On Oct. Of last year I was given a a baby sulcata tortoise. Just yesterday I found this very informative site about new and veteran tortoise owners. So I hope you all can help me with my questions and concerns that I have.
1. How old is my tortoise? She fits in the palm of my hand but I have no idea how old is he/she. And the person that gave it to me is more lost than I am, lol.
2. His/her shell is not as 'smooth' as some tortoises I've seen online. Could she have that pyramiding disease? Is their a way to stop it or should I not worry that much?
3. I live in southern CA so even in winter we have the sun shining and warming us up, so my lil tortoise gets plenty of sun through out the day, should I still get her a UVB light?
4. He/she was only fed romainien lettuce before I got her, so she is quite use to only eating that, I tried giving him/her weeds and carrots but she dosent like to eat it. What can I try so she could eat more nutrisious food?
5. Her bottom part of the shell seems a little soft, the top part of her shell is hard but when I press on it (not to hard) she seems bothered by it. Should I be worried or is that normal?
6. He/she seems to be sleeping more, but when hungry he/she walks to where I normally feed him/her and stays their until I give some food. So she's not stuck in one place not eating but id like her to be a little more active. When outside she dose walk around A LOT, sometimes I even loose her around the yard but when I do observe her, she dosent seem to be eating any weeds or grassses. I did replace my grass before I got her, before that it was full of weeds but now is mostly new grass (and I didn't use any fertilizers or pesticides when I replaced or maintain my grass) so I know is safe for her to eat anything she likes in my yard.
Any help and advice anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. I never thought ill get so attached to a small amphibiam after having dogs for most of my life, but I see myself paying more attention to my tortoise than my dogs and guinea pig, lol, so I know I really care for her. Hope anyone can help, thanks.
1. How old is my tortoise? She fits in the palm of my hand but I have no idea how old is he/she. And the person that gave it to me is more lost than I am, lol.
2. His/her shell is not as 'smooth' as some tortoises I've seen online. Could she have that pyramiding disease? Is their a way to stop it or should I not worry that much?
3. I live in southern CA so even in winter we have the sun shining and warming us up, so my lil tortoise gets plenty of sun through out the day, should I still get her a UVB light?
4. He/she was only fed romainien lettuce before I got her, so she is quite use to only eating that, I tried giving him/her weeds and carrots but she dosent like to eat it. What can I try so she could eat more nutrisious food?
5. Her bottom part of the shell seems a little soft, the top part of her shell is hard but when I press on it (not to hard) she seems bothered by it. Should I be worried or is that normal?
6. He/she seems to be sleeping more, but when hungry he/she walks to where I normally feed him/her and stays their until I give some food. So she's not stuck in one place not eating but id like her to be a little more active. When outside she dose walk around A LOT, sometimes I even loose her around the yard but when I do observe her, she dosent seem to be eating any weeds or grassses. I did replace my grass before I got her, before that it was full of weeds but now is mostly new grass (and I didn't use any fertilizers or pesticides when I replaced or maintain my grass) so I know is safe for her to eat anything she likes in my yard.
Any help and advice anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. I never thought ill get so attached to a small amphibiam after having dogs for most of my life, but I see myself paying more attention to my tortoise than my dogs and guinea pig, lol, so I know I really care for her. Hope anyone can help, thanks.
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