Morning all
I just wanted to introduce myself and hopefully pick up some help and advice along the way
We've recently taken on two non uk bred Torts from a lady that's had to give up her house and move into a flat, needless to say she's upset that after 35 years with her ( they had a previous keeper too ) she's had to find them new homes.
The first one is Peggy. She is a large girl somewhere between the ages of 80 - 100. She's a spur thigh
Second is the rebel Henry. He's somewhere between 50 - 65 we believe and is a very mischevious Hermanns, if there's a tiny gap, he will find it
I've trawled the internet since we knew we were taking them on but struggle to find much on looking after those that were brought into the country many years ago, so are finding our feet with them as we go along
They used to just roam outdoors free when warm then hibernate about October until March or whenever spring decides to arrive.
Presently we have them running riot in our adapted small bedroom ( floor lined with waterproof matting then substrate of topsoil and sand mixed on top ) with a UVA/UVB lamp waiting for the weather to pick up a bit here in the UK. They've been fully awake for about 3 weeks now
Outdoors, we have made what we hope is a Henry proof pen for them to live in whilst we aren't there to watch ( it's 15sqm ) with full run of the garden when we are around.
Peggy woke from hibernation with a slightly runny nose and has wheezed for the past week so she is booked in to see a specialist vet on Monday, along with Henry as we figured it can't do him any harm to be checked out either
We've been bathing them every other day and feeding them leafy lettuce ( not iceburg ) and watercress to keep them going until the weeds start to come through
I've read online that mixed breeds shouldn't be kept together but with these two being together so long now ( at least 35 years ) I'm assuming it's fine to continue with this ?
Does it sound like we are on the right track with them or is there something I need to be doing to make sure they are happy and content
Thanks for reading my ramble
Andrea x
I just wanted to introduce myself and hopefully pick up some help and advice along the way
We've recently taken on two non uk bred Torts from a lady that's had to give up her house and move into a flat, needless to say she's upset that after 35 years with her ( they had a previous keeper too ) she's had to find them new homes.
The first one is Peggy. She is a large girl somewhere between the ages of 80 - 100. She's a spur thigh
Second is the rebel Henry. He's somewhere between 50 - 65 we believe and is a very mischevious Hermanns, if there's a tiny gap, he will find it
I've trawled the internet since we knew we were taking them on but struggle to find much on looking after those that were brought into the country many years ago, so are finding our feet with them as we go along
They used to just roam outdoors free when warm then hibernate about October until March or whenever spring decides to arrive.
Presently we have them running riot in our adapted small bedroom ( floor lined with waterproof matting then substrate of topsoil and sand mixed on top ) with a UVA/UVB lamp waiting for the weather to pick up a bit here in the UK. They've been fully awake for about 3 weeks now
Outdoors, we have made what we hope is a Henry proof pen for them to live in whilst we aren't there to watch ( it's 15sqm ) with full run of the garden when we are around.
Peggy woke from hibernation with a slightly runny nose and has wheezed for the past week so she is booked in to see a specialist vet on Monday, along with Henry as we figured it can't do him any harm to be checked out either
We've been bathing them every other day and feeding them leafy lettuce ( not iceburg ) and watercress to keep them going until the weeds start to come through
I've read online that mixed breeds shouldn't be kept together but with these two being together so long now ( at least 35 years ) I'm assuming it's fine to continue with this ?
Does it sound like we are on the right track with them or is there something I need to be doing to make sure they are happy and content
Thanks for reading my ramble
Andrea x