Need some help please.

[gingergeordie]

hi everyone,
i had a 2 year old horsfield tortoise who i cared for very much, but unfortunatley died. i believe the man who i bought her off had mistreated her as the vet i took her too said she had a deformed jaw which is caused by a lack of UV light. from the day i got her we had her back and forwards to the vet as she seemed to always be poorly.

the thing which upset me most was i tried everything in my power to care for her properly but was given conflicting advice from every where i looked. for example the first vet i took her too told me to buy a vivarium as table top boxes were no good for horsfield tortoises and to keep her tank at 40 degrees, when i took her to another vet who specilised in reptiles he told me vivs were ok but he kept his in open topped boxes and that 40 degrees was far too high???? i was devastated when my tortoise died after only a year and felt guilty that i hadnt looked after her properly, but i done everything i was told and recieved so much conflicting advice????

i have now got myself a new 2year old horsfield named humphrey and already he looks alot healthier than the last. i really am committed to looking after him properly but just need some basic advice from people i can trust know about tortoises.

at the moment hes in a vivarium which has a glass front, ventilation all along the top, a large shallow dish to bathe and drink from,a 24" UV tube, birch chippings on the floor and a sleeping hole which is filled with straw. i feed him once a day, usually on watercress, broccolli, mixed salad leaves (not iceburg lettuce) and cucumber. i keep the end of the tank where the heat lamp is at around 30 degrees and at night turn the uv lamp off and turn the temp down slightly (as i have a thermostat).

i just want to know if what im doing is right or not?

i really would appriciate any advice that you have for me so that my little tortoise humphrey can have a healthly, enjoyable and long life.

many thanks in advance.

[linda]

hi welcome to sw

click the link to an excellent care sheet written by an experienced retile vet who also keeps torts

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/sit...M.R.C.V.S.html

[gingergeordie]

thank you very much! im pleased i have some solid infomation which i can use. hopefully little humphrey will have a happy time with me!

thanks again.

[Neddy]

Welcome to Shelled Warriors

I am really sorry that you had to experience what you did, it would of shattered me too.

I think a lot of things come down to personal preference, just because some people have different methods doesn't mean they are flat out wrong.

You will find that some think/feel that vivarium's don't provide enough air flow so they keep them in table tops, but some have kept tortoises in vivarium's for 30 - 40 years and never had a problem.

Some people feed only fresh weeds and grass and other things as treats, but then some only feed pellets.

Some hibernate and some don't.

The only think that is really set in stone are temperatures and uv supply, and providing extra calcium by giving cuttlefish, nutrobal sprinkled on weeds and I believe some use limeflour but you will need to get more info as I have never used it

If you want to give a fresh diet and want to know if any weeds are good or bad I find this website: http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/s...ise_home_1.asp a great site for weed identification

Have a ring round to find a vet that has experience of caring for tortoises, and importantly who you feel comfortable with. Explain what has happened in the past and they should be understanding and feel they need to give you guidance,

If you ever want to ask a question or need any advice we are always here to help

I'm Sara by the way and I have a leopard tortoise called Ralph so my advice on horsefields are limited but there are loads of members who do and will be happy to help.

xxxx

[gingergeordie]

thanks to all for your advice i really appriciate it. i think because of what happened with my first tortoise im extremely nervous and worried. im goin to make a larger open topped pen for him which is suitable for all his needs, i will keep you all updated on how hes getting on in his new home.

thanks again!

[EJ]

40C is a bit high. Try not to over compensate by droping the temperature too low either. 25 to 30 is a good low end temperature and 35 or so is a good basking temperature. Try to give a good temperature range so the tortoise can decide what it needs.

As to conflicting info... you cannot get away from it if you are keeping tortoises. You are just going to have to weed through what you can use and not.

On the viv... unless you are independently wealthy and are able to keep your house at at least 70F... a viv is the best way to go. It is so much easier to maintain the proper temperatures this time of year. The important point is to offer a range... I usually suggest 70 to 85F for a Russian tortoise and you really don't have to drop the temperature at night on purpose. Keep the background heat and just allow the basking lamp the go off.

