daveed0
New Member
Hello all,
I recently acquired a male 12-year old Hermann tortoise that I have named Robert. He is a Macedonian captive bred tortoise who, since being imported to the UK, has been with the same owner. When I went to pick him up he was in a vivarium 36 inches by 18 inches (90cm x 45cm) with a UVB that was a few years old and a 12w basking spotlight. I was informed that he 'eats anything' - mainly supermarket shop-bought fruit and vegetables. No water was ever provided in the vivarium but he was bathed occasionally - I was told that he got all his water from his food. Robert has never hibernated but during the summer months he was put outside for short spells. I was very concerned about the conditions Robert had been kept in but I brought him home and the next day I took him to my vet for a checkup; the vet advised that he seemed fine and both weight and size were commensurate with a Hermann's tortoise of 12 years.
*** FIRST QUESTION - do you think the conditions that Robert has been kept in for the last 12 years will have a long-term detrimental affects on him and if so how can I help reverse them? The vet didn't seem overly concerned.
Since getting Robert I have been changing his diet - he now eats dandelion, bristly oxtongue, mallow and plantain (when I can find them) + winter-flowering pansies, geraniums and sedum from my garden. I have also been feeding him some supermarket lettuce florets and occasional pieces of cucumber which he seems to really enjoy. I add a small amount of calcium dust + D3 supplement a few times per week. There is always water provided and I have been bathing him three times each week. Trevor seems very active, eats well and seems to like human contact.
I have, as a temporary solution, removed the beech chips from the vivarium and replaced with topsoil - additionally, the top has been removed from the vivarium and it has been extended by about 24 inches. There is now a 75w basking light and new UVB in the vivarium. It doesn't look good but, hopefully, ok whilst I am working on his new enclosure. The new one is in my garage - it is approximately 7.5 feet long and 2 feet wide (2.4m x 0.6m) with a ramp up to a second level. I hope to move Robert into the new indoors enclosure next week once i have got the heating/lighting fixed up - this leads me onto my next question:
*** SECOND QUESTION - I intend to have a UVB strip light in the enclosure + a basking light (75w or 100w) and a ceramic heater, connected to a pulse thermostat, for overnight. Will this be sufficient or do I need heat mats etc?
*** THIRD QUESTION - I am assuming I will need some mouse-proof wire mesh covering for the enclosure as it is in a garage. Is this correct?
I apologise for this long introductory post and for asking so many questions first time round. Thanks in anticipation for any replies. I will supply some photos of Robert when he is in his new enclosure.
I recently acquired a male 12-year old Hermann tortoise that I have named Robert. He is a Macedonian captive bred tortoise who, since being imported to the UK, has been with the same owner. When I went to pick him up he was in a vivarium 36 inches by 18 inches (90cm x 45cm) with a UVB that was a few years old and a 12w basking spotlight. I was informed that he 'eats anything' - mainly supermarket shop-bought fruit and vegetables. No water was ever provided in the vivarium but he was bathed occasionally - I was told that he got all his water from his food. Robert has never hibernated but during the summer months he was put outside for short spells. I was very concerned about the conditions Robert had been kept in but I brought him home and the next day I took him to my vet for a checkup; the vet advised that he seemed fine and both weight and size were commensurate with a Hermann's tortoise of 12 years.
*** FIRST QUESTION - do you think the conditions that Robert has been kept in for the last 12 years will have a long-term detrimental affects on him and if so how can I help reverse them? The vet didn't seem overly concerned.
Since getting Robert I have been changing his diet - he now eats dandelion, bristly oxtongue, mallow and plantain (when I can find them) + winter-flowering pansies, geraniums and sedum from my garden. I have also been feeding him some supermarket lettuce florets and occasional pieces of cucumber which he seems to really enjoy. I add a small amount of calcium dust + D3 supplement a few times per week. There is always water provided and I have been bathing him three times each week. Trevor seems very active, eats well and seems to like human contact.
I have, as a temporary solution, removed the beech chips from the vivarium and replaced with topsoil - additionally, the top has been removed from the vivarium and it has been extended by about 24 inches. There is now a 75w basking light and new UVB in the vivarium. It doesn't look good but, hopefully, ok whilst I am working on his new enclosure. The new one is in my garage - it is approximately 7.5 feet long and 2 feet wide (2.4m x 0.6m) with a ramp up to a second level. I hope to move Robert into the new indoors enclosure next week once i have got the heating/lighting fixed up - this leads me onto my next question:
*** SECOND QUESTION - I intend to have a UVB strip light in the enclosure + a basking light (75w or 100w) and a ceramic heater, connected to a pulse thermostat, for overnight. Will this be sufficient or do I need heat mats etc?
*** THIRD QUESTION - I am assuming I will need some mouse-proof wire mesh covering for the enclosure as it is in a garage. Is this correct?
I apologise for this long introductory post and for asking so many questions first time round. Thanks in anticipation for any replies. I will supply some photos of Robert when he is in his new enclosure.