How does he look? + update

[Liljae9263]

I kept putting off posting this bc I was afraid of being judged (although I have never been judged on here. Literally yall r all so nice <3) but im here now!

I realized recently that my $ situation isn’t as good as I thought and it will get worse once summer rolls around bc my job cuts my hours then. (I’m currently looking for a new higher paying job) And this bummed me out and I started putting A LOT of things off in life. Anyways, I could tell this was turning into a depressive state so the last couple of weeks I have been slowly forcing myself to get better, slowly working on small projects I have been putting off. The only way to get better is to force myself to be better!!

So the next big project is Franklin which I am separating into smaller sections to make easier! Overall I want to get him better food and a bigger habitat. This (esp the latter) will take a while but I should be making the steps to begin now instead of keep putting it off. So first step is research research research! I plan to look into nurseries around to find safe plants for him and study some diff enclosure options of Frankie boy to give him more room (and I got remeasure everything in my apartment to see if I can MAKE some more room for him) I also just feel bad he’s shoved in the back of the apartment in like a hallway?? I want to move him to get him closer to me! I’m sure he would like the engagement as he likes to watch me no matter what I’m doing hehe.

ANYWAYS!!! That brings me to this ?
How does he look?? I’ve been getting scared again he’s still pyramiding! Ik it takes a while for new healthy growth to appear and sometimes I think I see it and sometimes I think I don’t! And just in general does he look good?

(Srry the pics r weird. I took a video and screen shotted hehe)

He’s v active. He walks his enclosure everyday, obsessed with food, get soaks every other day for an hour, and overall seems content!

(Additional ?: I give him minerALL powder as one of his supplements along with some pellets once a week. Should I be giving him calcium powder too?)

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think I am seeing some healthy growth along the growth line!

I don't think you need to give calcium seperate from Miner-All. But if you do definitely don't do it at the same time. Remind me, what pellets are you using? You pellets might contain a good amount of calcium too.

 

[Liljae9263]

I think I am seeing some healthy growth along the growth line!

I don't think you need to give calcium seperate from Miner-All. But if you do definitely don't do it at the same time. Remind me, what pellets are you using? You pellets might contain a good amount of calcium too.

The Mazuri pellets. I think just the basic ones. They were suggested on here. I give him 2 to 3 as they’re p big and soak them t till they’re mush ! (He likes his mush ) ik both pellets and minerALL have calcium in it I just didn’t no if it was enough !!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I kept putting off posting this bc I was afraid of being judged (although I have never been judged on here. Literally yall r all so nice <3) but im here now!

I realized recently that my $ situation isn’t as good as I thought and it will get worse once summer rolls around bc my job cuts my hours then. (I’m currently looking for a new higher paying job) And this bummed me out and I started putting A LOT of things off in life. Anyways, I could tell this was turning into a depressive state so the last couple of weeks I have been slowly forcing myself to get better, slowly working on small projects I have been putting off. The only way to get better is to force myself to be better!!

So the next big project is Franklin which I am separating into smaller sections to make easier! Overall I want to get him better food and a bigger habitat. This (esp the latter) will take a while but I should be making the steps to begin now instead of keep putting it off. So first step is research research research! I plan to look into nurseries around to find safe plants for him and study some diff enclosure options of Frankie boy to give him more room (and I got remeasure everything in my apartment to see if I can MAKE some more room for him) I also just feel bad he’s shoved in the back of the apartment in like a hallway?? I want to move him to get him closer to me! I’m sure he would like the engagement as he likes to watch me no matter what I’m doing hehe.

ANYWAYS!!! That brings me to this ?
How does he look?? I’ve been getting scared again he’s still pyramiding! Ik it takes a while for new healthy growth to appear and sometimes I think I see it and sometimes I think I don’t! And just in general does he look good?

(Srry the pics r weird. I took a video and screen shotted hehe)

He’s v active. He walks his enclosure everyday, obsessed with food, get soaks every other day for an hour, and overall seems content!

(Additional ?: I give him minerALL powder as one of his supplements along with some pellets once a week. Should I be giving him calcium powder too?)

