Tortoise seems worse after a vet visit

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome,
You've had the best advice you can find anywhere from Tom and it's good that you are willing to make the changes needed to give your tort a better life. We've all made mistakes based on old and incorrect information we've been given but thankfully found this forum and been able to put things right.

My tort rarely touches his cuttlefish bone, so a slate is good way to keep the beak trimmed. For a calcium alternative you can add a small pinch of calcium powder to his food a couple of times a week or scrape some of the cuttlebone on it. If you need ideas for the best places to buy mixed salad leaves let me know.

Some torts like to dig so make the substrate deep enough to allow him to do that.

Do you have a thermostat for your CHE? It should be run through a thermostat so that it keeps temps even and doesn't get too hot or cold for the tort, if it gets too hot your tort could overheat.....if you were using without maybe your tort was active trying to find a cooler spot?

For my tort I use a T5 HO UVB tube, with a flood basking bulb because spots are too intense and a CHE/thermostat for night and extra heat when needed. You can't buy incandescent bulbs mentioned above in the UK now, but Arcadia do a flood basking bulb for about £3-£5.

Anyway follow the advice g9ven bit f you need to clarify anything ask as many questions as you like, everyone is here to help.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Good luck & such great advice (as expected) from Tom. I still would like to know why “pet stores” think those compressed pellets are a good substrate. They are bad for so many reasons.

One thing I did notice in your viv was how high your feed & water dishes are. Once you swap out your substrate it would be a good idea to remove those dishes & replace with terracotta plant saucers sunken down level with the substrate. Don’t make your tort crawl up & over the rim of the feed/water dish. Many feed their torts on flat rocks/slate to help with beak issues.

Good luck.

 

[Tarz]

Hi and welcome,
You've had the best advice you can find anywhere from Tom and it's good that you are willing to make the changes needed to give your tort a better life. We've all made mistakes based on old and incorrect information we've been given but thankfully found this forum and been able to put things right.

My tort rarely touches his cuttlefish bone, so a slate is good way to keep the beak trimmed. For a calcium alternative you can add a small pinch of calcium powder to his food a couple of times a week or scrape some of the cuttlebone on it. If you need ideas for the best places to buy mixed salad leaves let me know.

Some torts like to dig so make the substrate deep enough to allow him to do that.

Do you have a thermostat for your CHE? It should be run through a thermostat so that it keeps temps even and doesn't get too hot or cold for the tort, if it gets too hot your tort could overheat.....if you were using without maybe your tort was active trying to find a cooler spot?

For my tort I use a T5 HO UVB tube, with a flood basking bulb because spots are too intense and a CHE/thermostat for night and extra heat when needed. You can't buy incandescent bulbs mentioned above in the UK now, but Arcadia do a flood basking bulb for about £3-£5.

Anyway follow the advice g9ven bit f you need to clarify anything ask as many questions as you like, everyone is here to help.

I do use a thermostat however it only goes up to 32°C so when I switch to the table I'll get a thermostat that goes higher should it be 35-40°C for the basking spot?

I only use two lights at the moment
Those being
• 100Watt ProRep Red Night Spot Lamp on a thermostat at 30°C (duration 24hrs)
• 38Watt ExoTerra Tropical Terrarium Bulb UVB100 (105cm/42" = covers the length of the current tank) (Duration 12hours)
I will be looking into the four elements

In the uk temperature where I am its usually around 10-14°C most of the year, colder obviously during autumn/winter
In the summer anywhere for 17-28°C most times
So we don't really have the temperatures to let them roam outside until summer

I use a sprinkle Nutrobal powder on every other feed, I will try crushing the Cuttlefish too

Most of her diet is shop brought mixed salad bags (no spinach or iceberg lettuce)

Thank you all for your advice

 

[wellington]

I do use a thermostat however it only goes up to 32°C so when I switch to the table I'll get a thermostat that goes higher should it be 35-40°C for the basking spot?

I only use two lights at the moment
Those being
• 100Watt ProRep Red Night Spot Lamp on a thermostat at 30°C (duration 24hrs)
• 38Watt ExoTerra Tropical Terrarium Bulb UVB100 (105cm/42" = covers the length of the current tank) (Duration 12hours)
I will be looking into the four elements

In the uk temperature where I am its usually around 10-14°C most of the year, colder obviously during autumn/winter
In the summer anywhere for 17-28°C most times
So we don't really have the temperatures to let them roam outside until summer

I use a sprinkle Nutrobal powder on every other feed, I will try crushing the Cuttlefish too

Most of her diet is shop brought mixed salad bags (no spinach or iceberg lettuce)

Thank you all for your advice

As stated do not use the red light. When its night time it should be dark.

