Recent content by JoFisch

Thanks for all of the advice!

I am on the hunt for a deal on fir bark for my tort enclosure. I need 5 cubic feet. I like Zoomed Reptibark but it will cost a small fortune. I found a website called Waldor Orchids. They sell fine grade fir bark for orchids and it is cheaper. Would you risk it...

That was my experience as well. I asked folks on this forum what to do and ultimately I went back to PayPal to initiate a more stringent request for information. I prepaid for my tort also. I think that since I made my initial inquiries in February, I got better responses because it was a...

I ordered an E. Hermanns 2 y ago from him. His communication for updates on expected shipping time was really poor. I had to go through PayPal to get a response but my tort arrived in great condition. I suspect he has more irons in the fire than he is really capable of managing.

I have an Eastern Hermanns also. My understanding is that this type should not be fed fruit at all or even sweeter vegetables. It is a broad leaf weed eater.

Thanks!

Are there any guidelines for deworming? I am a veterinarian and for some parasites deworming is always recommended and for otheres, it depends on fecal egg counts. My 2y old Hermans has a few nematode (round worm) eggs but has normal stool and is growing well. Any long time tortoise keepers...

Thanks! I thought so too but he is only 2 so I wasn’t sure. I guess now we wait for the flashing🤢

Opal is 2 today(ish) and weighs in at 359g. I think s/he is looking male because of tail length, cloacal shape and position. I know that full determination can’t be made until sexual maturity but did I hear correctly that they all look female until they don’t? There have been no flashes of...

I try to follow the advice on here about feeding. My tortoise will be 2y in July. When available I feed stuff from my yard; mallow, deadnettle, dandelions, strawberry leaves, raspberry leaves, nasturtium, carrot tops. I don’t live somewhere that has a lot of choices for winter greens. I use...

I am a veterinarian and have removed lots of ticks from dogs. I can’t imagine removing them from a tortoise would be different. Just grasp the tick right at the skin and slowly pull it off. They don’t have heads that get left in. I use my fingers but you may feel more comfortable with...

Could you cut through the tire on one side so she just can’t get stuck again?

I feed my E. Hermanns a good pinch of herbal hay mixed with soaked mazuri twice weekly. In general, I don’t think the experts recommend feeding anything every single day. The herbal hay has a good long shelf life. My tortoise is a yearling so she doesn’t go through it very quickly. Tortoise...

This is what I ordered. Mine are probably 7-8” long and depending on how I place them, up to 2” high. You can sink them down into the substrate