Horsfield/Russian Tortoise Care

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by cottonsocks

I have seen on another thread that horsefields can eat borage i have tons of it in my garden is it just the leaves they can eat or can they have the pretty flowers as well i also have honeysuckle as well which i also saw you could give them how lovely to have such variety to offer him is it just the flowers on the honeysuckle he can have i must seem clueless but i just want to get it right for him thanx

Yep Honeysuckle is just the flowers

The Borage I arent sure about - have never heard of it - post that on the main bit and see if anyone else knows it love

Also there's a sticky of 'safe plants' which has pics as well which is really handy

[CymraegTort]

Originally Posted by Mrs Mental

Yep Honeysuckle is just the flowers

The Borage I arent sure about - have never heard of it - post that on the main bit and see if anyone else knows it love

Also there's a sticky of 'safe plants' which has pics as well which is really handy

Borage is fine

[Tina831]

Originally Posted by Tina

Russian/Horsfield tortoise care sheet...

Welcome to Tortsmad ~ UK Tortoise keeping explained.

Brilliant reading , very interesting an useful...
Well Done..

[Tina831]

Originally Posted by cottonsocks

Hi i have a horsefield and was also told to have a vivarium and all the wrong kit for him, since reading the info on how to care for him properly we have made his home outdoors got it all ready but now i need to get the tubular heater on a thermostat so that we can put him out of his misery and get him outside where he should be.so basically im after advice where to get the heater for him from im assuming a reptile shop but any advice of where to go would be appreciated I live in the Bournemouth area I feel awful that I havent got it right for him before now so really want to get him outside asap

Hi, i have read lots of different advice regarding Horsefields, some says they are more suited to indoors, some say outside on warm days, some say not in Vivariums, others say table top housing,
But my 2 Horsefields love being inside their new glass vivarium as well as being in a pen outside on a warm day, or walking around my kitchen when i am home alone, when i goit my 1st Horsefield he hated being outside an knew exactly where the doorway to inside was...
I Feel that as long as they are given variety, an healthy, happy an looked after in the way thats best for them as a individual an not just a horsfield....then surely its not a problem to have them in a vivarium, i myself would rather they safe inside there with its netted top rather than be pestered by my cat...
I am sure there will be many of you that have several comments to make about what i have just writen, but why not ask your tortoise what they want too...ok so they wont reply with a vocal comment but i sit an watch mine for hours an they sure seem happy to me...

[Holznlou]

ive herd half and half what to do with heat mats, some people/websites say yes use them, and some people say dont you will cook your tortise :S our russian will be ready next week so we need to know wether to buy one, the guy in the pet shop advised us to get one but he did also advise us to buy a viv, so im not relly gunna trust his advice

[Holznlou]

Edible Weeds

this is by far the best website ive come across, for some one like me who dosnt know the name of plants and weeds!

[neen2912]

thank you for care sheet great help, iv had my tortise since november and a happy litlle chap he is always on the go eating, he is very lively and happy iv noticed though he has not eaten these past two days at al and has barley moved, iv bated him he is going toilet fine he just is not himself at all im a little worried he normally very active loves getting out and roaming round livingroom as to cold outside at moment always on the go dosnt really sleep much untill night time and past few ays he not moved or eaten can anyone help plz

thank you neen xxx

[Shel-b 1]

our horsfield went in the fridge the weekend before christmas but in the weeks before she was very inactive. They seem to be a fairly sensitive breed regarding the time of the year (ie when they would normally be hibernating). You could try upping the temps by a degree or 2 and giving as much light as possible.

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by neen2912

thank you for care sheet great help, iv had my tortise since november and a happy litlle chap he is always on the go eating, he is very lively and happy iv noticed though he has not eaten these past two days at al and has barley moved, iv bated him he is going toilet fine he just is not himself at all im a little worried he normally very active loves getting out and roaming round livingroom as to cold outside at moment always on the go dosnt really sleep much untill night time and past few ays he not moved or eaten can anyone help plz

thank you neen xxx

Would suggest you get a poo sample checked out at the vets for worms (one of the symptoms can be lathergy)

What sort of housing are you using? Diet? Substrate? What are his temps? Can I ask where you bought him from?

Sorryf or the questions but the answers will help hopefully determine if anythign husbandry wise needs improving

[Genseric]

I managed to buy a tortoise off someone recently, and although I know little, I did know enough to realise that this wee tort was not being looked after properly and needed rescued.
It has obviously been overfed, and shows significant pyramiding on it's shell. A fecal exam will be done as soon as I can afford it.

Up to now I have been keeping it in an upturned vivarium, with the glass out, and half a foot of sand/soil. I take him out to my back yard for an hour everyday, and have planted loads of seeds and flowers that I know they like to eat.
Feeding is usually basically what I can get a hold of (and I will be scanning the web to see what else I can use)..

Anyway.. questions.

Should I put nutrobol on it's food once a week?
In regards to food.. what would be the staple diets the majority feed? I have been buying those bags of mixed leaves, and making sure there is a good mix. Added to the weeds, dandelions etc and nasturshums.. seems to like them as well.

I plan to sort the garden out this week, and make it 'tort friendly', or at least set the foundations for it to be. However, I was wondering if it might be better if I construct a burrow for it, and make sure it is stated etc?

So many questions.. and my mind is now blank!

I should add that he/she is an active wee thing, and such a character! I named him/her George, as he/she had a face that made me think of Lonesome George