 

[Lyn W]

I do use a thermostat however it only goes up to 32°C so when I switch to the table I'll get a thermostat that goes higher should it be 35-40°C for the basking spot?

I only use two lights at the moment
Those being
• 100Watt ProRep Red Night Spot Lamp on a thermostat at 30°C (duration 24hrs)
• 38Watt ExoTerra Tropical Terrarium Bulb UVB100 (105cm/42" = covers the length of the current tank) (Duration 12hours)
I will be looking into the four elements

In the uk temperature where I am its usually around 10-14°C most of the year, colder obviously during autumn/winter
In the summer anywhere for 17-28°C most times
So we don't really have the temperatures to let them roam outside until summer

I use a sprinkle Nutrobal powder on every other feed, I will try crushing the Cuttlefish too

Most of her diet is shop brought mixed salad bags (no spinach or iceberg lettuce)

Thank you all for your advice

The caresheet will tell you the temps to be aiming for so make that your main guide to set the thermostat for the CHE.
I'm in South Wales so understand about the limited outside time.
Only a small pinch of Nutrabal is needed a couple of times a week - same for calcium. Too much can cause problems for your tort.
My tort has to have shop bought too in the winter - Aldi sell a good crispy mixed leaf salad for 39p a bag at the moment. I use that as base then add pak choi, lambs lettuce, romaine, sometimes kale, spring greens etc anything I can find off the diet list - not all at once but torts need variety. I pick out all the white or stalky bits and soak the rest to rehydrate it and to make sure any chlorine that bagged leaves have been washed in has gone.
In the summer it's mainly weeds like dandies, ribwort and broadleaf plantain, sow thistle, clover etc. with some shop bought to add bulk
You'll find www.thetortoisetable.org.uk a useful guide to tort safe foods.
Other good crispy mixed leaf salad bags are in Morrisons, Lidl, Sainsbury. Florette Classic Crispy has the best mix but can be pricey.

 

[Tarz]

The caresheet will tell you the temps to be aiming for so make that your main guide to set the thermostat for the CHE.
I'm in South Wales so understand about the limited outside time.
Only a small pinch of Nutrabal is needed a couple of times a week - same for calcium. Too much can cause problems for your tort.
My tort has to have shop bought too in the winter - Aldi sell a good crispy mixed leaf salad for 39p a bag at the moment. I use that as base then add pak choi, lambs lettuce, romaine, sometimes kale, spring greens etc anything I can find off the diet list - not all at once but torts need variety. I pick out all the white or stalky bits and soak the rest to rehydrate it and to make sure any chlorine that bagged leaves have been washed in has gone.
In the summer it's mainly weeds like dandies, ribwort and broadleaf plantain, sow thistle, clover etc. with some shop bought to add bulk
You'll find www.thetortoisetable.org.uk a useful guide to tort safe foods.
Other good crispy mixed leaf salad bags are in Morrisons, Lidl, Sainsbury. Florette Classic Crispy has the best mix but can be pricey.

Thank you Florette is the one I usually buy if I do a quick shop at Asda/Tesco but otherwise I do go to Aldi. Can you send the link to the caresheet please. I found one for Hermamn's on here but it was last updated in 2014 wasn't sure if this is the care sheet or if there is an updated version somewhere

 

[zolasmum]

Hello and welcome from Devon.We have a 21 year old Hermanns tortoise. You never mentioned what your tortoise is called ! Ours, obviously, is called Zola.
Yours looks lovely, and people here are very kind and helpful - you have definitely found the right place to come.
Best wishes from Amgie

 

[Humbug & Maz]

Thank you Florette is the one I usually buy if I do a quick shop at Asda/Tesco but otherwise I do go to Aldi. Can you send the link to the caresheet please. I found one for Hermamn's on here but it was last updated in 2014 wasn't sure if this is the care sheet or if there is an updated version somewhere

This is the care sheet:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-best-way-to-raise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

 

[TammyJ]

Hi and welcome to you and your little tortoise! She is lucky that you are her owner.

 

[Sarah2020]

The UV light switches off at 8pm
As Tom says I'll need to change the duration as its on a set timer for 12 hours a day (8am-8pm)
When that switches off its dark other than the red heat lamp
I do have a ceramic heat bulb which gives out no light. I found that she marched up and down the tank all night when she didn't have her red light. And slept more easily with the red light?
I will change it back to the ceramic one though ?

