Ideas please

What is the average life span?
 
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So Herman's tortoise' can live from 50-85ish years if your lucky. Sadly many hatchlings do pass in the first 5 years but touch wood pebble is nearly 5! I got pebble from a very good breeder as a teeny hatchling! Diet is primarily safe weeds such as plantain and mallow. Dandelion can be fed a few times a week also and they need calcium powder 5x a week and nutrobol twice a week on their food. Pebble lives in a 8foot by 3foot tortoise table with uvb lighting and a solar flare heat lamp at one end. Giant plant pot saucers make excellent water bowls and teracotta make fab hides. It's good to feed them on slate to keep their beak and nails down. An outdoor run is also good for natural sunlight but they only go out when it's really hot when young, though eventually an insulated shed with correct heat and light attached to a dig/climb/predator proof run is fab when their older. They are quite proficciant at climbing and digging and a3w quicker than you expect! How often do I see him? Every single day! I will be featuring pebble more in my monthly thread towards the end of the week- I know he was very popular last time so I was saving him and winter for the back end of the week but any questions I can answer on here as best I can ❤️
 
Fun fact! You can't tell the sex of a tortoise until they are 5! We suspect pebble is a boy! But are waiting till July to confirm 😂
 
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Thank you so much for that. The reason I asked how often you see him was because I thought they hibernated so were absent for half the year! I have heard they can do a runner when in the garden. Sounds like some people would need to include a tortoise in their will to be cared for by someone.
 
Maz said:
Thank you so much for that. The reason I asked how often you see him was because I thought they hibernated so were absent for half the year! I have heard they can do a runner when in the garden. Sounds like some people would need to include a tortoise in their will to be cared for by someone.
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Yes definitely need to include them in the will! My middle girl was the one obsessed with tortoise' so pebble will go with her when she flies the nest (though she can stay home as long as she'd like :) ) yes they do hibernate but in captivity you can overwinter them (my exotic vet advised us to do this as so many die in hibernation) and you should never hibernate a hatchling :)
 
What is overwintering please? So basically they don’t have to hibernate? I do remember as a child, people having tortoises that never came out of hibernation because they had died.
 
What is overwintering please? So basically they don’t have to hibernate? I do remember as a child, people having tortoises that never came out of hibernation because they had died
 
A good way to dig proof a run is to put down paving slabs first, drill small holes for drainage and then build the run on top (with a deep layer of sterile top soil so they can burrow still (they like to burrow in soil much the same as hammies!) An exotic vet is a must! I have a fab tortoise savvy vet and vet nurse and they've given me sooo much invaluable advice :)
 
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Maz said:
What is overwintering please? So basically they don’t have to hibernate? I do remember as a child, people having tortoises that never came out of hibernation because they had died.
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Keep them in a tortoise table and provide the regular heat, light and food inside the house and they won't hibernate ;)
 
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Thanks.
 
If you do want to hibernate you have to reduce food and heat in the run up and make sure tort has had a vet check and worm count done prior to attempting hibernation :) I haven't hibernated before though so im not an expert I'm afraid 💓
 
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Maz said:
Aroma?! :ROFLMAO: I know exactly what you mean though Jain - it could be fun if well trained. Might have another chat about it all at the week-end. I'm still thinking about the donkeys - they need homes.
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I'm all for rehoming donkeys 🙂
 
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Jain said:
I'm all for rehoming donkeys 🙂
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But there's something about tortoises that is appealing too good luck with the choices it will be nice to discuss options with your step-son
 
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Thanks Em. Love Santa tortoise 😊. Yes thanks Jain - a few things to think about and discuss.
 
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