Look at the little beauty that was given to me today by my friend's friend. They named her 'Tiku', and I will keep that name.
Any guesses as to age? She is a tiny bit over 6" SCL.
Tiku was loved much by her previous home, and they kept her in a nice big tortoise table (6.5ft x 2.5ft). They just decided they are not 'tortoise people' and are going to focus on their dogs. I respect them for this decision, and am honored they asked me to take her.
She is pyramided, but overall healthy. She has been pretty chilly the last few weeks, and her tortoise table was very dry. Swamping her with warmth and humidity will hopefully start correcting the established growth pattern, which began before she came into their care.
When I first 'met' her last Christmas she had a severe crossbite/underbite. I trimmed her beak drastically and showed the owner how to do gentle physical therapy with her mouth, moving the beak into a straight position. As you can see, it already looks quite a bit better. Here is a before-after pic, with 8 weeks in between them.
Any comments or advice are welcome - I think she is female. This is my first leopard tortoise, but I am not new to tortoise keeping.
I am familiar with the hot/humid method, and will be providing her with a semi-closed chamber with a hot/humid hide. She will be misted a ton, and I will adjust her diet drastically. In the summer she will get an outdoor pen that is partially covered by a poly-tunnel style greenhouse for added heat and humidity.
Any guesses as to age? She is a tiny bit over 6" SCL.
Tiku was loved much by her previous home, and they kept her in a nice big tortoise table (6.5ft x 2.5ft). They just decided they are not 'tortoise people' and are going to focus on their dogs. I respect them for this decision, and am honored they asked me to take her.
She is pyramided, but overall healthy. She has been pretty chilly the last few weeks, and her tortoise table was very dry. Swamping her with warmth and humidity will hopefully start correcting the established growth pattern, which began before she came into their care.
When I first 'met' her last Christmas she had a severe crossbite/underbite. I trimmed her beak drastically and showed the owner how to do gentle physical therapy with her mouth, moving the beak into a straight position. As you can see, it already looks quite a bit better. Here is a before-after pic, with 8 weeks in between them.
Any comments or advice are welcome - I think she is female. This is my first leopard tortoise, but I am not new to tortoise keeping.
I am familiar with the hot/humid method, and will be providing her with a semi-closed chamber with a hot/humid hide. She will be misted a ton, and I will adjust her diet drastically. In the summer she will get an outdoor pen that is partially covered by a poly-tunnel style greenhouse for added heat and humidity.
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