonderful age.
Its what we as owners, all hope to achieve...so very well done to you and nice to have you here Joesmum. xx

[TDB]

Hello and welcome to SW. Your tortoise is beautiful what a fantastic story!!!

[suttysue]

Wow he's brill! you have obviously looked after him very well he lokks a happy soul. Oh and by thr way welcome to posssibly the best tortoise site on the WWW.
sue

[JoesMum]

He got ill for the first time ever this spring A respiratory infection. I've been thr ough the months of soul-searching and "are we fit people to look after a tortoise". The vet has been brilliant though and told us that with nearly 50 successful hibernations we can't have been doing much wrong.

I've now got a large, fit and well tortoise in his prime who isn't allowed to hibernate because he's gained no weight this year (didn't lose any either) and will be confined to a 'tortoise table' (aka 6' x 4' book case) once our large conservatory becomes difficult to heat... it's going to be a stressful winter for all of us! He doesn't like being confined at the best of times; he's used to having the run of the entire garden.

[Easter Bunny]

Aww, Glad he's better now must have been a horrible time for you.
The TGG I rehomed used to have the run of the garden at his previous owners and was left to do his own thing really.
I'm having to confine him now though because he can't hibernate at the moment because he is underweight ( only happily eats dandelions) but to be honest he seems ok with being confined. I think its because he's slowing down now anyway and wants to hibernate. It's a bit of a struggle keeping him up though

[JoesMum]

If mine is anything to go by TGG can be VERY picky eaters. Joe went through an 'only dandelions' phase this spring and then moved on to lamb's lettuce only before finding windfall cherries from a neighbour's tree when he suddenly became obsessed by red circles (to the extent of ctrying to eat those printed on a newspaper) At present, lamb's lettuce is the only thing he won't touch that I give him! I've been giving him occasional Komodo fruit & flowers pellets - he tries to eat only the red ones, but it doesn't work!

I'm quite comfortable in the kowledge that, whatever the current favourite is, it will change. Over a lifespan of 50 years, the diet has been very varied... over a couple of weeks maybe not so much!

[Levi]

Hi and welcome,

Joe looks lovely and very active by the look of the step climbing. I have a female spur-thigh (T.g.i) I think the females can be naturally more laid-back (lazy) compared to males. Glad to hear he is better now and good luck with over wintering him.

[JoesMum]

I think you're right about the females. We tortoise sat a female a few years ago and she had such a lovely gentle personality. She became a Mum after her visit... I'd describe the encounter as rape... although Joe did settle down after the first few days and they spent a lot of time sunbathing together on the compost heap!

[Anita Sayles]

Joe is lovely