Urgent - ill tortoise & vets in Oxford - Page 9

**Bindi** · 06-08-2008, 08:39 AM

Oh my! What absolutely beautiful photos! They are both gorgeous little torts, 'm so pleased your sister got some more, thank you for sharing them and tell your sis that I hope her hands improve soon

Bindi

SpanishD · 06-08-2008, 08:53 AM

Lucy, I'm so sorry to read of your loss but how wonderful that you have two baby tortoise to care for and love. I'm sure they will be very happy with you and I hope your hands are feeling better soon.

Louise xxx

Sylvia1 · 06-08-2008, 09:06 AM

Hello Lucy - your new babies are beautiful

wildjac · 06-08-2008, 09:28 AM

So sorry to hear your sad news. Thinking of you.
Jacquie

Beverley · 06-08-2008, 02:05 PM

Great pics, Lucy's sister

Lucy they are beautiful and I am sure they will give you hours of pleasure, really cute tortoises

Beverley

rachel30b · 06-08-2008, 10:33 PM

they are lovely torts, sure they will give you hours of pleasure watching them

queenofjericho · 07-08-2008, 07:10 PM

Thanks for all the lovely, lovely messages. It's been SO frustrating not being able to write in! I've still been reading the forum, my hands have just been too bad for typing. Particularly thanks to Lisa and Madhouse (sorry, can't remember your real name off hand) for your PMs. Was really nice to get them and will answer as hands allow!

My sister, Alice, has been great. When I decided to get another tortoise, it was part of the plan that Alice would have one and I the other one. She's just 16 and lives with me and my husband half the time as our mother died a few years ago. I don't know how she'll cope next week without seeing them! It's the perfect arrangement really, I was worried I'd find it difficult to feel really excited and enthusiastic so soon after Florence's death, but Alice swept me along with hers. She's read up SO much on everything too, it's great not to feel like I'm the only one who knows the best way to look after them.

So in theory Myrtle's mine, and Nettle's Alice's, but in practice of course they live together, Alice does loads for them when she's here and the rest of the time my PA, husband and I look after them. They are frighteningly tiny after a 2 year old! Aren't they completely perfect at this age, I'm so worried about spoiling them!

Actually, right now BOTH tortoises escaped about half an hour ago(the enclosure in the picture was a v temporary one till their new one's sorted) just when I'm on my own in the house for the first time in a week! Completely terrifying, as I can't get to my wheelchair to put them back! Thank god now both have fallen asleep - at opposite ends of the room, I can see both of them and they're out of trouble. It's a real shock, as we thought this small enclosure would be ok for a week or so while we make a new one. COMPLETELY underestimated their incredible escaping abilities and unstoppable energy! I've no idea how they got out today as we were convinced, again, that we'd moved things round so they couldn't.

Thank god in 20 mins Alice and my husband are coming back with their new enclosure and (touch wood) they'll never be able to escape again. By the way, for anyone that's worried, we had made sure that all doors were closed and there's nothing unsafe on the floor just in case it happened again, so I've been as sure as I can be for the last hour that they'll be fine really, just terrifying as they're so small..

I was wondering, lots of you must have lost tortoises like I have. What were your experiences of getting another one? It's funny, I love these two and want to look after them as perfectly as possible, but they also make me feel a bit sad sometimes because they remind me of Florence but aren't her. I hope that doesn't sound like I don't care about them, because I really do. I just still miss Florence so much.

On a practical note, I'm REALLY struggling with the thing of not feeding them very much. Anyone got any tips? I know how important it is, I think it's just hard to get your head round one week trying desperately to get an ill tortoise to eat anything, then the next week holding back while these ravenous babies try to eat wood! Is it normal for them to try to eat absolutely everything? I mean fingers, plastic, their log, stones, EVERYTHING! I'll feel a lot better when my new digital scales arrive I think, then at least I can check and see if I'm over-feeding or starving them.

Oh dear, now I've written loads and my hands are not happy!

Thanks again to all of you, hope you're all having as much fun with your torts as I am with mine!
All best wishes, Lucy

**Eire_Ade** · 07-08-2008, 10:20 PM

Hi Lucy,

They are both gorgeous torts.

Yes the scales will be the best investment you make regarding not over feeding, also things like nutrobal daily, limestone foulr availability and a light misting of the enclosure will all contribute to having a nice smooth shell.

Ade

queenofjericho · 08-08-2008, 12:18 AM

Thanks Ade.

My new water spray arrived today! Quite tragic, but was genuinely excited... Also their new enclosure has a humid area.

I was wondering, does anyone have any guidelines on how much limestone and nutrobol to get into my babies? We are really struggling to get both into Nettle. They've got a dish full of limestone in their home and Myrtle can't get enough of it, but however much we cover Nettle's leaves with the stuff she'll find a green bit, or even push it into the water so that it all comes off! At the moment we're trying not to give them anything that isn't covered in both, but it's a real struggle!
Is that the best way to do things?

