tortoise info help.

[kizzy21_uk]

i have recently rehomed a spur thight tortoise she is 40 years old, i read u should bath them but how often........ she has i very shallow water dish but never uses it just spills the water all over her viv.

also do i have the correct set up 3x2x2 wiv 60w spot bulb and heat mat and a 5.0 uv tube plus hides and cork bark and her fav flower pot........

[incrisis]

Originally Posted by kizzy21_uk

i have recently rehomed a spur thight tortoise she is 40 years old, i read u should bath them but how often........ she has i very shallow water dish but never uses it just spills the water all over her viv.

also do i have the correct set up 3x2x2 wiv 60w spot bulb and heat mat and a 5.0 uv tube plus hides and cork bark and her fav flower pot........

At 40 years old I would guess the tort is an adult and far too large for a viv that size.

The spot bulb should be ok but ideally a 10% UV shold be used when housing indoors.

Do you have any further info on how she has been kept and cared for before you got her?

Also do you have any pics of the tort and set up?

[kizzy21_uk]

shes not very big all i no is that she was in a 3x15x15 same set up as mine she about 40 the guy had had her since he was a kid.

she very active




will take some pictures of the set when the camera has charged and ive just changed the uv tube to a 10 uv

[incrisis]

She looks in pretty good shape from the pics, how big is she?

[kizzy21_uk]

um sorry havent messured her but bout bit smaller than a side plate.

[incrisis]

Not massive then

I don't have a massive knowledge of Spur Thigh as we only have Horsfields, and we keep them in a viv.
It was that I thought a 40 year old tortoise would be a bit too big for a viv that size.

[Tortoise Trust]

That tortoise is not 40 years old.

No way.

There is a lot of recent growth and it has been in captivity since very small indeed, possibly since it hatched. Within the last 7-10 years.

It is of North African stock, quite possibly Libyan. I'd like to see some photos of the plastron (underside). Could have been bred here from parents imported 40 years ago, but this is a young tortoise.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[ukphd]

I was going to say it looked a bit small for 40. It's not much smaller than my 11yr old by the looks of it

[Tortoise Trust]

It's not just size, it is also the total lack of wear and tear on the carapace, and the growth pattern. It is captive-raised and certainly less than 10 years old, at the outside.

Regarding drinking, they like to soak in a tray with the water up to about chin-height. Splash it around a bit, that usually encourages them.

In summer, outside, a light warm rain is excellent for encouraging them to drink and get rid of urates, failing that, sprinkle them with the garden hose. That always works!

Worth noting that arid habitat tortoises are kind of hard-wired (programmed) only to urinate and lose valuable water *IF* a replacement is available. That's why drinking/bathing is so critical in captivity.

With regard to this (very nice) tortoise, I'd reconsider the housing you are using now. Also, what diet are you offering?

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[helen2]

I have to agree...ibera were my first ever tortoise....and my passion in many ways....this tortoise....doesnt look anywhere near 40 yrs old..

As for drinking....put rain water in a walk in bowl(exo terra do one)...a lot of my tortoises will not drink anything except rainwater....

As it is new to you....you wont be hibernating yet....but if it were me I would use the electrics/bulbs etc and convert a large bookcase for his use or something similiar...it needs only be a temporary set up as for sure next spring, he should be living outside 24/7....good luck you are very lucky...ibera have great personalities...mine come running when I go to the orchard end of the garden....great toe nibblers too!!