My (very public) Tortoise Diary

[Sosakan]

well, I am going to start this thread as a tort diary and people ca either read, contribute or ignore what goes on here.

To begin, I got my Hermann tortoise from tortoise supply.com on June 2, that is his/her birthday. His name is Einstein, Einey for short. I am thinking of changing his name to peanut, but none of his names seem to really strike me, I want Sheldon, but that's too cliche.

I have been in love with turtles and tortoises since I was a child but never dared to dream I could own one. I have been in the hospital for the last 6 months and have lost my job and I needed something to keep me going, so i decided to treat myself to a companion and something to get me out of bed in the morning. He is the cutest thing on 4 legs and I don't regret he isn't a star or western hermans.

Right now I live in the basement of my sisters house and it is a constant 65 degrees so I find keeping his temps high enough VERY challenging. I want to build him a 4x8 table, but keeping the temps is hard enough with the 2x31/2 enclosure I have now.


Entry 1

 

[spud's_mum]

Pics?
Great story

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks for not bringing another Sheldon into this world.

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum, to both, you and EINSTEIN...(that brainy? Joking)

I believe that temperature is rather low. Plus, does the sun get to the basement? This is a very important point for pets, human beings even plants.Also keep in mind that torts take quite long to adapt....patience anda lot of patience required here.

How about posting pics of your tort as well as your place? You could also read the 'beginners thread' and care sheets.

(Hope you are now better).

 

[Sosakan]

Zero, yes there are already to many, what do you think about peanut?

Gillian, yeah, the temps are a constant battle, no window down here either. I try to walk him as often as possible weather permitting. And, yes, for the most part I am, thank you! It is an uphill battle.

 

[Sosakan]

Entry 2

I find Einey's diet to be challenging. I live in the basement of a house where every lawn is sprayed for weeds and even though weeds still do appear, I feel they are to pesticide loaded to be safe. I have found he like collard greens, will deign to eat spring mix and likes hibiscus flowers. I bought some dandelion seeds and will be planting them shortly, bought a spider plant and a hibiscus plant and hope to buy more for my menagerie.

Einey's doesn't eat much, he nibbles and when the mood and the right leaf strikes him he'll go to town, but usually, he nibbles. I heard/read somewhere that a tort should eat their body size in leafy greens every day, he eats enough to fill up his head let alone his carapace.

Of all the aspects of tort husbandry I find the temps and the diet most challenging. I like to figure out new things to plant that he can eat, but the temp problem irkes me to no end. I have a 125 watt mvb and a medium sized heating pad ( I know!) just to keep his tiny home to temp, I don't know what I'll do with his big table, I guess when I find a job both my and his standard of living will increase, not until then I fear. Hopefully my love will keep him warm enough *cue Xmas song here.

 

[Lyn W]

Maybe he isn't warm enough to eat - or possibly too hot if he hasn't got room to roam If you buy a temp gun you can keep an eye on his 4 temps at his level.

 

[Sosakan]

*********REGARDING TEMPS*************

I own a temp gun
I check his temps several times a day
Right now I cannot add another heat source
I know what the temps SHOULD be, which is why I am working on them
I cannot at this moment change his enclosure, no way, no $$

Thank you

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Prefer Einstein to Peanut myself.
And hate Einy.
Sheldon.....no comment.

 

[WillTort2]

If you cover part of the enclosure that should bring up the temperature a few degrees. Or raise his enclosure higher off the floor. There is usually a temperature gradient of a few degrees between the floor and the ceiling. Or insulate the sides and bottom of the enclosure. Just taping a layer of foam to the sides and bottom. Most all items shipped have foam as the protection from damage.

Good luck!

 

[Sosakan]

Trying to get pics up....

 

[4jean]

Einstein is very cute! How is your humidity? I find keeping the humidity levels up to be a challenge. I have to cover my table with foil.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Beautiful pictures of a gorgeous tortoise, but the substrate looks very dry to me.

 

[Sosakan]

Yeah, that was before I added another 1/2 gal to the substrate and misted everything. I now have half of the enclosure covered in foil, would post pics but people would complain about size...again.

 

[Sosakan]

Entry 3

Ok, I know it's small, once I get a job he gets a 4x8, until then this is his. I have covered 3/4ths with foil, but it means that part is dark, there has gotta be a better trade off.

Today, I bought an aloe plant ( so I can SEE him poo ), an optunia is in the mail, and I planted some dandelion seeds, all in an attempt to increase the variety of his menu. I have 2 VERY black thumbs, so this entree into pot gardening is gonna be hit and miss. I really hope he likes the cactus, I'm gonna plant one or 2, just to hedge my bets, to give me more options. I think I have the heat under control for the moment, still a work in progress, and so is the humidity. Once I get a job I will make things much better for him, but until then were stuck with this setup...

 

[Sosakan]

Yes, the light is hitting the substrate, it just looks like the foil is in the way.

 

[Sosakan]

Entry 4

I'm so excited! I just saw the first sign of green in my dandelion pot! Not only is it a favourite plant for me, it's gonna be good food for Peanut, yes, I am going with Peanut instead of Einstein.

Once the dandelions are ready for the menu I will have a few more things to feed, now I just have to plant my opuntia, I hope it doesn't take too long to make pads!

List of things I feed:
Collard Greens
Escarole
Mustard Greens
Spider Plant
Hibiscus
Aloe
ZooMed Natural Grassland Tortoise Food
Dandelion (coming soon)
Opuntia (coming soon)