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  1. JoFisch

    Waldor Orchid Fir Bark

    Thanks for all of the advice!
  2. JoFisch

    Waldor Orchid Fir Bark

    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...
  3. JoFisch

    Expected Delivery from Garden State Tortoise

    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...
  4. JoFisch

    Expected Delivery from Garden State Tortoise

    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.
  5. JoFisch

    Newbie eastern hermanns owner here can anyone give some suggestion

    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.
  6. JoFisch

    When is deworming needed?

    Thanks!
  7. JoFisch

    When is deworming needed?

    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...
  8. JoFisch

    2yrs old! Gender?

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

    2yrs old! Gender?

    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...
  10. JoFisch

    Daily Diets

    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...
  11. JoFisch

    How To Remove Ticks

    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...
  12. JoFisch

    Summer in Oregon

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

    Is the "Herbal Tortoise Hay" from tortoise supply good for Hermanns?

    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...
  14. JoFisch

    Help with indoor enclosure!

    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
  15. JoFisch

    Help with indoor enclosure!

    I found some drift type wood chunks to use as site barriers. My little tort climbs over them. And I have a little bridge as well as some rocks. I have a potted pothos plant that my tort nibbles but doesn’t dessimate.
  16. JoFisch

    Iceberg Lettuce?

    So as a newbie with a young tort, what ratio of lettuce is appropriate? I have a 1y old E. Hermanns. She/he is not a huge eater but seems to be growing fine (143g a few weeks ago). There will be days when Opal doesn’t seem to eat the greens and I figure like other animals, as long as she/he...
  17. JoFisch

    Iceberg Lettuce?

    This reminds me of the old fable Stone Soup. I am new to the tortoise world but have a significant amount of knowledge in regards to domestic mammalian nutrition. I see no real problem with your approach in as much as I know about your dedication to feeding your tortoises appropriately. I...
  18. JoFisch

    Opal is 1yr old-ish

    Like a hungry hungry hippo
  19. JoFisch

    Opal is 1yr old-ish

    We got Opal at the end of July 2021. One week after arrival (s)he was 17 grams; about the size of a small chicken nugget. This week (s)he is 137 grams. Opal was treated to a golden raspberry for her birthday, the first time (s)he has had fruit. Funny how there are threads about how to trick...
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