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I’m sorry to hear you’ve been down! I sure can relate, especially this time of year! We don’t see any sun in the UK for a good while yet, it’s rained every damn day of the year so far, it’s enough to bum anyone out

I hope we can all help each step of the way with Franklin’s upgrade! No matter how long it takes

His appearance, he’s looking fabulous imo! To me, the newer growth on Franklin looks to be coming in smoother! I know you’re a bit of a worry wart when it comes to franklins pyramiding, so I just want to assure you, Franklin is one handsome fella! A genuinely really good looking tortoise! Does he have some minor initial pyramiding? Yes, but a captive tortoise developing some cosmetic pyramiding in its life is pretty common, I know the perfectionist in all of us wants to avoid it, and that is absolutely the goal of course, but considering Franklin is your first and only tortoise you’ve raised, you should be happy with how he’s looking! Look at some of these more extreme examples, compare Franklin, and see how TRULY not that bad his pyramiding is, he’s beautiful!

 

[Liljae9263]

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been down! I sure can relate, especially this time of year! We don’t see any sun in the UK for a good while yet, it’s rained every damn day of the year so far, it’s enough to bum anyone out

I hope we can all help each step of the way with Franklin’s upgrade! No matter how long it takes

His appearance, he’s looking fabulous imo! To me, the newer growth on Franklin looks to be coming in smoother! I know you’re a bit of a worry wart when it comes to franklins pyramiding, so I just want to assure you, Franklin is one handsome fella! A genuinely really good looking tortoise! Does he have some minor initial pyramiding? Yes, but a captive tortoise developing some cosmetic pyramiding in its life is pretty common, I know the perfectionist in all of us wants to avoid it, and that is absolutely the goal of course, but considering Franklin is your first and only tortoise you’ve raised, you should be happy with how he’s looking! Look at some of these more extreme examples, compare Franklin, and see how TRULY not that bad his pyramiding is, he’s beautiful!
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THANK U THANK U THANK U !!!

Yea I’m just a bundle of nerves all the time and Franklin is the first pet I’ve officially cared for ALL by myself (crazy that I picked a TORTOISE for that haha) so I’ve been v hard on myself and stressed over everything ahskabaj. It’s hard to remind myself sometimes I’m doing good but that’s y I like posting on here. Everyone is always ready to relieve any stress or paranoia I have !!! )

And ur right! :O I didn’t realize More severe pyramiding would make them look so bumpy! What a crazy sight!

(And yea I always get down in the dumps thx to winter and the cold. I am def a warm person all the way!!! I need heat IMMEDIATELY I’m hoping once it gets warmer I’ll start to cheer up some more too!)

Anyways thank u again! I say it all the time but u really make me feel so much better everytime u reply! Bless u!! ) <3

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

THANK U THANK U THANK U !!!

Yea I’m just a bundle of nerves all the time and Franklin is the first pet I’ve officially cared for ALL by myself (crazy that I picked a TORTOISE for that haha) so I’ve been v hard on myself and stressed over everything ahskabaj. It’s hard to remind myself sometimes I’m doing good but that’s y I like posting on here. Everyone is always ready to relieve any stress or paranoia I have !!! )

And ur right! :O I didn’t realize More severe pyramiding would make them look so bumpy! What a crazy sight!

(And yea I always get down in the dumps thx to winter and the cold. I am def a warm person all the way!!! I need heat IMMEDIATELY I’m hoping once it gets warmer I’ll start to cheer up some more too!)

Anyways thank u again! I say it all the time but u really make me feel so much better everytime u reply! Bless u!! ) <3

You’re totally welcome! Absolutely any time! Seriously! I understand having such deep anxieties when it comes to pets, they’re such pure little souls that rely on us, and it’s so easy to beat yourself up when you feel like you aren’t doing things perfectly, but I want to reassure you, you’ve made some amazing progress with Franklin and his care, you should be very proudhe’s a lucky boy to have such an attentive owner, who is constantly striving for the best

I hope this can reassure you even further, Franklin hasn’t got a whole lot more growing to do for his species, the time for pyramiding as severe as you see in the photos has long passed, any growth left that can come in smoother is a bonus, but you definitely don’t need to be half as stressed as you have been, he’s one beautiful boy and will continue to be one beautiful boy regardless of how smooth the remaining growth comes in

 

[Liljae9263]

So I went back into a minor depressive rut BUT I’m here to ask in general if anyone has any good plant recs for Franklin as a good source and where I might be able to get some to give me a fighting chance to research! I have the tortoise table app so I can reference off there but I just wanted to hear what people thought were good plant options. He’ll basically eat anything! Altho I’ve noticed he’s weird about mushy textures haha. Cucumber and banana? DISGUSTING! Pumpkin puree and his vitamin mush? DELICIOUS!

Also I have discovered what I thought was a plant nursery is indeed not so the only place I think I can really get plants is like Lowe’s or Home Depot! Idk if they’ll really have anything in stock for baby boy but I’m willing to take a look! If anyone has any advice on where else I can look that would be great!