Look into the pelleted diets as a staple and feed greens as a supplement. This way it takes all the guesswork out of the nutritional aspect of the equation. As you learn more you can then decide which direction you would like to take in terms of nutrition and the tortoise will still be alive to apreciate it.

Check this out... it might help.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Tort.../dp/0793828821

Originally Posted by gingergeordie

the thing which upset me most was i tried everything in my power to care for her properly but was given conflicting advice from every where i looked. for example the first vet i took her too told me to buy a vivarium as table top boxes were no good for horsfield tortoises and to keep her tank at 40 degrees, when i took her to another vet who specilised in reptiles he told me vivs were ok but he kept his in open topped boxes and that 40 degrees was far too high???? i was devastated when my tortoise died after only a year and felt guilty that i hadnt looked after her properly, but i done everything i was told and recieved so much conflicting advice????

i have now got myself a new 2year old horsfield named humphrey and already he looks alot healthier than the last. i really am committed to looking after him properly but just need some basic advice from people i can trust know about tortoises.

at the moment hes in a vivarium which has a glass front, ventilation all along the top, a large shallow dish to bathe and drink from,a 24" UV tube, birch chippings on the floor and a sleeping hole which is filled with straw. i feed him once a day, usually on watercress, broccolli, mixed salad leaves (not iceburg lettuce) and cucumber. i keep the end of the tank where the heat lamp is at around 30 degrees and at night turn the uv lamp off and turn the temp down slightly (as i have a thermostat).

i just want to know if what im doing is right or not?

i really would appriciate any advice that you have for me so that my little tortoise humphrey can have a healthly, enjoyable and long life.

many thanks in advance.

[swad1000]

Sorry to hear about your first tort.

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there, none of it is particularly wrong or right, its just a difference of opinion.

Heres an excellent site that will help answer any questions you have, http://www.tortoisetrust.org/

And if you're looking for some litreature I'd highly recomend getting http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Pet-...9252821&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tortoise-Tru...9252821&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mediterranea...9252821&sr=8-4

[EJ]

The problem with those resources is that they are extremely biased and do not allow much room for error. They pretty much dictate that you have to do it the way that is instructed or you will fail... or your pet will suffer... or... you will kill your pet.

I think this is a counter productive attitude to present to the new keeper. A tortoise is a relatively easy pet to keep if you keep it simple and provide for it's basic needs... what it actually needs... and not what any one person thinks it needs.

Originally Posted by swad1000

Sorry to hear about your first tort.

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there, none of it is particularly wrong or right, its just a difference of opinion.

Heres an excellent site that will help answer any questions you have, http://www.tortoisetrust.org/

And if you're looking for some litreature I'd highly recomend getting http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Pet-...9252821&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tortoise-Tru...9252821&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mediterranea...9252821&sr=8-4

[dae]

HI Gingergeordie,

Welcome to the forum, I also have a male horsefield called Humphrey!!! I actually have many many horsefields plus 2 hatchlings- they're so lovely and rewarding.

You have certainly come to the right place for information. I learned all I know from here.

I agree with the previous posts- just listen to the advise given and decide what will be best for you and your tort. There are lots of experienced keepers on here and their advise is excellent- but again some have different ways of doing things but it doesn't always mean one is wrong and one is right! Actually I think that's the beauty of tort keeping!

Good luck to both of you!!!!

[gingergeordie]

sorry to be a pest but i have another question..... my tort seems to be full of energy and when i let him out to have a run around hes none stop, the problem is, hes exactly the same when i try to give him a bath? he wont seem to stay still when hes in the water constantly trying to climb out? will he eventually settle down for bath time? i only left him in for a couple of minutes as i didnt know whether he was distressed or not? a few times ive seem him climb in his water bowl of his own accord and seems calm even if he still dosent sit in it for long?