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- Thread starter j.martin
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Sound fun but I doubt the tort would enjoy it. They do not crave the same attention as a dog or cat would. Torts seem happiest just being left alone.
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Maggie Cummings
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I kinda think from the questions you've been asking that you should get a dog or a cat and not a tortoise....Just my opinion...
Its just honest questions. Some people are new to this and don't know about tortoises and what they like. A lot of people dont even know they are reptiles.
I am pretty sure your tortoise would be scared (A LOT). I do not think it is a good idea.
I know you are allergic to hairy critters and a tort sounds good, but perhaps a Lizard of some type may better suit your needs. or a hairless cat or dog. If Bike rides and walks in the woods are something you and your 6 year old would like to do with your animal they do have special harnesses for lizards. These types of activites for torts of any kind are not suited to them. Torts are slow quiet beings that just like to move through life at their own pace.
I do hope you continue your research into torts to see if they are the best animal for your family at this time.
I do hope you continue your research into torts to see if they are the best animal for your family at this time.
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Maggie Cummings
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Millerlite said:
Yes I would agree with you, but from the kinds of questions being asked I think that they need an animal more suited to the kinds of things they want to do. So while they are honest questions, my response was just as honest. I don't think a tortoise is what they need.
Oh i read your response wrong,sorry about that i thought you were thinking they were joking around, didnt notice you said to get a dog or cat, lol.. Yeah i would have to agree with you though.. Cat dog, maybe rat or ferret, even some lizards... tortoises are more of a looking and appreciating animal.
I appreciate what you are all saying. I have got my tortoise now, he is 9 and his name is george. I was asking those questions cause i genuinley wasnt sure wot i could and couldnt do with him but i get it now. We are thoroughly enjoying georges company and he is a very tame and friendly wee soul. i presume that if he didnt like being handled he would put his head in his shell? He has yet to do that since we got him except to go to sleep at night. only problem i have is getting him to eat food from his dish, he will only eat weeds in the garden so far, i even kept him out of the garden today to see if that made a difference , but no.
How often do you guys change the subtrate in the box?
How often do you guys change the subtrate in the box?
A tort may not go so far to put its head in the shell, but still not enjoy being picked up. You can monitor the behaviour to see. If the breathing quickens and other signs of stress you can tell. Some torts don't mind being handled at all though.
Weeds in the garden are better than eating from a dish. Have you thought that maybe the problem is not the food, but the presentation of the food? Size, texture, picking it up from the dish, etc? Try feeding a variety of greens, different shapes and sizes, etc. My tort still can't bite very thick pieces as he can't bite off a bite. He'll give up after a couple trys for example. he does better with baby greens (spring mix) that is not chopped at all, so he can hold it with his arms. You have to keep trying and experimenting, but at least he is eating! I don't think you have to worry yet, just keep working at it.
The substrate should be changed when it smells or looks like it needs to be changed. If you pick up messes daily it could last 3 or 6 months. I change mine a little more often though as we're very clean people. It's up to you. Also depends on the substrate type. Moist substrate hides pee pees more than dry substrate, so you may not see them (it may be dirtier and need to be changed more).
What kinds of weeds does he eat in the garden?
Weeds in the garden are better than eating from a dish. Have you thought that maybe the problem is not the food, but the presentation of the food? Size, texture, picking it up from the dish, etc? Try feeding a variety of greens, different shapes and sizes, etc. My tort still can't bite very thick pieces as he can't bite off a bite. He'll give up after a couple trys for example. he does better with baby greens (spring mix) that is not chopped at all, so he can hold it with his arms. You have to keep trying and experimenting, but at least he is eating! I don't think you have to worry yet, just keep working at it.
The substrate should be changed when it smells or looks like it needs to be changed. If you pick up messes daily it could last 3 or 6 months. I change mine a little more often though as we're very clean people. It's up to you. Also depends on the substrate type. Moist substrate hides pee pees more than dry substrate, so you may not see them (it may be dirtier and need to be changed more).
What kinds of weeds does he eat in the garden?
J.martin, Sounds like your 9 year old just loves your garden. As long as there are no pestisices or chemicals that could harm him eating in the garden is fine. Lots of People in the UK have Greeks or Hermanns in the garden all spring and summer. What type of Tort is George?
Dandalions are one of the very good greens for torts. Verity is key!. As I say that, I know mine love the clover and the dandi's that are growing! I am not sure how to get a tort to eat a wide verity when kept outside with the stuff they love.
In the future I would work on him having more variety, not just dandelion and clover. Both are great, but also high in oxalic acid and should not make up the diet as whole, in addition to that not being enough nutritional variety. Spring mix from the produce section is great for torts and most owners like it too. That's an easy way to add variety. You can also buy seeds online to plant more weeds. What do you offer in his dish at home that he doesn't eat?
George is a Hermann. I was giving him lettuce and broccoli and apple. I took tortoisenerds advice and took it out of his dish and put it on his little wooden ramp and chopped it up smaller and now he seems to be eating it much better. he likes little gem lettuce but isnt keen on broccoli and apple gave him the runs yesterday. i was worried because i wasnt able to get him to take his vitamin powder so today i didnt take him outside and let him get quite hungry and then gave him his lettuce with his vitamins on and he munched it up so im happier at that. hes a crafty wee so and so!! I dont have a pet shop that caters for tortoises so im not able to get spring greens cause im from northern ireland. tell me whats in that mix and i can try and make it up myself
j.martin said:
The Spring Mix is actually from grocery stores. It has baby lettuces, romaine, radicchio, endive, Lollo rosa, frisee, Arugula, mache, mizuna, red and green oak leaf LETTUCE (not leaves from oak tree's but the lettuce). There are many more things, these are just what mine have.
You can also add collard greens, mustard greens (more sparingly), turnip greens and many other things too.
What vitamin powder are you feeding? With a varied diet my opinion is all that you want to give is pure calcium carbonate, and maybe an all natural supplement (not vitamins) like Total Nutrition for Tortoises from CarolinaPetSupply.com
I suggest to not feed brocolii or apple. Stick to foods like he would get in the wild such as grasses and weeds. The greens ans lettuces found in grocery stores are a close approximation that is easy for owners like me. Apples are too sugary. I never feed fruit to my tortoise. Broccoli is too starchy and can cause goiter. Rob has great suggestions! If something gives him the runs that is a sign he is not used to it and/or it might not be a great idea for his diet. I buy organic as much as possible for my tort as they can be sensitive to the pesticides. If you feed anything from your lawn it should be without fertilizer/pesticides.
I barely buy anything from pet stores. All they carry for foods is commercial diets, not salad greens (which like Rob said are form the store, like you would eat). Commercial diets aren't recommended.
Best wishes! Hermanns are cute. Sounds like he's doing great.
I suggest to not feed brocolii or apple. Stick to foods like he would get in the wild such as grasses and weeds. The greens ans lettuces found in grocery stores are a close approximation that is easy for owners like me. Apples are too sugary. I never feed fruit to my tortoise. Broccoli is too starchy and can cause goiter. Rob has great suggestions! If something gives him the runs that is a sign he is not used to it and/or it might not be a great idea for his diet. I buy organic as much as possible for my tort as they can be sensitive to the pesticides. If you feed anything from your lawn it should be without fertilizer/pesticides.
I barely buy anything from pet stores. All they carry for foods is commercial diets, not salad greens (which like Rob said are form the store, like you would eat). Commercial diets aren't recommended.
Best wishes! Hermanns are cute. Sounds like he's doing great.
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