Shell Comparison

[Lemonade]

I just acquired two new CDT, and I was saddened to see the shells, since I have one, Hibiscus, the same size, who I have raised from a hatchling and it's shell is smooth--unmarred. However, Dr. Greek was surprised and very complementary of Hibiscus, saying the condition of the new CDL's is more what he usually sees. Except for the first couple winters, I have kept Hibiscus in a yard with a variety of weeds, grasses, and plants to graze at will.

Hibiscus is on the left; Lemonade (named for a pucker in her scutes) is on the right.

 

[Yvonne G]

Besides the deformed shell, she's very thin. Compare her front upper arms to Hibiscus's. This is one of my favorite species. I hope you keep us in the loop with many pictures.

 

[wellington]

Well, glad you got her. Now she will have a better life.

 

[Lemonade]

Pictures?! You want pictures??

This is another shot of Lemonade grazing. She is adjusting well to her "better life" of grazing.


She LOVES the petunias, as does Hibiscus. Since I took this picture, the plants are nubs:


I also keep a Russian, Sandy Sand Dollar, in the desert. I just discovered that hollyhock leaves are "to die for."


This is the second CDT, Hollyhock, that I got with Lemonade:

 

[Kitkat1989]

I wish my tort would eat petunias! He turns his nose up at everything I offer!

 

[Abdulla6169]

I wish my tort would eat petunias! He turns his nose up at everything I offer!

Try adding them to his favorites while hand feeing them!

 

[N2TORTS]

Dr. Greek is an acquaintance of mine ........A superb Vet in the Herp field as well as other exotics. Nice to see his name present in our forum .

 

[Lemonade]

I wish my tort would eat petunias! He turns his nose up at everything I offer!

I'm fortunate to have a yard where mine can graze, although I do sometimes "offer" them food. The CDT's seem to really LOVE petunias--the flowers and the plant. I've never seen my Russian eat them, however.

What kind of tort do you have, and what does it eat?

 

[Kitkat1989]

I have a hermann. He came to me at 2 years old and all he ate was lettuce. Iv introduced other food and he loves pak choi and will occasionally graze on dandelion leaves but other than that he's a very fussy eater. Iv started my own box of weeds which I'm introducing but he just refuses to eat. This is a pic of him today sniffing things in the garden and having a little nibble

 

[Lemonade]

Hmm . . . That must be frustrating. I know it does my heart good to see my babies eat and enjoy what I've got to the trouble to provide for them. I don't know about Hermanns, so I can't give any educated comments, but I do know that my animals LOVE romaine, so I imagine if that's what they're started on, it would be hard to introduce other foods. How love have you had him?

 

[Abdulla6169]

View attachment 88461 I have a hermann. He came to me at 2 years old and all he ate was lettuce. Iv introduced other food and he loves pak choi and will occasionally graze on dandelion leaves but other than that he's a very fussy eater. Iv started my own box of weeds which I'm introducing but he just refuses to eat. This is a pic of him today sniffing things in the garden and having a little nibble

Get some romaine, put some healthy foods inside, hide it (by putting the food in the middle & warping the 2 leaves around it) then hand feed... Mine was introduced to healthy foods using this method! It worked for my picky Greek tort & will probably work for yours

 

[Kitkat1989]

I had him since April. I'll try that.... I tried him on okra but he won't try it

 

[kathyth]

Lookie what I just found, in a link Yvonne gave us!

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, Don is a very knowledgeable tortoise keeper. That's good info about the lighter/darker coloration. I never thought of that.

 

[Abdulla6169]

Yes, Don is a very knowledgeable tortoise keeper. That's good info about the lighter/darker coloration. I never thought of that.

Do you think this would be the same for other tortoise species (like Greeks, for example?)?

 

[Teodora'sDAD]

Glad he has a new home with friends!