introductions

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi everyone! We live in Florida and have a great outdoor habitat that my husband built. We have 4 sulcatas, one female is 58 lbs! We have 4 red foots, the largest is about 10 inches, got as hatchlings. We have 2 russians, 5 ornate box turtles and 10 hatchlings. we have several other box turtles, have had them since 1987-1990. we have 2 south american wood turtles, 2 side necks, 2 Hermann's, several cooters and red eared sliders-- several are 25+ years old. Most have names......Gimpy and Tri-pod(both have only 3 legs, but you would never know) Tilly, Horny, Jack, Ginny,Yuri, Laura, Big Mama, Li'l mama.....to name a few.

We love to go to the reptile shows, and love taking care of our turtle/tortoise friends!!

Barbara at the Animal Inn!!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Welcome polygor, you have quite a herd there!! I only have 2!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi Barbara:

Welcome to the forum!!

You have quite the menagerie there.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi alma you will get a better response on your question if you post a "diet thread" in the leopard section, but lettuce and cucumber and tomato are bad for most tortoises. I don't know what courgettes are but a diet for your leopard should consist of more leaves and flowers and grasses the type of stuff it would find in the wild. Welcome to the forum

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi Alma:

Welcome to the forum!

I'll be looking for your post in the leopard section, and I'll help with your questions there.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Welcome Alma!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Josh said:

Welcome to TortoiseForum.org. We strive to be the leader in tortoise (and turtle) discussions on the web, covering all topics as they are related to everything from the Cryptodira suborder (thats a fancy way of saying tortoises). Our forums allow for in-depth and specific discussions which can be read by tortoise enthusiasts worldwide!

Register Now (it's free!)

I am Josh. I am the site admin/moderator/what-have-you.
Please use this space to introduce yourself (and your tortoises).

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Hi,
I am a high school science teacher who was given an injured Desert Tortoise hatchling back in 2003. The student's cat had been wandering in the Tucson desert and brought the hatchling home. My student found the cat playing "hockey" with the poor little thing - batting it into the walls and chewing on it. The student put the hatchling back in the desert but an hour later the cat had found it and was trying to eat it. The student brought it to school stuffed in her backpack (no kidding!).

I have no idea how this poor tortoise about the size of a 50 cent piece survived; but I took it home and put it in an old wire cage with some water and dark greens. It was late spring and the weather was pleasant so I left it under an Olive tree where it received filtered sunlight. By some miracle the tortoise healed up and thrived.

My husband and I put it in the garage for the winter and in the spring it was quite alert and raring to go. Now it is 2010 and we are certain that we have a female. She is very strong and healthy and to absolutely love her. She is totally tame, comes lumbering over when any person enters her large brand-new enclosure, and eats Hibiscus flowers out of our hands.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Welcome to the forum! I have my Bachelor's in Biology and I love to teach kids as well. I would love to see some pictures of your tortoise and your yard. What city/state are you in?

Thanks!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi Bioteach (May we know your name?):

Welcome to the forum!!

Here's another one of those cases where everything was done wrong and the tortoise lived to tell the tale.

Some folks really kiss their baby tortoise's behinds and have all kinds of trouble keeping them alive, and other baby tortoise live through the cat chew and back pack stuffing and seem none the worse for wear.

I love your story, and I love that you've made the tortoise part of your lives. So glad to have you here on the forum with us.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi, I've just joined the forum. I live in Los Angeles with a 45 year old mojave desert tortoise. The hot weather is affecting his hibernation. Is anyone else having a similar issue?

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Mizsherle said:

Hi, I've just joined the forum. I live in Los Angeles with a 45 year old mojave desert tortoise. The hot weather is affecting his hibernation. Is anyone else having a similar issue?

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Hi Mizsherle:

(Can I assume that your name is Shirley?)

Welcome to the forum!!

I'm going to copy/paste your question to the desert tortoise section so more folks can see it and answer it.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi, I'm Cathy and I have 3 Sulcatas: Oogway, Tai, and Shifu. They're all rescues so I don't know ages but they range from 1' to 2' long. I also have 3 Russians: Nickoli, Dimitri, and Ivan. Again all rescues so I have no idea on ages but one is an old cranky man (you can just tell) lol. I also have several turtles, snakes, lizards, birds, dogs, cats, ferrets, rats and axolotls.
I'm in Illinois so everyone is in the house for winter, it's great fun. lol

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi Cathy:

Welcome to the forum!!

So much fun to have them all in the house, huh? Lots of work!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

HELLO,
My name is Bill and my wife is Karen we have a baby Greek Tortois,75 Bearded Dragons 55 are babies,10 Leopard Geckos,and 6 dogs the kids are grown and gone.So now we have new ones that don't talk back life is good.

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi Bill (and Karen!):

Welcome to the forum!!

Yes, I know the feeling! When my last kid moved out I was amazed that baloney actually grew mold in my refrigerator...milk actually soured...bread went stale! I had no idea that my husband and I couldn't eat up all the food I shopped for. Took me a while to learn new shopping and cooking habits!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Welcome!!!

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hello. My name is Pat and my partner is Rich. We have two spur-thighed
tortoises. We took them in as it were last May. They are 9 year old brothers called Laurel and Hardy.
Thanks Pat

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

tortoisemaster said:

Hello. My name is Pat and my partner is Rich. We have two spur-thighed
tortoises. We took them in as it were last May. They are 9 year old brothers called Laurel and Hardy.
Thanks Pat

Click to expand...

Hi Pat (and Rich):

Welcome to the forum!! Are you talking "Greek" tortoises?

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Hi, no tortoises yet but would like to get one someday. Currently researching the best breeds, how to care for, etc... Figured I could get alot of information form this forum.

I live in Wisconsin so winters are COLD. I do have an insulated garage that is currently stalled off for Pot bellied pigs, dogs and originally horse, but ended up building a little steel barn for the horse.

I love the large breeds - sulcata and lepord. Have also been reading on the Russian. I love the rounded shell of the lepord and the coloring.

I have read that people leave their torts rome the house. What are their bathroom needs? Are they fairly clean animals, going mainly in one area. I had a green iguana who would only deficate in his water pan. Are torts the same? Also see that they are to be soaked a couple times a week. What do you do when they get to be 50+ pounds? Would misting them or just supplying one area of the pen that is more moist sufficient?

Is there a breed that is a better choise for Wisconsin Winters? If outside housing in a 8 x 10 stall, what would your suggestions be to make it livable for them through the winter. What humidity range is appropriate for them.

Well think this is enough for now I appreciate your help and look forward to reading more on everyone elses experiences.

Jessica

RE: Welcome to TortoiseForum.org !

Welcome! This forum is awesome! So many experienced tort owners are so helpful! Without them I wouldn't have my little guy