Moonpieroy
New Member
Hi everyone I'm very new to having a tortoise as a pet. I've looked up lots of forum to make sure what I'm doing but lots of information are ambiguous hence I wish i could get some advise one for all. Thanks..
Some information about my tortoise. He's a Horsefield tortoise. Age unknown cus I picked it up from the previous owner who didn't want him anymore. The previous owner had him for three years and she got him from a donation to the school. That's all I know about him. The previous owner didn't seem to know what she was doing when she had him. Because she recommended me to feed him strawberry and carrot. Which I looked up it said it can be really bad for him. And she never used heat lamp in his indoor cage, only uv light. Therefore there isn't much advise I could ask from her.
Here are my question:
1. What substrate should I use for his indoor table?
At the moment I'm using beech chips and I've seen him having wood chips in his mouth I'm not sure that's safe for him.
I'm thinking of using soil based substrate to make a small garden in his table but I'm not sure what's safe to use.
2. When I let him out in the garden. He would go straight to the crown of a plant and eating dirt surround it. Do anyone know why and is it safe to let him eat it?
3. About his diet.
Monty loves gem lettuce like when i feed him a mix of leaf he'd always go straight to the gem lettuce and after he finished lettuce he doesnt touch the rest of the food. Without gem lettuce he doesn't seem to eat much and that worries me. I want to give him a variety food but I'm not sure what's high in protein and what's good for him. Also I don't have much access to weeds. I'd be grateful if anyone can give me a list of food you normally feed your Horsefield tortoise.
4. His behaviour.
Monty can be aggressive when he sees my fingers or toes. Like open his mouth trying to bite them continuously or he would try to jump/knock my finger like have his head in his shell and two front legs go forward then burrow to the side to push himself forward. I don't normally feed him with hands, only when I'm giving him new food. I touch his shell sometimes or when I gave him a bath i would use a toothbrush to gently brush the dirt on his shell. And that's all I can think of that could possibly annoyed him. I wonder have I mistreated him why he's aggressive with me. Would this behavouir drop after i dont touch him for a while?
I love Monty and I really want to take care of him properly. I would be really grateful if someone could give me some advise.
Many thanks!
Some information about my tortoise. He's a Horsefield tortoise. Age unknown cus I picked it up from the previous owner who didn't want him anymore. The previous owner had him for three years and she got him from a donation to the school. That's all I know about him. The previous owner didn't seem to know what she was doing when she had him. Because she recommended me to feed him strawberry and carrot. Which I looked up it said it can be really bad for him. And she never used heat lamp in his indoor cage, only uv light. Therefore there isn't much advise I could ask from her.
Here are my question:
1. What substrate should I use for his indoor table?
At the moment I'm using beech chips and I've seen him having wood chips in his mouth I'm not sure that's safe for him.
I'm thinking of using soil based substrate to make a small garden in his table but I'm not sure what's safe to use.
2. When I let him out in the garden. He would go straight to the crown of a plant and eating dirt surround it. Do anyone know why and is it safe to let him eat it?
3. About his diet.
Monty loves gem lettuce like when i feed him a mix of leaf he'd always go straight to the gem lettuce and after he finished lettuce he doesnt touch the rest of the food. Without gem lettuce he doesn't seem to eat much and that worries me. I want to give him a variety food but I'm not sure what's high in protein and what's good for him. Also I don't have much access to weeds. I'd be grateful if anyone can give me a list of food you normally feed your Horsefield tortoise.
4. His behaviour.
Monty can be aggressive when he sees my fingers or toes. Like open his mouth trying to bite them continuously or he would try to jump/knock my finger like have his head in his shell and two front legs go forward then burrow to the side to push himself forward. I don't normally feed him with hands, only when I'm giving him new food. I touch his shell sometimes or when I gave him a bath i would use a toothbrush to gently brush the dirt on his shell. And that's all I can think of that could possibly annoyed him. I wonder have I mistreated him why he's aggressive with me. Would this behavouir drop after i dont touch him for a while?
I love Monty and I really want to take care of him properly. I would be really grateful if someone could give me some advise.
Many thanks!