Re: Herman's Tortoise

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Posted by Linda44847 on August 26, 2001 at 16:58:16:

In Reply to: Re: Herman's Tortoise posted by Janie on August 26, 2001 at 16:21:19:

Thanks, Janie....hard to find any reassurance when you as new as I am. I weigh her every day and soak her every 3 or 4 days. Her weight is
very stable--never shifts and I use two different scales. I do try to keep fresh greens available all the time....change them twice a day--scrub her
housing out every 5 days or so and change bedding.
I am using All Pet Pine -- crumbled pine pellets --customer service at manufacturer assured me it was safe...do you have any better suggestions?

The person who sold her to me said to use wood shaving material or newspaper--no one had any ideas here in this area as too proper bedding and newpaper just did not seem right...

I really want to take good care of my tortoise. She is very friendly and seems relatively happy...but I do not know what an unhappy tortoise looks like. I am in process of constructing a winter housing place in my office
approximately 4 foot in diameter. Paxil is suppose to be about 3 years old--she is approximately 4 1/2 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches long and weighs a consistent one and one half pounds. By comparison to the diagrams I find on the internet I am pretty confident Paxil is female. Short thick tail and lovely eyes.

I got this tortoise at the All Ohio Reptile show at the end of July. She has 3 inches at least of bedding to dig in--ceramic heat bulb at one end....uv light in middle and hiding box at the other end of a 48" x 24" x 12" plastic storage
box. I do have a real problem with letting her outside in the 4 x 4 enclosure unless I am sitting there.....I live in country....do not feel secure. All kinds of other things around but I know it is not healthy to keep her inside all the time. Even with a screen cover on wooden
box I worry that a raccoon or fox or something could find a way to get in. Also...what are the chances of Paxil digging out?? Can I let her wander around my tv room occassionally?

Please may I have a copy of your care sheet? Maybe I am making myself crazy. I just do not want
to do the wrong thing and poor Paxil is completely dependent on me.

One more quick question--took a stool sample to vet.....he has NO tortoise experience but could not see any evidence of parasites--are parasites
very common in a tortoise? I wanted an older tortoise because a tiny baby seemed so fragile, but Paxil was in a realative small plastic container with many other tortoises all sizes and shapes that is a major concern with other types of livestock here on the farm so I am concerned about Paxil. I have years and years of experience with all types of farm animals and dogs and cats but there is only one Paxil.

Thank you.

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: Thanks, Janie....hard to find any reassurance when you as new as I am. I weigh her every day and soak her every 3 or 4 days. Her weight is : very stable--never shifts and I use two different scales. I do try to keep fresh greens available all the time....change them twice a day--scrub her : housing out every 5 days or so and change bedding. : I am using All Pet Pine -- crumbled pine pellets --customer service at manufacturer assured me it was safe...do you have any better suggestions? : The person who sold her to me said to use wood shaving material or newspaper--no one had any ideas here in this area as too proper bedding and newpaper just did not seem right... : I really want to take good care of my tortoise. She is very friendly and seems relatively happy...but I do not know what an unhappy tortoise looks like. I am in process of constructing a winter housing place in my office : approximately 4 foot in diameter. Paxil is suppose to be about 3 years old--she is approximately 4 1/2 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches long and weighs a consistent one and one half pounds. By comparison to the diagrams I find on the internet I am pretty confident Paxil is female. Short thick tail and lovely eyes. : I got this tortoise at the All Ohio Reptile show at the end of July. She has 3 inches at least of bedding to dig in--ceramic heat bulb at one end....uv light in middle and hiding box at the other end of a 48" x 24" x 12" plastic storage : box. I do have a real problem with letting her outside in the 4 x 4 enclosure unless I am sitting there.....I live in country....do not feel secure. All kinds of other things around but I know it is not healthy to keep her inside all the time. Even with a screen cover on wooden : box I worry that a raccoon or fox or something could find a way to get in. Also...what are the chances of Paxil digging out?? Can I let her wander around my tv room occassionally? : Please may I have a copy of your care sheet? Maybe I am making myself crazy. I just do not want : to do the wrong thing and poor Paxil is completely dependent on me. : One more quick question--took a stool sample to vet.....he has NO tortoise experience but could not see any evidence of parasites--are parasites : very common in a tortoise? I wanted an older tortoise because a tiny baby seemed so fragile, but Paxil was in a realative small plastic container with many other tortoises all sizes and shapes that is a major concern with other types of livestock here on the farm so I am concerned about Paxil. I have years and years of experience with all types of farm animals and dogs and cats but there is only one Paxil. : Thank you.

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