Leonardo II has arrived!

[siwash]

Well, here's to better luck! Got him tonight... slightly delayed.

This little guy is slightly bigger and has an odd shell... somewhat irregular but he seems healthy - crossing my fingers. Note the new substrate; zoo med carpet. It's ugly and not cheap for what essentially is a thick rag!

enjoy the pics

I will keep you posted

 

[egyptiandan]

Leonardo ll looks great. The odd shape of the shell is from being in the egg. Some tortoises straighten out faster than others. He will just need a bit longer than most.
Did the breeder say how old he is?

Danny

 

[Isa]

What a cute little baby tortoise
Congratulation Siwash, by the way, I dont find the carpet that ugly and I am sure Leonardo II will love it.
Did you put a hide in his house?

 

[siwash]

Leonardo ll looks great. The odd shape of the shell is from being in the egg. Some tortoises straighten out faster than others. He will just need a bit longer than most.
Did the breeder say how old he is?

Danny

Hey that's exactly what the seller said... being in the eggshell 'warps' them somewhat. I was a little reluctant to believe it b/c I quite frankly don't trust the guy since the first one croaked on me. He's not a breeder. I honestly figured that he couldn't sell it b/c of the odd shape so he gave that one to me

A few more observations:

a) he's a bit livelier than Leo I
b) slightly bigger... a few more weeks older
c) very dark head (can you notice?)
d) shell is a deeper and more rich in colour
e) shell appears to be slightly more domed
f) nice eyes (that's what my last date said to me too!
g) noticeably longer, thicker tail...maybe a male? hope so... they're a bit smaller
h) he's really cute!
i) he hasn't touched his food

As far as the conditions are concerned, he's sleeping on the cooler side (75F) at the moment and hasn't really moved from that end since this eve. It i still a bit too hot under the lamp - 95ish.. I'd like to get it to 90-92. The middle of the enclosure is about 85F.

Humidity is a perfect 40%. I have not set up a humid hide yet. I did bathe him as soon as I came home. I am still trying to figure out how to make the humid hide. With Leo I, he was living on coconut and soil mix and so I misted a corner every other day with water. Isa said something about affixing a wet sponge??? not sure how to do that..

hope tomorrow is going to be a good day with him..

thanks

 

[Ozric]

Hi, I think this tortoise looks lovely. I wouldn't be at all concerned about any slight mis-shape of the shell at that size, he's just a baby. His carapace colours are very nice. After a change of environment they generally don't eat for a few days, I found this with the little ones I just got. I was desperate for them to eat but they were not ready for food then, but now they eat a little every day. What they don't eat I remove after a short time.

Little ones do spend a lot of time hidden, which is what they do in the wild. Make sure your leonardo has places where he can be warm and also covered up. I don't know if you have this stuff Sphagnum moss which I can gather in my own garden (yard). Its a natural material that is harmless to tortoises and will hold moisture for a time. I've created a little hide for my little ones. I have a seed tray with some ordinary garden soil mixed with playsand in it, in this I made a cavity and filled it with moss which I can damped with a plant mister. The little ones like to gather in there, the temp there is about 27C in the daytime. They like to emerge and explore for periods of time, and also go there to sleep at night. If you try anything like this just make sure it isnt cold and wet in there, including at night. Try not to worry if Leonardo is not active for periods of time, being so young he needs lots of rest.

 

[ruanda]

Congratulations, siwash!!! Leonardo II looks fine !!!

 

[siwash]

Hi, I think this tortoise looks lovely. I wouldn't be at all concerned about any slight mis-shape of the shell at that size, he's just a baby. His carapace colours are very nice. After a change of environment they generally don't eat for a few days, I found this with the little ones I just got. I was desperate for them to eat but they were not ready for food then, but now they eat a little every day. What they don't eat I remove after a short time.

Little ones do spend a lot of time hidden, which is what they do in the wild. Make sure your leonardo has places where he can be warm and also covered up. I don't know if you have this stuff Sphagnum moss which I can gather in my own garden (yard). Its a natural material that is harmless to tortoises and will hold moisture for a time. I've created a little hide for my little ones. I have a seed tray with some ordinary garden soil mixed with playsand in it, in this I made a cavity and filled it with moss which I can damped with a plant mister. The little ones like to gather in there, the temp there is about 27C in the daytime. They like to emerge and explore for periods of time, and also go there to sleep at night. If you try anything like this just make sure it isnt cold and wet in there, including at night. Try not to worry if Leonardo is not active for periods of time, being so young he needs lots of rest.

Excellent tips, especially about the moss... I need to create a humid hide, and I think I will create something that will include a cavity with the moss. SHould I use a ceramic heater to keep it warm even at night? It's only 21C in my home so when the lamp goes out it drops. Is this too cool for the humid hide with moss?

Here are some pic of his first meal! not bad eh? first full day and he's eating!

 

[Ozric]

Good to see him eating! Personally I think 21C is fine as a background temperature. You don't need it any warmer than this at night, I often have it down to 16C and am not concerned about them sleeping in the humid hide at that temperature. Some keepers do say it needs to be warmer than 16C at night but if there are no draughts I don't think its a problem. Unless your house is really a very cold or draughty one at night I don't believe you generally need extra heating for Hermanns.

