Hi all,
Thought I would join a tort forum because I have recently inherited what I think I have identified a female Hermanni name Deisel. She's had a really tough life by the looks of it but she's so full of character and ive already become the overdoting mum.
Deisel was found a couple of years back (can't be sure how long) by someone I know, they were driving their car and had to slam their foot on the breaks to avoid hitting what they thought was a rock in the middle of the road. . .turns out it was my girl covered in Deisel (hence the name).
This person took it in and was told it was a parrot beak tortoise . . .facepalm . . .this meant that poor Deisel had a severely overgrown beak and the owners thought it was normal and so did nothing about it which in turn meant that despite trying to eat with a healthy appetite . . . struggled and became extremely underweight and suffered from all sorts of vitamin defficiencies which has left her carapace looking really sad with huge dents.
In short it looks like Deisel has had a pretty shocking start to life and I'm determined now that she is my repsonsibility to make her as happy and as healthy as possible even if it means I have to hand feed her for over 2 hrs a day until the tortoise specialist has an appointment available to file her beak (this Thursday woo).
I make sure she bathes nearly every day, ensure she's well fed, she spends most of her time basking in the hot spot then at night buries herself under some newspaper to sleep. She's a lovely natured tortoise and extremely sociable chases after my toes really doesn't show any discomfort being picked up, extremely curious, seemingly fearless and an absolute survivor!
We don't currently keep her in a tort table because every time we have kept her enclose she climbs up the sides and tips herself on her back so she pretty much has free roam of one room but mainly sticks to her favourite places (which is mainly where the lamp is and where ever we plant food for her to find to keep it a bit more exciting!)
Please help advise me on how to ensure my girl is happy and healthy.
Thought I would join a tort forum because I have recently inherited what I think I have identified a female Hermanni name Deisel. She's had a really tough life by the looks of it but she's so full of character and ive already become the overdoting mum.
Deisel was found a couple of years back (can't be sure how long) by someone I know, they were driving their car and had to slam their foot on the breaks to avoid hitting what they thought was a rock in the middle of the road. . .turns out it was my girl covered in Deisel (hence the name).
This person took it in and was told it was a parrot beak tortoise . . .facepalm . . .this meant that poor Deisel had a severely overgrown beak and the owners thought it was normal and so did nothing about it which in turn meant that despite trying to eat with a healthy appetite . . . struggled and became extremely underweight and suffered from all sorts of vitamin defficiencies which has left her carapace looking really sad with huge dents.
In short it looks like Deisel has had a pretty shocking start to life and I'm determined now that she is my repsonsibility to make her as happy and as healthy as possible even if it means I have to hand feed her for over 2 hrs a day until the tortoise specialist has an appointment available to file her beak (this Thursday woo).
I make sure she bathes nearly every day, ensure she's well fed, she spends most of her time basking in the hot spot then at night buries herself under some newspaper to sleep. She's a lovely natured tortoise and extremely sociable chases after my toes really doesn't show any discomfort being picked up, extremely curious, seemingly fearless and an absolute survivor!
We don't currently keep her in a tort table because every time we have kept her enclose she climbs up the sides and tips herself on her back so she pretty much has free roam of one room but mainly sticks to her favourite places (which is mainly where the lamp is and where ever we plant food for her to find to keep it a bit more exciting!)
Please help advise me on how to ensure my girl is happy and healthy.