Re: HingBack Tortoises!! ( H E L P )

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by kw on April 25, 2000 at 15:21:36:

In Reply to: HingBack Tortoises!! ( H E L P ) posted by RKGJR on April 24, 2000 at 19:36:12:

I've dealt with a couple of forest hingebacks and a bell's hingeback that was in terrible shape! These guys can be extremely shy and it can be difficult to get them to adjust when you first get them. Some people manage to get very outgoing hingebacks, but the ones I've worked with have always been the other extreme!
First off, you need to get these guys drinking water reliably. A dehydrated tortoise will not eat and people will often start focusing on the not-eating part and forget to address hydration issues. The bell's I have wouldn't even drink water the first 2 months I had him - the vet gave him injectible fluids initially since he was in such bad shape.
Soak them often in luke warm water up to their chins. This usually causes mine to urinate and defecate. If yours urinates, watch the color of the urine. Anything getting too dark yellow or orange indicates that the tortoise is holding onto water longer than it should, i.e. it may be dehydrated. This can damage the kidneys. So, getting them drinking water and urinating a clear or clear-yellow colored urine is the first step.
Next is getting them to eat. You might not have any problem. If you do, papaya is something they tend to like. They also love snails and slugs. Slugs are usually one of the first things I can get a shy hingeback to eat.
These guys can be extremely shy at first. The bell's I have would hide 100% of the time! I had to cover up everything so he couldn't see any movement. I usually put a lot of plants in for these guys to hide in.
I keep mine on sterilized bark chips since they will hold moisture without being so wet that they cause problems. It helps to have lots of plants that you can mist. They will then hold drops of water.
You might have to separate the 2 you got. One can intimidate others to the point where the one who is intimidated won't eat or drink.
These guys tend to be a bit shy. But don't worry if yours are on the extremely shy end of things! The bell's hingeback I have would hide from *everything* at first. I've now had him 4 years and anyone can pick him up and his head comes right out of his shell. He's very friendly now. I wouldn't have expected that with as shy as he was at first.
My forest hingeback is about 9" long. He comes out to eat and drink but isn't too active other than that. He'll come out in the morning when it's sunny and he'll walk around for a while before retiring to his hide box.
I'd say that forest hingebacks are usually more difficult to get established than bell's hingebacks, although the bell's I have was a realy challenge. I thought several times I was going to lose him but he pulled through!
With food, again, feed an occasional snail or slug. These guys will eat a little more fruit than other tortoises, but also give them dark leafy greens. They do seem to like a lot of plants to hide in and they don't seem to like it too bright.
Good luck!
kw
: I have recently purchased 2 K.Greca hingback torts but cant find any info on them!!! I dont know if they are strictly herbivors or omnivorious!! I know they need humidity but how much?? How big do they get??? How much room is required for them??? Please answer all the questions if u can!! THANK YOU!!!

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I've dealt with a couple of forest hingebacks and a bell's hingeback that was in terrible shape! These guys can be extremely shy and it can be difficult to get them to adjust when you first get them. Some people manage to get very outgoing hingebacks, but the ones I've worked with have always been the other extreme! : First off, you need to get these guys drinking water reliably. A dehydrated tortoise will not eat and people will often start focusing on the not-eating part and forget to address hydration issues. The bell's I have wouldn't even drink water the first 2 months I had him - the vet gave him injectible fluids initially since he was in such bad shape. : Soak them often in luke warm water up to their chins. This usually causes mine to urinate and defecate. If yours urinates, watch the color of the urine. Anything getting too dark yellow or orange indicates that the tortoise is holding onto water longer than it should, i.e. it may be dehydrated. This can damage the kidneys. So, getting them drinking water and urinating a clear or clear-yellow colored urine is the first step. : Next is getting them to eat. You might not have any problem. If you do, papaya is something they tend to like. They also love snails and slugs. Slugs are usually one of the first things I can get a shy hingeback to eat. : These guys can be extremely shy at first. The bell's I have would hide 100% of the time! I had to cover up everything so he couldn't see any movement. I usually put a lot of plants in for these guys to hide in. : I keep mine on sterilized bark chips since they will hold moisture without being so wet that they cause problems. It helps to have lots of plants that you can mist. They will then hold drops of water. : You might have to separate the 2 you got. One can intimidate others to the point where the one who is intimidated won't eat or drink. : These guys tend to be a bit shy. But don't worry if yours are on the extremely shy end of things! The bell's hingeback I have would hide from *everything* at first. I've now had him 4 years and anyone can pick him up and his head comes right out of his shell. He's very friendly now. I wouldn't have expected that with as shy as he was at first. : My forest hingeback is about 9" long. He comes out to eat and drink but isn't too active other than that. He'll come out in the morning when it's sunny and he'll walk around for a while before retiring to his hide box. : I'd say that forest hingebacks are usually more difficult to get established than bell's hingebacks, although the bell's I have was a realy challenge. I thought several times I was going to lose him but he pulled through! : With food, again, feed an occasional snail or slug. These guys will eat a little more fruit than other tortoises, but also give them dark leafy greens. They do seem to like a lot of plants to hide in and they don't seem to like it too bright. : Good luck! : kw : : I have recently purchased 2 K.Greca hingback torts but cant find any info on them!!! I dont know if they are strictly herbivors or omnivorious!! I know they need humidity but how much?? How big do they get??? How much room is required for them??? Please answer all the questions if u can!! THANK YOU!!!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]