Beginners Help

[Kelly Jeffery-Grant]

Hi there

In need of some advice for newbies for our lovely new addition Herman the horsefield tortoise. He's a baby but we are not sure how old yet.

Since we've brought him home yesterday he smells of poo, he's had a little wash to get the poo off he was sat in when we picked him up but he still smells. His poo is also a bit loose. Could this be the diet he was on as I no the pet shop gave then pellets which we are not keen on.

Going on to diet what is a good list of things to feed our little one on ?
I've read that people have grown a window sill plant pot ?

Any help great appreciated.

Thanks

Kelly & Emily.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO fromAZ . Give them a lot of brought leaf weeds .

 

[Merrick]

What are you feeding him also the poo smell is not a real problem and most likely can not be helped

 

[Kelly Jeffery-Grant]

What are you feeding him also the poo smell is not a real problem and most likely can not be helped

We have just gone for selection of mixed leaves as reccomended by the shop. Oh a some strawberries?

 

[Kelly Jeffery-Grant]

Hello and welcome to the TFO fromAZ . Give them a lot of brought leaf weeds .

Thank you will note that down.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Kelly and Emily, and very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
Have a look at http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
And http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/
And also http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
A good diet will sort out his loose stools.
Many of the plants listed on the links can be grown in pots.
Feed fruit only as a rare treat, if at all.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. There is a lot of misinformation out there about tortoises. Read those threads that Adam linked for you.

Here is a small list of food suggestions, but there are many more:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[Gillian M]

I've a feeling it's your tort's diet that's causng all of this. Therefore, please read the care sheets carefully, and feel free to ask ANY questions.

And a very warm welcome to the forum.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Jodie]

Welcome to the forum. He is a beautiful little Russian.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

No fruit. Another thing that helps with smell is having a good substrate.

 

[tortdad]

Welcome to tfo

 

[Kelly Jeffery-Grant]

Thank you for your help on the diet that's great. I have a question regarding the lighting. Can someone please advice what watt I need for the uvb and basking bulb ?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I use an mvb or mercury vapour bulb, that provides both light and heat.
Don't use coil/compact bulbs.

 

[Alaskamike]

Thank you for your help on the diet that's great. I have a question regarding the lighting. Can someone please advice what watt I need for the uvb and basking bulb ?

The wattGe depends a little bit on the size of enclosure and the distance the bulb is from the tort.
In a larger elclosure you might have several spread over bigger area.

No matter what you get you will need to experiment a bit with height. Adjust the heat till it's right.
And it's best to put the UV blub on timer.
It takes some fiddling to get it right

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[Kelly Jeffery-Grant]

Thank you for your advice and patience. We just want to get things right for Herman.

Do I put the lights on at night or off ?

 

[Merrick]

Thank you for your advice and patience. We just want to get things right for Herman.

Do I put the lights on at night or off ?

Do you sleep while the sun is out?

If it is cold at night you could put in a night bulb or under twnk heater (for the side) also by cold I mean like less than 70

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Torts can't sleep properly if the lights are on, even red light.
They need darkness.