New wanted to say hello

Lynsparkle

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
5
Hello all, glad to have found this site and hoping it will give me many, many tips in looking after my daughters tortoise.
We lived in ashford, kent, uk and have had our tortoise since Christmas 2012 and she was 6 months old when we got her. Not knowing anything about tortoises, we bought a complete starter kit. This was my daughters Christmas present, she was 18, so old enough to know her mind. She named him Mr. Chompers, usually called Chompy. We have learned a few things over last 18 months, but I worry terribly that he's not getting everything he should.
I can't grow food from seeds no matter how hard I try so he is usually fed shop bought mixed salady type leaves. We do give extra calcium etc from a reptile/tortoise supplement on his food. He will not eat dried food (stubborn little thing) . Last year we hibernated him fir 3 weeks, and this year he will be hibernated for 6. I will worm him in November and hibernate him in January ( get the gist of who's tortoise this is and who cares for it ).

He is a Mediterranean tortoise. We do have an enclosure in our garden that we put him out in the summer, but we have 3 dogs and they have already picked him up twice to take and play with, luckily with no harm to him .
So he is now watched when in garden.
I keep saying he, but I think he may be a she.
Hopefully this forum will give me lots of answers to my questions
 

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Lynsparkle

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
5
It is on a table in corner of my daughters bedroom, and the tortoise on right hand side is stone, not real. My daughter thought Chompy would like a friend.!
 

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Tyanna

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Jul 28, 2014
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It looks like a good space for Chompy. May I make some suggestions?

Those coil type bulbs could hurt your tortoises eyes in the long run. MVBs (the whole package - UVB, UVA, and heat) and florescent bulbs (if only needing heat) work well.

He also needs a water bowl that he can easily get in and out of to soak/drink. Many suggest a terra cotta plant saucer.
 

wellington

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Hello and Welcome:). I too would not use that type coil bulb, however you do have it hanging correctly and if you have been using this type since you got her, it may be okay for your tort. I also second the water dish. I love the tortoises. The real and fake one.
 

Lynsparkle

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
5
Thanks for the ideas, you probably can't see it well but there is a water bowl in there which he does use. The bulbs are proper tortoise UVA bulb, and the lam is just for heat but both are specialist bulbs not common or garden light bulbs, just last longer (we hope). I do also bath him at least once a week
 

Lynsparkle

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
5
Thank you all for your welcome and your hints. What's an MVB light ? Mines UVA/UVB. Does show that we probably need larger water pot
 

Yvonne G

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Hi, and welcome to the forum!

It looks like it might be a Hermanni tortoise. As to the bulbs, they might be sold as "proper UVB tortoise bulbs" but they also can harm your tortoise's eyes. Please get rid of it and buy something different. You can either go to a tube-type fluorescent bulb or a Mercury Vapor bulb.
 

Manuela Green

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Joined
Oct 20, 2014
Messages
16
Location (City and/or State)
Oklahoma
Hello all, glad to have found this site and hoping it will give me many, many tips in looking after my daughters tortoise.
We lived in ashford, kent, uk and have had our tortoise since Christmas 2012 and she was 6 months old when we got her. Not knowing anything about tortoises, we bought a complete starter kit. This was my daughters Christmas present, she was 18, so old enough to know her mind. She named him Mr. Chompers, usually called Chompy. We have learned a few things over last 18 months, but I worry terribly that he's not getting everything he should.
I can't grow food from seeds no matter how hard I try so he is usually fed shop bought mixed salady type leaves. We do give extra calcium etc from a reptile/tortoise supplement on his food. He will not eat dried food (stubborn little thing) . Last year we hibernated him fir 3 weeks, and this year he will be hibernated for 6. I will worm him in November and hibernate him in January ( get the gist of who's tortoise this is and who cares for it ).

He is a Mediterranean tortoise. We do have an enclosure in our garden that we put him out in the summer, but we have 3 dogs and they have already picked him up twice to take and play with, luckily with no harm to him .
So he is now watched when in garden.
I keep saying he, but I think he may be a she.
Hopefully this forum will give me lots of answers to my questions
Welcome
 

Grandpa Turtle 144

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Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Messages
10,878
Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ, USA . Have a great tort day !


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum
 

Lynsparkle

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
5
Thanks for the tip on the bulb, been to local pet supplies and vet and both have said they dont have the type of bulb you describe and this is the best for the tort. I will keep looking
Yvonne we were told the Tort is a Marginated Mediterrean and would normally be found wild in Greece, though this was born on UK
 

puffy137

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Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
1,283
Thanks for the tip on the bulb, been to local pet supplies and vet and both have said they dont have the type of bulb you describe and this is the best for the tort. I will keep looking
Yvonne we were told the Tort is a Marginated Mediterrean and would normally be found wild in Greece, though this was born on UK[/QU Hello Lyn, When I was a child in Devon we had a tortoise called Jack , my mother was the person who looked after it, as is. often the case. He was mature when we got him , He hibernated during the cold weather in a box of straw in the greenhouse , in spring when weather was iffy he roamed inside the green house. In summer he was free to roam the garden often ending up being found under our next door neighbours raspberry bushes. Back in those days we didn't go in for all the lamps & heating stuff, but as yours is still young it may not be wise to let him sleep too long, that will come later. As I now live in a hot climate & have a family of Greek tortoises they are much easier to look after , being that they originated in this type of climate . My babies don't hibernate , that only seems to happen when they are upwards of 4-5 years old. Best of luck with your tort. :)
 
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