But lets see what others say (and check Chris's care sheet too)

 

[siwash]

In there naturtal env. I'm certain that it dips below 21 even in the summer as I've visited their home-ranges many times

Thanks... so far, I'm having better luck with the Leo II than Leo I (RIP Leo I)

 

[Granolagal]

Congratulations on Leo II!

I completely empathsize with your situation as I lost my pair of little guys. The new fella that I got looks suspiciously like yours...hmmm perhaps they are from the same breeder. Wouldn't that be a coincidence that our first set died and our second ones look the same...I will post some pics of 'Turbo' when I have a chance

Cheers, Carley

 

[siwash]

Who did u buy it off? I got mine from Andrew of Rodent Kings.. he's in eastern Ontario near kingston.

I wouldn't be surprised b/c there aren't many hermanns around here in canada.. few torts in general

let me know

 

[Granolagal]

Well wouldn't you know it, I too got my three guys from Andrew of Rodent Kings. What a coincidence. This little guy definitely seems in better health than the other two did. I did not want to post pics of the little fella as I was (still am) a little afraid of getting too attached....unfortunately it is too late, I am in love, he's great I was wondering... as I have never seen Hermann's so dark...I thought Petrie was that way because she was sick, Crush the other little one that I got at the same time was so fair ( sadly it turned out that they both passed). While I was reading your posts with Leo I, I thought that our experiences had definite parallels, but also thought that you had mentioned getting him from a pet store. Admittedly I feel a bit better knowing that it wasn't something that I did. Though my other Hermann's from Florida 'Zippy' is thriving and I have raised them all the same, I still second guessed myself. Welp, I'll post some pics of Leo's sister/brother. I feel good about these ones..we will keep our fingers crossed that we don't have to endure that dreadful situation again. Cheers, Carley

Zippy and Turbo having tubby time

Yummy Rose of Sharon

Piggy Turbo

mmmmmm hibiscus

cutest little 'Turb' ya ever did see

 

[Isa]

Carley
Your pics are very nice.
Did you wait a little before introducing Turbo to Zippy (quarantine period)?
Turbo and Zippy are 2 cuties, they are very adorable

 

[Granolagal]

Thank you Isa

I did keep them seperate for a period of time. They still are housed seperately and only bathe together and share the occasional munch on a yummy treat. The vet told me that bathing them all together wouldn't do any harm when Petrie and Crush were unwell (not sure why) so I am not feeling too concerned about them together.

How is your Hermy Isa? Is he taking well to the antibiotic? I have been hoping for the best for you both.

 

[Isa]

Thank you Isa

I did keep them seperate for a period of time. They still are housed seperately and only bathe together and share the occasional munch on a yummy treat. The vet told me that bathing them all together wouldn't do any harm when Petrie and Crush were unwell (not sure why) so I am not feeling too concerned about them together.

How is your Hermy Isa? Is he taking well to the antibiotic? I have been hoping for the best for you both.

It must be so nice to see the interaction between 2 tortoises I wish I could have another one, maybe one day... I am happy for you that Zippy and Turbo are doing good
Thank you for asking about Hermy I still give him antobiotic everyday (10 more days). He eats well (he always wants to eat) and he is active (active in Hermy's way) I just hope everything is going to be fine.

 

[siwash]

Holy smokes, I'mm kinda freaked out... we bought out torts from the same guy and they came from the same stcok and both died on us... at roughly the same time... I guess they came from a bad stock.

I will bet that Andrew is the only Hermann dealer in Ontario. Who else sells them? You just can't find them here... when did u buy Turbo?

Leonardo II is really doing much better... He is a little piglet... eats every day and is pretty active for a hatchling.


I wish you the best of luck with them...

 

[Granolagal]

No doubt.. that is kinda weird.
I got Turbo from Andrew at the Mississauga Reptile Show on the 21st of September. I contacted him after Petrie died and he wanted to give me another free of charge. Crush died a couple of days before the expo..I guess giving me two more free of charge was a bit much. I came across Andrew at the summer expo, at that point I had Zippy for around 4mo. and thought that I would really like to have a trio of them. He didn't have any but said he would let me know when he got some from his breeder. Aaanyway the only other one that I have seen was at The Reptile Store in Hamilton and the little guy was selling for $750. I play basket ball with one of the shop-keepers wives and he agreed to give me a deal at $500 if I bought $100 of goods from his store...lol AND I ALMOST BOUGHT IT!! Thankfully I came across a young man on Canadian Reptile Forum that I was frequenting and he had one that came from Florida that he would sell me for $250, I had no problem driving to Lindsay to get it for that much of a price difference..lol. So, to make a short story long...there are not many and apparently the ones that we can find from Ontario aren't reliably healthy. Turbo seems wonderful though. The day that I got him from the expo he happily ate a giant weed from my hand, even after the stresses of travel and being at the show. I will keep my fingers crossed for our guys...I am feeling much better about them, but can't wait until they are at least six months...

 

[siwash]

When was Petrie hatched? I wonder if it was the same clutch... what did he/she die of? I do remember your posts from Sept. I should go back and read them...

Andrew was obliged to give us replacements.. he obviously knows there's something up with that clutch

He claimed that the new tort is from a different breeder... who knows

I think I am going to get into breeding in the next few years..