Additionally if u have any tips on growing them as I kinda have a black thumb
I plan to keep them in separate pots under a grow light. I have a monstera I’m really proud of and a bonsai that hasn’t died so I trust I CAN do it but I have killed a lot of plants in the past !

Thx for the help!!!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

So I went back into a minor depressive rut BUT I’m here to ask in general if anyone has any good plant recs for Franklin as a good source and where I might be able to get some to give me a fighting chance to research! I have the tortoise table app so I can reference off there but I just wanted to hear what people thought were good plant options. He’ll basically eat anything! Altho I’ve noticed he’s weird about mushy textures haha. Cucumber and banana? DISGUSTING! Pumpkin puree and his vitamin mush? DELICIOUS!

Also I have discovered what I thought was a plant nursery is indeed not so the only place I think I can really get plants is like Lowe’s or Home Depot! Idk if they’ll really have anything in stock for baby boy but I’m willing to take a look! If anyone has any advice on where else I can look that would be great!

Additionally if u have any tips on growing them as I kinda have a black thumb
I plan to keep them in separate pots under a grow light. I have a monstera I’m really proud of and a bonsai that hasn’t died so I trust I CAN do it but I have killed a lot of plants in the past !

Thx for the help!!!

You and me both sister don’t worry haha, hope you’re feeling better

The only trouble with buying plants from chain stores is you do have to replant and quarantine them to be rid of the potential pesticides and fertiliser, bit annoying reallybut technically is easier to have established plants.

If you’re interested in growing your own, the testudo seed mix from tortoisesupply.com comes highly recommended, I’m uk based so not tried it myself, but heard good things!

When it comes to planting seed mixes, spread the seeds as scarcely as possible, this makes it easier to separate the tiny plants once they start sprouting, it’s important to separate them because the bigger they get, if they’re all in one tray the roots start strangling one another, it’s fine if you’re wanting micro greens, but if you’re wanting separate full grown plants, it’s best to put them in their own little pots and size them up as and when needed.

I think @Alex and the Redfoot has a green thumb, he might have some tips for you

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I'm certainly not a "green thumb" And don't have good advice... I would probably start with growing "easy" plants like endive, mustard, squash, spider plants and such. And only then move to Testudo Seed Mix (a grow light may be insufficient to get fully-grown plants indoors).

I had some success with growing the following plants indoors: chia, coleus, boston fern, ZZ plant, golden pothos, spider plants, butternut squash, endive, mustard. So, nothing really fancy.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I'm certainly not a "green thumb" And don't have good advice... I would probably start with growing "easy" plants like endive, mustard, squash, spider plants and such. And only then move to Testudo Seed Mix (a grow light may be insufficient to get fully-grown plants indoors).

I had some success with growing the following plants indoors: chia, coleus, boston fern, ZZ plant, golden pothos, spider plants, butternut squash, endive, mustard. So, nothing really fancy.

You indoor plants look far better than mine in pics, it’s a green enough thumb in my eyes haha

 

[Liljae9263]

I'm certainly not a "green thumb" And don't have good advice... I would probably start with growing "easy" plants like endive, mustard, squash, spider plants and such. And only then move to Testudo Seed Mix (a grow light may be insufficient to get fully-grown plants indoors).

I had some success with growing the following plants indoors: chia, coleus, boston fern, ZZ plant, golden pothos, spider plants, butternut squash, endive, mustard. So, nothing really fancy.

Oh I’ve been wanting another pothos anyways so I might get one of those !! And zz plants r cute! I’ll look into which ones will be easy to get now! I’m trying to get already established plants bc I’ve never grown something from seed and I think I DEF will kill those if it’s strong enough to take some beating maybe I’ll have a chance haha. Thank u!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Oh I’ve been wanting another pothos anyways so I might get one of those !! And zz plants r cute! I’ll look into which ones will be easy to get now! I’m trying to get already established plants bc I’ve never grown something from seed and I think I DEF will kill those if it’s strong enough to take some beating maybe I’ll have a chance haha. Thank u!

Some plants are growing from seeds despite all your efforts to kill them Coleus and chia, for example. My approach was very simple - toss the seeds in the ground and see what survives

Just in case: neither pothos or ZZ plants are great daily food - they provide a comforting shelter for your tortoise and liven up the enclosure. Occasional snack on these plants is totally fine. When getting them a from store - quarantine the plants or use freshly propagated.