Hello, How wonderful to find this forum!
I have recently inherited a tortoise called Strauss, my husband found him when he was 13 (hes now 43!) some other kids were kicking Strauss around and (can you believe this) weeing on him! My husband took him home and had him until he left home when Strauss stayed with his parents, now due to the death of my mother in law we have inherited Strauss.
I really dont know much about tortoises so really need some help from you guys. I dont even know what type he is
I will get some pictures today at some point so I can get the best advice on caring for him as I am sure he has only had the basic until now.
For now.... and before his pictures, can I bath him? He seems very dusty and grubby and after looking at some of the handsome tortoises you lot have I know he can look so much better.
Any help appreciated
Thanks
Sarah x
i will let the experts on here advice on the detailed stuff but you can bathe him yes, luke warm and covering his shell half way as he cant swim. i use a toothebruch on my twos shells, they like it under their chins too. bath them every week too
(08-03-2010 03:51 PM)loaded_dice Wrote: [ -> ]i will let the experts on here advice on the detailed stuff but you can bathe him yes, luke warm and covering his shell half way as he cant swim. i use a toothebruch on my twos shells, they like it under their chins too. bath them every week too
Hi Laura, Thanks for the reply, I will bathe him later and get some pictures, I think he looks like the tortoise on your picture
I am also wondering about a sun lamp? Strauss was kept outside all summer and inside when he hibernated, we have a well enclosed garden for him to play in all day and he comes in at night. In the 30 years we know of he has never had a lamp or light of any kind but I want to get this right.
Sarah x
Hi Sarah,
Yes, a bath in luke warm water will do him good. Don't put anything other than water in. Put it up to his chin and pour some over on him and this will encourage him to drink.
If he has changed from another garden, I would definitely offer him some form of heated shelter. The slightest change in position can really effect the temperature that a garden reaches, so whilst his old garden might have reached good temperatures because of it's relative position to the sun, his new garden might not be quite warm enough when the sun goes away.
How do you hibernate him?
Josh
(08-03-2010 06:30 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Sarah,
Yes, a bath in luke warm water will do him good. Don't put anything other than water in. Put it up to his chin and pour some over on him and this will encourage him to drink.
If he has changed from another garden, I would definitely offer him some form of heated shelter. The slightest change in position can really effect the temperature that a garden reaches, so whilst his old garden might have reached good temperatures because of it's relative position to the sun, his new garden might not be quite warm enough when the sun goes away.
How do you hibernate him?
Josh
OOOps thats huge and I dont know where my reply went ?
Hes lovely. I think you have a herman tortoise there. Josh or Sue will tell you for sure.
Thank you Paulette, he is sweet isn't he! I dont know where my reply went so I'll type it again. I am not sure about Strauss's routine before he came to us a few days ago as I didnt really visit my husbands family. I think my mother in law used to wait until he 'dug himself in' then put him in a box in the garage.
Strauss had a bath this evening and he seemed to really enjoy it although I am not sure what a happy tortoise looks like
He has a lovely smooth shell and looks really looked after. I would bath him 1-2 times a week.
I've just been looking through some other messages on this forum and have learned so much already, I really should be working but tonight it just isn't going to happen!
So glad to have found this site and looking forward to much more advise from the experts
THANK YOU!
(08-03-2010 09:06 PM)TICKANDTOCK Wrote: [ -> ]Hes lovely. I think you have a herman tortoise there. Josh or Sue will tell you for sure.
Yes, looking hermann from here. Can you put pics up of his underneath, showing the tail if possible? That way, we can get the subspecies and confirm the sex
Nice looking tortoise.