I buy orchid bark from swell reptiles online and they deliver. Tortoise do need dark similar to what we need to sleep. It is ok when uv is off for it to be dark or natural room light. Please read the care sheet and make changes. Your tortoise was probably a bit scared after the manicure and beak trim so give it space and time. It is nice that you have enjoyed your tortoise for 10 years now you want to give it the best chance to grow and thrive for next 10 years and beyond. Tortoise table has pros and cons because they can be small and in the UK we have a cold climate so heating can be a hassle. Have a read of everything and think of quick wins . Ceramic plant bases from garden centers make great food dishes. Ask questions as you go if required.

 

[Lyn W]

Thank you Florette is the one I usually buy if I do a quick shop at Asda/Tesco but otherwise I do go to Aldi. Can you send the link to the caresheet please. I found one for Hermamn's on here but it was last updated in 2014 wasn't sure if this is the care sheet or if there is an updated version somewhere

If you look at post #3 Tom has already linked the caresheet. he wrote and updated it more recently
It covers all Mediterranean torts (Temperate species)

 

[Tarz]

Hello and welcome from Devon.We have a 21 year old Hermanns tortoise. You never mentioned what your tortoise is called ! Ours, obviously, is called Zola.
Yours looks lovely, and people here are very kind and helpful - you have definitely found the right place to come.
Best wishes from Amgie

Hi well although it's a female it actually has a male name ... Sherman?
I thought it was a male all this time! as she never laid eggs. (I thought females laid eggs regardless but the vet said not always) And plus I was told it was a male when we purchased her. So I've only known it to be female for a couple of days now. Really not used to it being a girl! but I think the name will stay the same as its been sherman for so long now and it feels so weird to change it

And thank you?she is getting a little more active now which is good since her vet check up

 

[TheLastGreen]

That's fine, although Sherman is a Shirley, it doesn't matter. When torts are young they look female, so it is a risk when naming, but it doesn't matter.
Glad your tort is doing better!

 

[Tarz]

I'm sure she doesn't mind?. As long as I know it's gender now and how I can better suit it's needs

 

[zolasmum]

Hi well although it's a female it actually has a male name ... Sherman?
I thought it was a male all this time! as she never laid eggs. (I thought females laid eggs regardless but the vet said not always) And plus I was told it was a male when we purchased her. So I've only known it to be female for a couple of days now. Really not used to it being a girl! but I think the name will stay the same as its been sherman for so long now and it feels so weird to change it

And thank you?she is getting a little more active now which is good since her vet check up

There are quite a few tortoises known to the forum with names normally given to the opposite sex - it is very hard to tell. Luckily, Zola's name could be for either. You could call her Miss Sherman, if it bothered you,after all. !
Angie

 

[Lyn W]

Hi well although it's a female it actually has a male name ... Sherman?
I thought it was a male all this time! as she never laid eggs. (I thought females laid eggs regardless but the vet said not always) And plus I was told it was a male when we purchased her. So I've only known it to be female for a couple of days now. Really not used to it being a girl! but I think the name will stay the same as its been sherman for so long now and it feels so weird to change it

And thank you?she is getting a little more active now which is good since her vet check up

My tortoise is a male called Lola - I was told he was a female.
Eventually showed me he was a male but the name stuck because of the Kinks song

 

[Humbug & Maz]

My tortoise is a male called Lola - I was told he was a female.
Eventually showed me he was a male but the name stuck because of the Kinks song

Fab song!!! Over the years I owned a male rabbit called "Meggie" and a female cat called "Harvey" who never got their names changed after realising I had been told the wrong gender ?

 

[Lyn W]

There are quite a few tortoises known to the forum with names normally given to the opposite sex - it is very hard to tell. Luckily, Zola's name could be for either. You could call her Miss Sherman, if it bothered you,after all. !
Angie

.........or Charmaine?

 

[Tarz]

My tortoise is a male called Lola - I was told he was a female.
Eventually showed me he was a male but the name stuck because of the Kinks song

Lovely name ?
She got called sherman because Sherman the Hermann rhymed and when she was little she used to march around making a racket so it made me think of a tank... sherman?
Normally call her sherm though so I guess that could be a shortened female name ?

 

[Tarz]

I have an order of coco coir on its way, along with a hygrometer
As she has always been on very dry substrate (woodchips/straw pellets)
Should I gradually increase her humidity or try to get it to 60%/70% straight away