Hannah Riley
New Member
Hello there! I’m new to this forum and new to caring for tortoises! I have a one year old spur thighed, female tortoise called Mary. I’ve never had a tortoise before - as such, I desperately welcome any tips/tricks with regards to how I can ensure Mary lives a long, happy/healthy life!
I also have a few queries which I would really appreciate some guidance on!
1) I travel a lot with work, and I worry about how to manage Marys UV and Heat Lamps when I am not in my flat to switch them on and off. I also worry about potential fire risks if I leave the lamps on for too long, whilst I am away with work.
Can anyone advise on what the best course of action is when you go on holiday / or are away with work and you have your tortoises UV and heat lamps to manage? Do you typically ask a neighbour to check the lamps are on at the right times or do you just leave both the UV and heat lamps on for the duration of time you are away - accepting that leaving the lamps on could be a fire hazard?
2) In the winter months, my bedroom (where Mary’s cage is) gets rather cold and I would like to cover the cage with a fire resistant blanket for additional insulation. Can anyone recommend any fire resistant blankets for tortoise cages?
3) I’m worried that Mary may be lonely. I realise tortoises are solitary creatures but I don’t spend as much time with Mary as I would like to (for work reasons). So I’m concerned she may be bored of walking around her cage repeatedly. Can anyone recommend any toys / items that provide your tortoises enjoyment or would you recommend getting another female tortoise for company?
4) I typically feed Mary, Kale, broccoli, parsley and strawberries. Are there any other food items that make your tortoises happy? I’ve noticed Mary barely drinks water at all, is this something I should be concerned about? I bath her every other day, so I’m hoping this is enough opportunity for her to hydrate?
5) I decided not to hibernate Mary this year, as she is only one years of age and is still very small. However, what advice can folks give for hibernating her next winter? Is fridge hibernation recommended? Did you have to encourage your tortoise to hibernate or do they do this naturally? How do you know when to check on your tortoise during fridge hibernation? I have so many questions and very anxious about the whole hibernation process!
Many thanks all!
Hannah
I also have a few queries which I would really appreciate some guidance on!
1) I travel a lot with work, and I worry about how to manage Marys UV and Heat Lamps when I am not in my flat to switch them on and off. I also worry about potential fire risks if I leave the lamps on for too long, whilst I am away with work.
Can anyone advise on what the best course of action is when you go on holiday / or are away with work and you have your tortoises UV and heat lamps to manage? Do you typically ask a neighbour to check the lamps are on at the right times or do you just leave both the UV and heat lamps on for the duration of time you are away - accepting that leaving the lamps on could be a fire hazard?
2) In the winter months, my bedroom (where Mary’s cage is) gets rather cold and I would like to cover the cage with a fire resistant blanket for additional insulation. Can anyone recommend any fire resistant blankets for tortoise cages?
3) I’m worried that Mary may be lonely. I realise tortoises are solitary creatures but I don’t spend as much time with Mary as I would like to (for work reasons). So I’m concerned she may be bored of walking around her cage repeatedly. Can anyone recommend any toys / items that provide your tortoises enjoyment or would you recommend getting another female tortoise for company?
4) I typically feed Mary, Kale, broccoli, parsley and strawberries. Are there any other food items that make your tortoises happy? I’ve noticed Mary barely drinks water at all, is this something I should be concerned about? I bath her every other day, so I’m hoping this is enough opportunity for her to hydrate?
5) I decided not to hibernate Mary this year, as she is only one years of age and is still very small. However, what advice can folks give for hibernating her next winter? Is fridge hibernation recommended? Did you have to encourage your tortoise to hibernate or do they do this naturally? How do you know when to check on your tortoise during fridge hibernation? I have so many questions and very anxious about the whole hibernation process!
Many thanks all!
Hannah