COLD DARK ROOM

[Kristoff]

Was told by the breeders as the males tails are longer than the females ( was told a adult Hermann female tail is no longer than a cotton bud) so I'm guessing they sexed correctly lol

Usually it’s hard to tell until the tortoise is a young adult. They all look female up to that point.

Wanted to add as a P.S.: Whatever advice @JoesMum gave, I’d follow it to a T. To us newer members, she’s a great authority, pretty much the Prophet of the TFO. Just saying this because it can be difficult to distinguish sound advice from nonsense in the beginning, especially if there are too many sources and opinions out there.
Once again, a very warm welcome.

 

[xlondon-ladyx]

Can I make a humid hide out of a plastic container with a dampened piece of sponge in there? ( just a make shift temporary one)

 

[JoesMum]

Was told by the breeders as the males tails are longer than the females ( was told a adult Hermann female tail is no longer than a cotton bud) so I'm guessing they sexed correctly lol

It’s impossible to tell until they are much bigger - near full size. Mr could still turn out to be Miss in a few years time

By the way, a few introductions would be polite... my name is Linda and I’m in Kent

John (JohnandJade) is in Scotland

And Lena (Kristoff) is Russian, but living in Denmark currently.

The CDR is a place of friendship, puns, chat and learning about all sorts of obscure things from our global friends.

Pull up an armadillo and make yourself comfy

 

[xlondon-ladyx]

Usually it’s hard to tell until the tortoise is a young adult. They all look female up to that point.

Wanted to add as a P.S.: Whatever advice @JoesMum gave, I’d follow it to a T. To us newer members, she’s a great authority, pretty much the Prophet of the TFO. Just saying this because it can be difficult to distinguish sound advice from nonsense in the beginning, especially if there are too many sources and opinions out there.
Once again, a very warm welcome.

Yep iv come to realise this

 

[xlondon-ladyx]

It’s impossible to tell until they are much bigger - near full size. Mr could still turn out to be Miss in a few years time

By the way, a few introductions would be polite... my name is Linda and I’m in Kent

John (JohnandJade) is in Scotland

And Lena (Kristoff) is Russian, but living in Denmark currently.

The CDR is a place of friendship, puns, chat and learning about all sorts of obscure things from our global friends.

Pull up an armadillo and make yourself comfy

See why can't breeders be honest and say look it's a 50/50 on the sex! I don't mind my Mr Handsome turning into a Mrs beautful lol I have a cat who was called "melody " for 3 months till the vet changed their mind they had a Rosie the dog getting castrated the same time as our melody lol now named shadow.... so I know it happeneds but just be honest and say sorry we dont know

 

[xlondon-ladyx]

It’s impossible to tell until they are much bigger - near full size. Mr could still turn out to be Miss in a few years time

By the way, a few introductions would be polite... my name is Linda and I’m in Kent

John (JohnandJade) is in Scotland

And Lena (Kristoff) is Russian, but living in Denmark currently.

The CDR is a place of friendship, puns, chat and learning about all sorts of obscure things from our global friends.

Pull up an armadillo and make yourself comfy

Hello Linda and everyone else...
Im Sara a full time mother and wife! I live in London, with our 6 children, 3 rabbits, 2 cats, 4 chickens 2 ducks, 2 geckos 1 ball python 2 chameleons 1bird and my mother sat in a pear tree haha... so a very busy family home

 

[Kristoff]

See why can't breeders be honest and say look it's a 50/50 on the sex! I don't mind my Mr Handsome turning into a Mrs beautful lol I have a cat who was called "melody " for 3 months till the vet changed their mind they had a Rosie the dog getting castrated the same time as our melody lol now named shadow.... so I know it happeneds but just be honest and say sorry we dont know

We all know a male Lola and a female Jacques. And a few female Sheldons too, I guess. It’s so tricky with tortoises that they say the only way to be 100% sure is to see her lay eggs or him flash.

 

[JoesMum]

I’m in my seat. Not see you later

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good mornooning [emoji12] 0400.. food then gym.

