To Becky...

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Posted by Niki on May 02, 2000 at 13:22:57:

In Reply to: Re: Is this normal? posted by becky on May 02, 2000 at 12:42:27:

I thought I better interupt here a second, cause it
seems like you're getting kinda mad. You asked
for advice and were basically told (correctly) that
the set-up you have your tortoise in is not appropriate.
I understand your frustration though, in that nobody
really told you how to improve it, just that it
wasn't good.
An outdoor enclosure is simply that - an opportunity
for the tortoise to go outside under sunlight and
fresh air and have opportunities to dig and explore.
Since you don't have a yard and will probably not
be able to move right now, then let's try to
substitute some things. (I'm also willing to bet
you will not consider giving the tortoise to
anyone else at this time.)

First - the 20 gallon tank. Since this is an
all-glass aquarium/terrarium, try changing it from
the all-glass look to a more solid feel by taping
some nice colored paper to the outside of the glass
on 3 sides. (I do this with my geckos cage.)
That will give the appearance of "walls" to some
degree. One the one (now) glass side - break up
the front line with a flat stone or small branch,
to discourage any pacing.
Now consider where you could place a bigger
enclosure in your apartment and investigate either
making or buying a larger home for your pet.
I would not encourage you to let your pet wander
around on the floor as this may be too drafty.
Also the cat has no business at all around the
tortoise, period.
You could get a large rubbermaid container or even
a kiddie plastic swim pool for an exercise pen.
There are also "torotise tables" which are really
nice and I think there are directions for this on
the link on my homepage to "Sulcata Station".

You could also do what I do in the winter
and that is to grow some plants in a low shallow
planter (the "saucer parts") and placing these
in the exercise pen.

See if you know anybody who has a small garden that
doesn't use pesticides that you could visit for
a while sometimes with your tortoise. niki

My Tortoise

Follow Ups:

Re: To Becky... Becky 05/02/00 (3)
- Niki saves the day Heather 05/02/00 (2)
  - Thanks Niki Becky 05/02/00 (1)
    - Teddy's cage... Niki 05/02/00 (0)

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: I thought I better interupt here a second, cause it : seems like you're getting kinda mad. You asked : for advice and were basically told (correctly) that : the set-up you have your tortoise in is not appropriate. : I understand your frustration though, in that nobody : really told you how to improve it, just that it : wasn't good. : An outdoor enclosure is simply that - an opportunity : for the tortoise to go outside under sunlight and : fresh air and have opportunities to dig and explore. : Since you don't have a yard and will probably not : be able to move right now, then let's try to : substitute some things. (I'm also willing to bet : you will not consider giving the tortoise to : anyone else at this time.) : First - the 20 gallon tank. Since this is an : all-glass aquarium/terrarium, try changing it from : the all-glass look to a more solid feel by taping : some nice colored paper to the outside of the glass : on 3 sides. (I do this with my geckos cage.) : That will give the appearance of "walls" to some : degree. One the one (now) glass side - break up : the front line with a flat stone or small branch, : to discourage any pacing. : Now consider where you could place a bigger : enclosure in your apartment and investigate either : making or buying a larger home for your pet. : I would not encourage you to let your pet wander : around on the floor as this may be too drafty. : Also the cat has no business at all around the : tortoise, period. : You could get a large rubbermaid container or even : a kiddie plastic swim pool for an exercise pen. : There are also "torotise tables" which are really : nice and I think there are directions for this on : the link on my homepage to "Sulcata Station". : You could also do what I do in the winter : and that is to grow some plants in a low shallow : planter (the "saucer parts") and placing these : in the exercise pen. : See if you know anybody who has a small garden that : doesn't use pesticides that you could visit for : a while sometimes with your tortoise. niki

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