Best wishes to everyone, Lucy x

06-08-2008, 08:53 AM	#82
SpanishD Member Juvenile Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 812	Lucy, I'm so sorry to read of your loss but how wonderful that you have two baby tortoise to care for and love. I'm sure they will be very happy with you and I hope your hands are feeling better soon. Louise xxx __________________ Louise and Daisy (13) Keeper of leopard tortoises Springer spaniel......Molly Blue and Gold Macaw.....Merlin Blue fronted Amazon......Monty Love Bird....Scooby

06-08-2008, 09:06 AM	#83
Sylvia1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Somerset Posts: 2,465	Hello Lucy - your new babies are beautiful __________________ Sylvia 3 hermanns, 2 leopards, 2 german shepherds, 5 cats, 3 tropical tanks

06-08-2008, 09:28 AM	#84
wildjac Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kent Posts: 17	So sorry to hear your sad news. Thinking of you. Jacquie __________________ Keeper of 3 Leopards(all between7/8). 4 Tunisians (females 13 and 12, males 15 and 35). 1 African Grey Parrot(24)and a dog(12). 3 sons and a husband!!

06-08-2008, 02:05 PM	#85
Beverley Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,493	Great pics, Lucy's sister Lucy they are beautiful and I am sure they will give you hours of pleasure, really cute tortoises Beverley __________________

06-08-2008, 10:33 PM	#86
rachel30b Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: horncastle lincs Posts: 1,168	they are lovely torts, sure they will give you hours of pleasure watching them __________________ rachel 5 hermans, bob, frank, simpson, marmalade and johnson

06-08-2008, 08:39 AM	#81
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	Oh my! What absolutely beautiful photos! They are both gorgeous little torts, 'm so pleased your sister got some more, thank you for sharing them and tell your sis that I hope her hands improve soon Bindi

07-08-2008, 07:10 PM	#87
queenofjericho Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oxford Posts: 20	Hello! Thanks for all the lovely, lovely messages. It's been SO frustrating not being able to write in! I've still been reading the forum, my hands have just been too bad for typing. Particularly thanks to Lisa and Madhouse (sorry, can't remember your real name off hand) for your PMs. Was really nice to get them and will answer as hands allow! My sister, Alice, has been great. When I decided to get another tortoise, it was part of the plan that Alice would have one and I the other one. She's just 16 and lives with me and my husband half the time as our mother died a few years ago. I don't know how she'll cope next week without seeing them! It's the perfect arrangement really, I was worried I'd find it difficult to feel really excited and enthusiastic so soon after Florence's death, but Alice swept me along with hers. She's read up SO much on everything too, it's great not to feel like I'm the only one who knows the best way to look after them. So in theory Myrtle's mine, and Nettle's Alice's, but in practice of course they live together, Alice does loads for them when she's here and the rest of the time my PA, husband and I look after them. They are frighteningly tiny after a 2 year old! Aren't they completely perfect at this age, I'm so worried about spoiling them! Actually, right now BOTH tortoises escaped about half an hour ago(the enclosure in the picture was a v temporary one till their new one's sorted) just when I'm on my own in the house for the first time in a week! Completely terrifying, as I can't get to my wheelchair to put them back! Thank god now both have fallen asleep - at opposite ends of the room, I can see both of them and they're out of trouble. It's a real shock, as we thought this small enclosure would be ok for a week or so while we make a new one. COMPLETELY underestimated their incredible escaping abilities and unstoppable energy! I've no idea how they got out today as we were convinced, again, that we'd moved things round so they couldn't. Thank god in 20 mins Alice and my husband are coming back with their new enclosure and (touch wood) they'll never be able to escape again. By the way, for anyone that's worried, we had made sure that all doors were closed and there's nothing unsafe on the floor just in case it happened again, so I've been as sure as I can be for the last hour that they'll be fine really, just terrifying as they're so small.. I was wondering, lots of you must have lost tortoises like I have. What were your experiences of getting another one? It's funny, I love these two and want to look after them as perfectly as possible, but they also make me feel a bit sad sometimes because they remind me of Florence but aren't her. I hope that doesn't sound like I don't care about them, because I really do. I just still miss Florence so much. On a practical note, I'm REALLY struggling with the thing of not feeding them very much. Anyone got any tips? I know how important it is, I think it's just hard to get your head round one week trying desperately to get an ill tortoise to eat anything, then the next week holding back while these ravenous babies try to eat wood! Is it normal for them to try to eat absolutely everything? I mean fingers, plastic, their log, stones, EVERYTHING! I'll feel a lot better when my new digital scales arrive I think, then at least I can check and see if I'm over-feeding or starving them. Oh dear, now I've written loads and my hands are not happy! Thanks again to all of you, hope you're all having as much fun with your torts as I am with mine! All best wishes, Lucy

07-08-2008, 10:20 PM	#88
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Lucy, They are both gorgeous torts. Yes the scales will be the best investment you make regarding not over feeding, also things like nutrobal daily, limestone foulr availability and a light misting of the enclosure will all contribute to having a nice smooth shell. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

08-08-2008, 12:18 AM	#89
queenofjericho Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oxford Posts: 20	Thanks Ade. My new water spray arrived today! Quite tragic, but was genuinely excited... Also their new enclosure has a humid area. I was wondering, does anyone have any guidelines on how much limestone and nutrobol to get into my babies? We are really struggling to get both into Nettle. They've got a dish full of limestone in their home and Myrtle can't get enough of it, but however much we cover Nettle's leaves with the stuff she'll find a green bit, or even push it into the water so that it all comes off! At the moment we're trying not to give them anything that isn't covered in both, but it's a real struggle! Is that the best way to do things? Best wishes to everyone, Lucy x

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