Hi there,
I live in the UK and my family have a Testudo graeca ibera Tortoise named Russell who is around 8 years and 3 months old according to his paperwork. We have had him for around 4 years so he has always hibernated and even one year (I'm very ashamed to say - this was not intentional at all) hibernated outside.
I'm home for a while before I go back to University and have been looking after my tortoise first hand for the first time in a while. However after more and more research, despite only good intentions, I feel that we aren't doing as good a job as possible to look after our tortoise, so I've come to this forum for some advice. Here's just some info about his day to day life:
He eats regularly. Always wakes up early, seems keen to go outside and bathe and is occasionally VERY active with the odd shoe or small rock (surely a good but awkwward sign?!). My tortoise is free to roam practically anywhere he wants, inside throughout the downstairs of my house or outside in a decent sized garden (approximately 15m x 5m) with a variety of terrain - soil, grass, a few paving slabs and some gravel.
He's taught himself how to get in/out the house so he literally decides himself whether or not he wants to be inside or out but usually in the summer on dry, warm days, he still decides to come inside. Inside we don't have specific 'bedding' area or enclosure but he usually picks between the same few locations to go to sleep for the night. My first question is that although he seems content with sleeping in a corner, would he prefer a small inside area with sand to sleep in?
I must embarrassingly admit that I was not aware that an adult tortoise needed a UV light to help maintain vitamin D3 levels, but after researching it seems clear that this is the case? I know a full spectrum light in needed but don't want to waste money buying the wrong sort of lamp. Is this lamp an appropriate one for my tortoise? (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reptile-Viv...&qid=1439734772&sr=8-2&keywords=tortoise+lamp). I know I have to make sure the bulbs I use are full spectrum to make sure he can receive maximum UV exposure.
Finally is the obvious question about his diet. I have looked through caresheets such as http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Guide15.PDF. I also provide my tortoise occasionally with romaine lettuce, spring greens and the occasion bit of fruit. There is a variety of weeds in my garden which I see Russell tucking into regularly.
I have a tortoise feed which you add water to made by Komodo (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Komodo-Complete-Tortoise-Fruit-Flower/dp/B0029WQRMC). It has a Ca
ratio of 3.5:1 however it is 9% crude protein. I always assumed as a 'tortoise feed' it would be a respectable thing to feed my tortoise occasionally although obviously not as good as fresh food. Looking on forums has suggested otherwise. I have been feeding him this maybe 2-3 times a week, but should I completely ditch this now? Or cut it down to once a week/fortnight. Are there any other foods that are vitamin/mineral rich which I could use as an alternative?
Finally I'll just attach a photo of him too, he has large 'yellow areas' on his shell, which I assume is because of growth but I just want to check this isn't a sign of some vitamin/mineral deficiency. I know RNS is a very illness for tortoises but very occasionally my tortoise does have some discharge out his nose, but not consistently - is this okay or should I take him to a vet?
Has anyone got any other general advice for me?
Writing all these issues has made me feel like I'm doing really badly looking after this guy but all I can say is we are all very fond of him and put the effort in! Any problems I've caused him is simply down to mistakes and nothing malicious.
Thanks for reading this absolute essay!
Patrick
Here's Russell:
I live in the UK and my family have a Testudo graeca ibera Tortoise named Russell who is around 8 years and 3 months old according to his paperwork. We have had him for around 4 years so he has always hibernated and even one year (I'm very ashamed to say - this was not intentional at all) hibernated outside.
I'm home for a while before I go back to University and have been looking after my tortoise first hand for the first time in a while. However after more and more research, despite only good intentions, I feel that we aren't doing as good a job as possible to look after our tortoise, so I've come to this forum for some advice. Here's just some info about his day to day life:
He eats regularly. Always wakes up early, seems keen to go outside and bathe and is occasionally VERY active with the odd shoe or small rock (surely a good but awkwward sign?!). My tortoise is free to roam practically anywhere he wants, inside throughout the downstairs of my house or outside in a decent sized garden (approximately 15m x 5m) with a variety of terrain - soil, grass, a few paving slabs and some gravel.
He's taught himself how to get in/out the house so he literally decides himself whether or not he wants to be inside or out but usually in the summer on dry, warm days, he still decides to come inside. Inside we don't have specific 'bedding' area or enclosure but he usually picks between the same few locations to go to sleep for the night. My first question is that although he seems content with sleeping in a corner, would he prefer a small inside area with sand to sleep in?
I must embarrassingly admit that I was not aware that an adult tortoise needed a UV light to help maintain vitamin D3 levels, but after researching it seems clear that this is the case? I know a full spectrum light in needed but don't want to waste money buying the wrong sort of lamp. Is this lamp an appropriate one for my tortoise? (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reptile-Viv...&qid=1439734772&sr=8-2&keywords=tortoise+lamp). I know I have to make sure the bulbs I use are full spectrum to make sure he can receive maximum UV exposure.
Finally is the obvious question about his diet. I have looked through caresheets such as http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Guide15.PDF. I also provide my tortoise occasionally with romaine lettuce, spring greens and the occasion bit of fruit. There is a variety of weeds in my garden which I see Russell tucking into regularly.
I have a tortoise feed which you add water to made by Komodo (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Komodo-Complete-Tortoise-Fruit-Flower/dp/B0029WQRMC). It has a Ca
ratio of 3.5:1 however it is 9% crude protein. I always assumed as a 'tortoise feed' it would be a respectable thing to feed my tortoise occasionally although obviously not as good as fresh food. Looking on forums has suggested otherwise. I have been feeding him this maybe 2-3 times a week, but should I completely ditch this now? Or cut it down to once a week/fortnight. Are there any other foods that are vitamin/mineral rich which I could use as an alternative?Finally I'll just attach a photo of him too, he has large 'yellow areas' on his shell, which I assume is because of growth but I just want to check this isn't a sign of some vitamin/mineral deficiency. I know RNS is a very illness for tortoises but very occasionally my tortoise does have some discharge out his nose, but not consistently - is this okay or should I take him to a vet?
Has anyone got any other general advice for me?
Writing all these issues has made me feel like I'm doing really badly looking after this guy but all I can say is we are all very fond of him and put the effort in! Any problems I've caused him is simply down to mistakes and nothing malicious.
Thanks for reading this absolute essay!
Patrick
Here's Russell:
Russell is very cute! I am not familiar with this species so I'll leave the advice to those who know better but I'm glad you are hear and open to suggestions. You can read this care sheet in the meantime: 