Madness!
Good afternoon, John!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good morning, roommates! I’m FOUR. *waves*
I’m a woman of simple tastes. I like jewelry, fine dining, luxury brands... Wibble.
OK, not true, apart from fine dining.
My list:
LIKES
1. Animals - cats, dogs; reptiles are fascinating.
2. My five-year-old. Seriously, the biggest interest in my life right now.
3. Photography
4. Travel
5. Good coffee

DISLIKES
1. Rude people
2. Stressful situations
3. Magnets (nowhere to put them in this house)
4. Pictures to be put on a wall (can’t do that because the repairs when we vacate the apartment would cost a fortune)
5. Real fur (can’t reconcile myself with this Danish obsession with furs)

So, TORTOISE players, we need to be thinking along the lines of a photograph of a five year old reptile on holiday drinking quality coffee.
And don't send a magnetic fur-lined wall-picture of a rude person or it will cause Lena stress.
Good afternoon, Lena!

 

[xlondon-ladyx]

Any good for a make shift humid hide? Iv lined the bottom with a cut plastc container lid... then inside iv lined the edges of the box with damp hemp bedding then dry hemp in the middle is this ok or not?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good morning all. I am off to watch tennis at the O2 arena in London today

I have been helping out @xlondon-ladyx in this thread https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/hello-all-we-are-new-here.162068

I suggested that one of you lovely people would be able to help out if she gets stuck while I am offline. She may appear in here to ask

Not a problem, always willing to help.
Does she like cheese?
Have fun at the tennis!
Italy out of the World Cup!
Golly!
Good afternoon, Linda!

 

[AZtortMom]

Good morning roommates

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good mornig everyone!
Yes advice is needed I want to make me handsome a humid hide! Also how to test humidity? and iv heard about a temperature gun? Just need all info in one msg as I'm new here and it's hard to find advice given once read, so I can screen shot also is Mr Handsome undershell normal as I'm worried and don't know

Hello, Sara, and a very warm welcome to the Cold Dark Room!
Coffee?
The Leprechaun One-legged Pirate Substitute will fetch you one, so in the meantime grab an armadillo to sit on, watch you don't sit on a hedgehog and beware of flying fruit-flavoured jellyfish.
Now, to answer your questions.
Plastic plant pots either cut in half or half-buried in the substrate or plastic bowls with a hole cut out make ideal hides as they keep in the humidity. You need to buy a hygrometer (not a hydrometer) to test humidity and get a digital one, not one of those dreadful analog dials. A laser temperature gun is a must.
Something like :
Check out Amazon if your local shops don't have them.
His plastron is perfectly normal for a young tortoise like this, it is scarred from where the egg sac was located, but will smooth out as he or she grows older. We can't be sure of his or her sex for quite a few years yet, they all look female at this age, unless the dealer got them from a breeder who incubated at a set temperature, but this is unlikely and still not a 100% guarantee.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Can I make a humid hide out of a plastic container with a dampened piece of sponge in there? ( just a make shift temporary one)

No sponge!
It's not necessary and Mr Handsome may eat it.
If you keep your substrate moist and your temps are correct it should automatically become humid in there.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

See why can't breeders be honest and say look it's a 50/50 on the sex! I don't mind my Mr Handsome turning into a Mrs beautful lol I have a cat who was called "melody " for 3 months till the vet changed their mind they had a Rosie the dog getting castrated the same time as our melody lol now named shadow.... so I know it happeneds but just be honest and say sorry we dont know

Dealers often have no idea about tortoises and are only interested in sales.
Breeders will know, but are also often interested only in selling.
(there are some good ones)

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello Linda and everyone else...
Im Sara a full time mother and wife! I live in London, with our 6 children, 3 rabbits, 2 cats, 4 chickens 2 ducks, 2 geckos 1 ball python 2 chameleons 1bird and my mother sat in a pear tree haha... so a very busy family home

WOW!
Quite a menagerie!
A photo of your mother in the pear tree would be nice.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I’m in my seat. Not see you later
View attachment 222808

Enjoy!
Should be another fun day!
And warm.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Any good for a make shift humid hide? Iv lined the bottom with a cut plastc container lid... then inside iv lined the edges of the box with damp hemp bedding then dry hemp in the middle is this ok or not?

Your substrate needs to be coco coir, fine grade orchid bark or cypress mulch, not hemp.
Don't line the bottom of it, the tortoise will want to dig in.
Plastic bowls, plant pots, ice cream containers etc. are all good .

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good morning roommates

Good morning, Noel!
And a jolly wibbling Tuesday to you!