Tortoisegirltexas
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2017
- Messages
- 17
Hi,
My daughter and I have been researching tortoises and in the process came across an adult Hermann's tortoise on craigslist. When we found out he was feeding him iceberg lettuce and meal worms and what he would eat in the yard we bought him, really before we were ready for a tortoise.
He has not had a heat lamp or a light and was being kept in a small glass aquarium. His owner would let him out in the yard to run around, but I don't know how often.
I would like any advice you have. I have a 4x8 garden bed that I placed him in today with an area covered completely with wood, an area with a screen on it and an area with screen and a shade cloth and provided him with a saucer of water, his old food bowl and his hidey log from his aquarium. He partially buried himself in the darkest corner. I brought him inside for the night because I wasn't able to finish the locking screen for his enclosure and I think it is still too cold for him.
Does he need a heat lamp at night in the house? The house is kept at 70 F during the night and I have closed off the A/C vent to his room.
Once I get a locking lid on his new house, can he spend the night outside once it is warmer at night? Do I need to give him a heated space outside even in the summer?
What can I do to help him switch to a better diet? I have read about mixing in the new food with the old food and I tried putting some squash leaves, rose petals, cilantro and dandelion in with his iceberg lettuce, but he hasn't touched it. Should I continue to offer him meal worms and mix those in with weeds and leafy greens? Should expect him to not eat for several days to a week?
I will post pictures of him tomorrow and I would love to get opinions on how he looks. He doesn't have any discharge from his nose but he seems to pant when I pick him up (which I only did to put him in his outside enclosure today and to move him into his house tonight).
I am so overwhelmed and I know I shouldn't have impulse bought him, but I felt so sorry for him and wanted to help him out. I may not know much about tortoises now, but I am willing to learn what I need to for him to be healthy and happy.
My daughter and I have been researching tortoises and in the process came across an adult Hermann's tortoise on craigslist. When we found out he was feeding him iceberg lettuce and meal worms and what he would eat in the yard we bought him, really before we were ready for a tortoise.
He has not had a heat lamp or a light and was being kept in a small glass aquarium. His owner would let him out in the yard to run around, but I don't know how often.
I would like any advice you have. I have a 4x8 garden bed that I placed him in today with an area covered completely with wood, an area with a screen on it and an area with screen and a shade cloth and provided him with a saucer of water, his old food bowl and his hidey log from his aquarium. He partially buried himself in the darkest corner. I brought him inside for the night because I wasn't able to finish the locking screen for his enclosure and I think it is still too cold for him.
Does he need a heat lamp at night in the house? The house is kept at 70 F during the night and I have closed off the A/C vent to his room.
Once I get a locking lid on his new house, can he spend the night outside once it is warmer at night? Do I need to give him a heated space outside even in the summer?
What can I do to help him switch to a better diet? I have read about mixing in the new food with the old food and I tried putting some squash leaves, rose petals, cilantro and dandelion in with his iceberg lettuce, but he hasn't touched it. Should I continue to offer him meal worms and mix those in with weeds and leafy greens? Should expect him to not eat for several days to a week?
I will post pictures of him tomorrow and I would love to get opinions on how he looks. He doesn't have any discharge from his nose but he seems to pant when I pick him up (which I only did to put him in his outside enclosure today and to move him into his house tonight).
I am so overwhelmed and I know I shouldn't have impulse bought him, but I felt so sorry for him and wanted to help him out. I may not know much about tortoises now, but I am willing to learn what I need to for him to be healthy and happy.