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23-02-2008, 05:30 PM
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V MAX how refreshing...and how true....I have kept torts...for most of my 56 years and my mama was very careful, back in the day, that I kept ANY pet a s close as natural and took heed of good diet...possibility of parasites etc so I was lucky I had a good teacher...and most of it holds true even now...although we have learnt a lot more and this I give the highest regard.
My male ibera is 45/8ish and I have had him from 5/8 yrs old...40 years...and he is one of the healthiest specimens I have ever seen...apart from two female ibera kept by a friend in yorkshire....who are sooooooo big I couldnt believe it when I met them. Gut instinct takes you along way in this hobby...I have nursed many a sick tort along the way who has been passed onto me....and all have recovered. My instinct backed by researching new ideas/products...tells me that dried food has its place...I am lucky and have only used it once for a tort who would have died if not...I am sure. I have also used vivs and would do so again if the situation required that I did. As for weeds and disease in wild animals...they can get in your garden and fly over it and rain can fall on it so I am sure that the situation of weeds from fields would be as safe as your own.....unless pesticides are used. Weeds in cities....good point...but I am not sure one way or another. 
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23-02-2008, 05:35 PM
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Quote from Tina;
As you've been a keeper for so long would you share with us your keeping methods... including feeding? I'm sure lots of us would be interested to hear, especially us newbies to tort keeping who are trying to gather as much information as possible. I would be very interested also to hear your methods V Max. Also I would be very interested in your methods too Helen,if you would both kindly share them with us?
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23-02-2008, 06:08 PM
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Quote:
How many do you have? Which species? Do you breed them? Do you feed a total weed/edible plant diet (I think you've answered that though)? What type of indoor enclosure do you (usually) use, what substrates? Do you always hibernate (even juveniles)? As you've kept them for so long how have your keeping methods changed over the years? Things like heating, lighting, feeding, housing. Gosh, sorry... loads of questions!
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23-02-2008, 06:09 PM
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Hi Helen and thankyou so much,mostly I would like to know what diet you have fed over the years,uv usage,heat,anything you have found that is of great benefit to the health of a tortoise and anything you have found to be detremental to their health please? I may have other questions also if you don't mind.I appreciate this help and info thankyou.
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23-02-2008, 06:16 PM
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Well, I'll can chat for ever about keeping reptiles. But, unfortunately time is really short at the moment due to the refit. If you would care to check out my posts on the shelled section you will get a very good idea of most of the methods I use. You will also see the resulting arguments with regards to a different opinion. Also here is a link to a care sheet on my site, again this care sheet has been slated on this forum, again for not going down the well troddon path often regurgitated on these forums.
Coast To Coast Exotics - Reptile Shop / Reptile & Amphibian Breeder / Supplier of Snakes - Darlington, North East England, UK Its a brave move nowadays to share 30 years worth of experience - I'll await to see how brave (or stupid) I have been to try again.
__________________
Coast to Coast Exotics www.coasttocoast.co.uk Legendary reptile breeder and shop Zoo Logic UK Ltd - Importer/exporter/wholesaler. http://www.zoo-logic.co.uk/
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23-02-2008, 07:04 PM
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Quote:
Thank you, just read the caresheet. I'm guessing this has resulted in previous arguments re the use of vivariums and your choice of substrate? I'll check out some posts next so I guess that question will be answered. I do hope this won't restart previous arguments... there seems to be a more tolerant mix of people around these days though who are willing to accept others keeping methods and the fact that we can all learn something from each other. No one person will do things in exactly the same way as another and hopefully this will be accepted. I do love to ask lots of questions though until I get an answer... I hope those questions don't come over as intollerant though as they're not intended to be, they're just part of my search for as much (different) information I can get. Right, off to search threads..... Thanks again.
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23-02-2008, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
__________________
Trice.. Conform to my beliefs and ideas or thou shalt be spanked for not being a RFUK-Bot! For i art a Nazi German! (or so i have been told) I am super noodles.
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23-02-2008, 07:08 PM
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Quote:
I sort of read that in your posts... it's difficult sometimes though (I find anyway) to keep questioning without coming over as opposing isn't it? But if you don't ask the questions... you don't get the answers. Hope you're feeling a bit better now 
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23-02-2008, 09:14 PM
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OK
I will try to keep it short TGI...1 x male 45 ish 1x male 10ish 2x female 4yrs 2x female 5yrs TGS 1x male 90ish Whitel 1 x female 87ish....hysterectomy,blind THB 1 x female 60ish 2 x female 40ish 1 xfemale 14yrs 1 x female 7yrs 4 x female 5yrs 1 x female 4yrs 1 x male 20ish 2 x male 5yrs 5 x babies from Heathrow Customs seizure approx 2ish Outdoor accomodation consists of enclosures for the smaller ones and the garden equal splits for the male and females and within that the species/subspecies large garden 180 ft by 50ish...8 ft walled and south facing. Various coldframes and a basking brick shed building that doubles as hibernating shed. Numerous other hides in the orchard area and under the pine bank and along the back wall. Walk in water.....in lots of places. Indoor I have temporary tables as they are out when the weather warms up ...all have UV and basking. Hides bridges, cuttlefish, calcium carbonate and are planted out if they are in for any length of time. 5 tables out at present. Mostly they hibernated on 07/11/07 and a lot are still down and doing well. The five babies are not...as they came 4 weeks ago. I have 5 other hermanns up and three spurs ...they were touching 10% in some cases and I need to stagger the wake up any way. I do not breed...as most of mine are "secondhand"!! and I think they have had a rum deal for the most part...so they deserve some peace. As for my littlies...who knows...unlike the adults they live together in groups...so time will tell. Food mainly weeds and the occassional treat...shock horror!!!!!!! I let them graze when outdoors but will offer something of what they fancy....in the afternoon. Yes they hibernate...iof well enough. What has changed....I worry more with all the "strict regimes" I hear about...makes me wonder sometimes how I manage. Seriously...I now use UVB inside...NOT because I believe it is strictly necessary as mine are out all spring/summer/autumn. I use nutrabol...whereas before I used cuttlefish only...years ago. I would use pellets if needed as I believe they have their place...this isnt their natural enviroment...so I like to cover all the bases for sure. I have used vivs...successfully...I use temp tables now purely because they are more flexible. Substrate...soil with a little sand...tried hemp and it pricked the littlies eyes in my opinion and mating males have been known to get it stuck!! I have used pellets...grass pellets as substrata...this was over a period of 4 years and I found it successful and cheap but hard to get hold of...great for littlies to dig in..... I cant think anymore....just ask questions!!
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