Tunisian tortoise help - Page 3

TortBabe · 29-05-2010, 08:53 PM

They are beautiful K&N,

n-raged · 29-05-2010, 10:18 PM

Yeah they spend most of their time outside i don't like to keep them under artificial lighting nothing better then mother nature. Lol now i'm puzzled about their gender but in Malta we define their sexes by checking if their belly is concave ( a supposedly male characteristic ). I don't know their age they just happened to come in my possession but they're still very young their shell is 5 cm max.

I'll give them a wash then see if i can manage to make them gleam hehe but i'm going to be gentle i don't want to do damage in any way. Btw they seem to want to eat only lettuce i mean they're pigs for lettuce and eat carrots occasionally but they won't touch anything else. I think i should let them fend for themselves maybe they know better then me what they actually need.

K&N · 30-05-2010, 10:45 AM

Tortoises can be stubborn about what they choose to eat, and that doesn't always mean that they know what's best for them.

I suggest that you keep offering many things for them to eat. Leave the lettuce out for a while and let them expand their menu

It might take days before they even taste new things, so be patient!

n-raged · 30-05-2010, 07:54 PM

dandelions are hard to come by this time of year what else can i give them that is dark leaved? Is spinach ok? I gave them a wash and gave their shell a gentle scrub with a toothbrush and their colours have come out beautifully when the grime came off hehe. I wish to thank you guys for helping me out

K&N · 31-05-2010, 08:37 PM

Spinach is ok, but you shouldn't give too much. If I remember right, it has a lot of oxalic acid that prevents calcium absorbtion.
(hope you understand my english...)

You can also try different herbs, endive, sprouts, etc.

n-raged · 10-12-2010, 08:38 PM

Now winter is coming and i'm a bit worried :/ hope my little babies will make it through december, january and february without needing artificial heating it's really expensive here. During nights I'm starting to go look for them and keep them in my room to keep them warm. Hope this is enough currently the temperature is 14 to 13 degrees.

gregnobes · 10-12-2010, 09:28 PM

i think the temps for tunisians need to be in the 20s but im not 100% sure

NATURALIS · 10-12-2010, 09:32 PM

yes your right greg , at those temps your going to see them starting to get RNS ,to treat them at the vets is far more than extra heating . Even a 50watt ceramic can give out some heat on small tables. If you want them to servive the winter they need 34/36c during the day at the hot end of the table down to 24c at the cool end , at night they need 20c

gregnobes · 10-12-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red foot marg

yes your right greg , at those temps your going to see them starting to get RNS ,to treat them at the vets is far more than extra heating . Even a 50watt ceramic can give out some heat on small tables. If you want them to servive the winter they need 34/36c during the day at the hot end of the table down to 24c at the cool end , at night they need 20c

REALLY :s my Tunisians hot end is 29.4 and cold end 23.1 :S is that okay or should i get some ceramics?

NATURALIS · 10-12-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregnobes

REALLY :s my Tunisians hot end is 29.4 and cold end 23.1 :S is that okay or should i get some ceramics?

Greg,i would say that you need to up the hot end just a little for day time , 20c for night is good . A good tip is if there spending a long time sitting right under the basking spot up it a little if there sitting away from it reduce it , watch them they will tell you.

29-05-2010, 08:53 PM	#21
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	They are beautiful K&N, __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

10-12-2010, 09:32 PM	#28
NATURALIS Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: cheshire Posts: 3,472	yes your right greg , at those temps your going to see them starting to get RNS ,to treat them at the vets is far more than extra heating . Even a 50watt ceramic can give out some heat on small tables. If you want them to servive the winter they need 34/36c during the day at the hot end of the table down to 24c at the cool end , at night they need 20c Last edited by NATURALIS; 10-12-2010 at 09:34 PM.

29-05-2010, 10:18 PM	#22
n-raged Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2010 Location: Malta Posts: 11	Yeah they spend most of their time outside i don't like to keep them under artificial lighting nothing better then mother nature. Lol now i'm puzzled about their gender but in Malta we define their sexes by checking if their belly is concave ( a supposedly male characteristic ). I don't know their age they just happened to come in my possession but they're still very young their shell is 5 cm max. I'll give them a wash then see if i can manage to make them gleam hehe but i'm going to be gentle i don't want to do damage in any way. Btw they seem to want to eat only lettuce i mean they're pigs for lettuce and eat carrots occasionally but they won't touch anything else. I think i should let them fend for themselves maybe they know better then me what they actually need.

30-05-2010, 10:45 AM	#23
K&N Junior Member Egg Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finland Posts: 48	Tortoises can be stubborn about what they choose to eat, and that doesn't always mean that they know what's best for them. I suggest that you keep offering many things for them to eat. Leave the lettuce out for a while and let them expand their menu It might take days before they even taste new things, so be patient!

30-05-2010, 07:54 PM	#24
n-raged Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2010 Location: Malta Posts: 11	dandelions are hard to come by this time of year what else can i give them that is dark leaved? Is spinach ok? I gave them a wash and gave their shell a gentle scrub with a toothbrush and their colours have come out beautifully when the grime came off hehe. I wish to thank you guys for helping me out

31-05-2010, 08:37 PM	#25
K&N Junior Member Egg Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finland Posts: 48	Spinach is ok, but you shouldn't give too much. If I remember right, it has a lot of oxalic acid that prevents calcium absorbtion. (hope you understand my english...) You can also try different herbs, endive, sprouts, etc.

10-12-2010, 08:38 PM	#26
n-raged Junior Member Egg Join Date: May 2010 Location: Malta Posts: 11	Now winter is coming and i'm a bit worried :/ hope my little babies will make it through december, january and february without needing artificial heating it's really expensive here. During nights I'm starting to go look for them and keep them in my room to keep them warm. Hope this is enough currently the temperature is 14 to 13 degrees.

10-12-2010, 09:28 PM	#27
gregnobes Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Drayton (Oxfordshire) Posts: 1,534	i think the temps for tunisians need to be in the 20s but im not 100% sure

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)